A week ago today I said goodbye to my sweet Paint.
She touched so many lives during the seven years that I had her. She taught me everything that I know about horses and more than that, she taught me so much about love and life.
Since her passing, so many people have told me they were sorry and were praying for me. So many people have shared their "Paint" stories with me, the stories that have made me laugh, cry, & made me so incredibly proud to have her in my life.
She was a teacher, a best friend, a horsey-soul-mate, and now she's my guardian angel.
I got Paint when I was only 13 years-old, she was a sort of surprise gift from my daddy. We drove to Ragland to look at a truck for daddy & the guy that owned the truck had a daughter that had several horses, Paint was just one of them. The man's daughter offered to let me see her & it was love at first sight.
It took a night full of begging, but that next weekend Paint was delivered to my house and it's been history since then.
We explored every inch of our farm and of Barfield, sometimes riding with friends, sometimes just the two of us.
She taught so many of my friends to ride, we would spend hours on her just in the yard or grooming her/braiding her mane & tail.
She even taught Chris how to ride. :)
She wasn't always rainbows & sunshine though, let me tell you. She was a tough teacher, I landed on the ground a few times & she would just nudge me with her nose as if to ask how I got down there.
She would challenge me when I was on her, but I could put any little kid on her and she would be a complete angel. She knew that I was able to handle it, I guess that's what they mean by horse-sense.
I won't ever forget a single day that we spent together, she's been there through all of the important parts of my life. I can't imagine doing anything big without her being there for me to talk to about it.
Paint was sick for a short time, so I had more time (although there is never, ever enough time) to say goodbye. Last Tuesday, when Chris came to the house to get me before I left for school, I knew something was wrong.
We rushed to my parents house and when I jumped out of the truck and went out into the pasture where my parents were waiting with her.
She sat up on her front legs and whinnied to me as I walked across the pasture, she was waiting for me. She wasn't doing anything without me being there.
My mom always told me that Paint would walk through fire for me & now I know it's true.
I almost believe that if I had asked her not to go that day, she would've tried her hardest to stay...but part of having animals is knowing when it's time to let them go.
As silly as this may sound to some, when she was finally gone...I sort of prayed for a sign that she was okay & just then my other six horses which had been at the top of the hill "keeping vigil" over us, swept down the hill, galloping at top speed. It was all the sign I needed to know that Paint was galloping in Heaven & I didn't need to worry.
I know this has been a sad post, but I really needed to share it, the entire story & get it all out.
I don't and won't ever be one of those people that lost "the" horse of their life & stop loving horses altogether, I can't do that. Paint taught me too much for me too waste all of that & I love rescuing horses too much for me to ever stop that work.
But she will always be the horse for me.
"As you shut your eyelids tight, you disappeared into the stormy night. I saw your soul gallop off happy & content, as I whispered into your ear, "Goodbye, my friend."
Impressive Hours
January 31st, 1987-September 23, 2014
"Always loved & never forgotten"
Big thank-you to everyone who sent texts, calls, facebook messages, or instagram comments this past week, I really appreciate it. Also thank you to Jessica & everyone at Twin Creeks Vet Services, for everything.
