Surrender

To All of Nature's Quirks

I have not been riding, in case you haven't noticed. Even on the days when I could, I don't. The prospect of facing the B52's, mosquitoes, and other flying attack pests just overwhelms me.  To put the bug armor on when I saddle up takes perhaps another ten minutes of tack up time. Because the horses are not fit, I would only be riding for perhaps twenty minutes.  Doing all the extra prep work therefore, takes up about the same amount of time I'd spend in the saddle. Hardly a bargain.

Meanwhile, Tucker's flysheet is now fastened on with two double end snaps and baling twine loops threaded through the broken surcingles. The sheet is not torn, but the surcingle buckles are missing. What in the world has he been doing to break both surcingles while not doing any damage to the sheet itself?  I've never quite seen anything like it.

On a sad note, my friend Stacie, had to put her horse Lucky down yesterday.  Lucky was a lovely, large 13 year old warmblood she had raised from a yearling. She competed him very successfully through first level dressage before he developed a chronic lameness in his front end.

I think I posted about this years ago, when Lucky underwent surgery to clean up some necrotic bone in his front ankle.  Despite super care and Stacie's devotion, he never did become sound enough to ride again, so Stacie retired him to her farm where she has loved and cared for him for many years since the surgery.

Unfortunately, over the last year or so, Lucky had become more and more unstable in his hind end due to some kind of neurological issues. Yesterday morning, he went down and was not able to get back up despite all of Stacie's efforts, efforts her friends and neighbors, and the help of her veterinarian.  It was hopeless and the only answer was to humanely euthanize him.

Regardless of the circumstances, losing a horse that has been a loving, willing companion for so long is always a heartbreaking experience. While we all know there was no other option, my heart is still breaking for her.

I'm sure Lucky is now off galloping the green pastures of heaven with all the other beloved horses lost and mourned by those of us left here.

RIP Lucky Luciano. Your life was a gift to all who knew you. Run free.