Wet Reins: Mindy Lou, April 28, 1984- Jan. 8, 2011

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Mindy Lou, April 28, 1984- Jan. 8, 2011

Jet's Paradox (Mindy Lou) & me at WSU in the early 90's.

At age 26 and after 25 years together, Mindy was put to sleep last night. She laid down and didn't want to get back up. Her legs were arthritic and she was tired. Pam, Chuck, Jackie, Bridgitt, Anke and I surrounded her with love and let her go.

Mindy

A wise old soul with a huge heart. You raised 2 little girls and helped us become who we are today, while touching so many others along the way. My life was changed forever the day I saw you standing in the pen with your big eyes and the bottom of your tail chewed off. We made it through junior high, high school, and college together, I don't think I could have made it through college without our midnight bareback rides through the fields while I told you of some tragedy or another, usually about boys. I'm glad you're in a place where there's no pain. I look forward to seeing you again when we can gallop down dirt roads so fast tears blur my vision and the pounding of your hooves matches the rhythm of my racing heart.

10 comments:

Achieve1dream said...: Oh my goodness!! What happened!! I am so sorry for your loss. This is so awful and so sudden. I hope you're holding up okay. Sending you cyber hugs.; January 9, 2011 at 6:02 PM
Albigears said...: a1d- I explained a little bit more, we put her to sleep last night. She was tired and her legs hurt. Thank you for the cyber hugs, 25 years is a long time...; January 9, 2011 at 6:16 PM
Anonymous said...: So very sorry for your loss - she was beautiful. Good that you were there for her when she needed your help.; January 9, 2011 at 6:26 PM
Barbara said...: How wonderful that you were together for so long and what a good friend you were to do what was best for her.; January 9, 2011 at 6:57 PM
EvenSong said...: So sorry for your loss. She was a sweet and gorgeous mare.; January 9, 2011 at 9:34 PM
Lexie said...: I'm sorry for your loss, but I'm glad you gave her the gift of a peaceful death.

I hope other things in your life are going better.; January 10, 2011 at 3:18 PM
ruffles said...: R.I.P Mindy. I'm glad she had nice ending though :); January 10, 2011 at 4:26 PM
Anonymous said...: Long time lurker here, so very sorry for your loss. Congrats for the 25 beautiful years together, wishing you peace and comfort.; January 10, 2011 at 5:50 PM
Anonymous said...: I love the pics you posted of her. She's totally into it in the first one :) Sorry for your loss, she sounds like a big sweetheart and you guys are lucky you had 25 years together, that is admirable.; January 11, 2011 at 4:40 AM
Albigears said...: Thanks everyone. It was a very peaceful ending. We're all still trying to get used to the idea she's not here anymore...; January 12, 2011 at 12:36 AM

Post a Comment

Jasper's Accomplishments

2012

April:
Icebreaker H/J schooling show. 2'6 courses, a first place in a hunter class!

Yves Sauvignon stadium and cross country clinic at Tulip Springs.

May:
Post Falls Equestrian Center H/J show. Won the 2'6 division!

Dressage clinic with Jessica Wisdom.

June:
Deep Creek Derby, Beginner Novice. First place!

Fran O'Reilly clinic at 100 Acre Wood Farm. First up and down bank. Huge ditch. Novice level fences.

Hopeful Horse Trials, first attempt at Novice. Lowest dressage score, no jumping faults!

2011

April: Pony Club sponsored jumping day at Busy Bee.

October: Pre-Green Hunter champion at Post Falls Equestrian Center.

2010

April: Jasper and I move to Yelm, WA for dressage training- I am a working student for Jessica Wisdom.

May: Steuart Pittman cross-country clinic at Aspen Farms.

Trip to the ocean, Long Beach, WA.

June: Cross country schooling at Northwest Equestrian Center with Josh Lacy.

Stadium jumping lesson with Terrie Hook.

Aspen Farm Horse Trials! Our first recognized event. Beginner Novice, 20 people in my division.

Dressage: A score of 29.5 puts us in first place.

Stadium: A wild and crazy ride, but only one rail down. We're still in first.

XC: Awesome. A refusal at the second fence, but soon found his stride and pulled me to the jumps. 8th place overall.

Back home to Spokane!

Hopeful Horse Trials (unrecognized) in Deary, ID put on by the Pony Club. Beginner Novice.

Dressage: 27
XC: Clear
Stadium: Clear
Place: First!
We also got an award for having the lowest overall score.

July: Jumping lesson with Betty Hirst. She taught me to ride when I was in elementary school and I rode with her until I went to college. I hadn't seen her in 15 years!

2009

April: Jasper retires from training to become a racehorse due to his lack of wanting to go fast and comes home with meeeeeee.

First trail ride.

May: Jumping- First cross bars.

Dressage show at PFEC. Intro Test B 64%. 3rd Place.

June: Deep Creek Derby, Rock Hopper division. Intro Test A, 12" jumps. Dressage score: 34, 8 jumping faults (water). 6th place.

Lady Raven Schooling Show. Classes entered: Intro and Training Dressage, in-hand and mounted trail classes, and english pleasure. Huge classes, good behavior.

July: First off-ranch trail ride.

August: Horse Camping trip at Farragut State Park. 4 days, 3 nights.

First Dressage Lesson at PFEC.

September: Horse Camping trip (all adults) at Farragut. 3 days, 2 nights.

Tulip Springs hunter/jumper clinic.
Tulip Springs hunter/jumper schooling show- CHAMPIONS in the 18" division, RES CHAMPION in the 2' division.
Cross Country clinic with Jil Walton.

October: Moved to Valley Chapel Farms.