Jordyn and her special journey with OTTB Bruno.

Jordyn preparing to get on big Bruno for the first time.

Off they go!

Bruno with Jordyn and her great grandpa-Jim.

Giant Bruno being confidently handled by five year-old Jordyn

Nearing the end of his days

Days before he died with Jordyn and Kendyll

Jordyn and the big thoroughbred Bruno had a special relationship almost from the day he arrived at our barn.  Although over 17 hands high and a huge 1450 pounds, he was a gentle soul and they seemed to just get along.

To say Jordyn loved Bruno is an understatement.  She also watched him suffer through surgery, helped Lauren re-bandage his hoof many times, saw him with blood streaming down his face and on the good days as well.  Jordyn was five years old when Bruno came to our barn.  She was old enough to understand pain and suffering and appreciate what we were trying to do for the horse, in trying to get him get back to sound and healthy.

As the time went on,  she saw Bruno start to soar, spending time with Lauren and him at the trainers as Bruno learned to jump and watching Amelia take the big guy further than we ever dreamed.  But his success was short-lived and his infection in his hoof returned.  Jordyn also watched him stand, unable to walk, as we continued to try to do something to save him.

Bruno had a few days when he rallied.  Jordyn was there to walk him in the green pasture and sit endlessly on his back as he ate the fresh grass.

Jordyn was not there when he died.  It would not have been right but she did see the freshly dug grave and laid flowers on it for him. She and I have spoken many times of life and death on farm but not really specifically about Bruno, not since he died, anyway.

I was surprised this weekend when she mentioned him and how much she missed him.  Jordyn is a sensitive, intelligent child that observes more than we think and absorbs more than her share of the hurt she sees in the world.  She told me the story of what her other grandma, Dodie, had shared with her this weekend as she was missing Bruno so much.

I was appreciative and impressed by what she had been told.  Dodie told her about Bruno in Heaven eating forever green grass and running without pain.  She told Jo how Bruno would never have to hurt again.  She made Heaven a real and wonderful place for our granddaughter.  And that is how it should be.  What a wonderful gift to share with this imaginative child, one of happiness and joy instead of memories of pain and sadness.

I am indebted to Dodie for this and Jordyn is blessed to have a grandmother so confident in her faith and belief that she can draw pictures for a child’s dreams of the broad, green pastures of Heaven.  I could only be thankful and think of the old Neil Young song of “Teach your Children Well“.  This child has been taught of suffering and death but also of tremendous happiness that awaits.  The best we can do and the best we can give is to teach our (grand) children well.  Thank you, Dodie. I am grateful.