My Leap of Faith by mandiye wood

My Leap of Faith

by mandiye wood

I wasn't looking for another horse. I was doing very well with my current horse, and was starting another young one so she could be retired and start a new career as a broodmare. My friend had been looking for a horse as a retraining project from the track to have some fun with. I worked on the racetrack, and had many connections, so I started looking through all the prospects. I stopped at a farm a vet friend of mine had suggested. The lady had several retired thoroughbreds, caring for them incredibly, she took all her former racers home to live out their days on her farm as pasture ornaments. She had nearly two hundred horses, and eagerly welcomed me realizing I was wanting to provide one with a new job. She walked me through the various fields introducing me to each horse, telling me their different quirks and racing careers. I was amazed she knew each one so personally. Then she showed me a cute nearly black filly. I immediately knew she was the horse for my friend. I called her, and she told me to bring her home for a trial. Heading back up to the barn, I looked into a small roundpen she had set up. In it was a listless young stallion. He hung his head, and paced back and forth near the gate. I asked about him, and she explained he had just been claimed from another trainer, and she was trying to get him healthy, but was having a difficult time. I felt bad for the horse, but could not accomodate another stallion on my property. We took the little filly home, and she proved to be a great match for my friend. That night, I could not stop thinking of the stallion. All the next day, I kept remembering his kind eyes. I called the lady back, and asked if she would consider letting me have him. She agreed, and soon he was on my trailer heading to his new home. Almost immediately, he perked up, began eating great, and his beautiful chestnut coat gleamed. I decided if he was going to stay, I would at least start working with him to see what kind of talent he had. He proved to have a beautiful jump, and I started training him to be a three day eventer. He improved incredibly and seemed to really enjoy his work, progressing quickly towards his first show. One day, after finishing with his workout, I turned him out into a different field than usual because they were repairing the automatic waterers in his field. I looked out later that night to see him laying in the field. I thought nothing of it, as he frequently sunbathed. Two hours later, I looked out again, and he was still laying where he was earlier, and had not moved. I bolted out of the barn, thinking my beautiful stallion was colicky. When I reached him, he lay not breathing, his muscled body cold. I immediately called my vet. He arrived within minutes, though it seemed like forever. Gently, he told me that my horse was dead, and he was unsure why. He suggested an autopsy to see if there was possibly something poisonous in the field. I insisted there was not because I had my pastures checked each year. Wanting to prevent another tragedy though, I agreed. A few days later, he called me back with the sad news. They could not determine what had killed my brave boy. I cried as I thought of how if only I had checked him immediately, I might have saved him. My vet assured me, there was nothing I could have done, and he believed he died of a reaction, possibly to a bee sting, or bite of some sort. It's been two years, but my heart still aches every time I think of his graceful jump, or silly attitude. Leap, you will never be forgotten, we love you.

Comments would be appreciated by the author, mandiye woo