Mr. Kid and I the last day of his life. Still sound under saddle at 32 years of age.

The Time Hop feature on Ally’s phone reminded her that on Friday, it had been exactly one year since I had given my 32 year-old horse, Kid, his last good day and then  had him euthanized.  Kid had been my best boy most of these Texas years from 2003 forward when I first talked Sarah into trusting me with her barrel horse that was ready for retirement. Oh, how I loved that horse and how he changed our lives here.  Leading to a new boarding barn where we met life-long friends, where we became part of something good.

I was so proud of Kid.  He was the absolute picture perfect quarter horse, not the halter-bull-dog type (as my daddy would have said) but the racing quarter horse.  Standing almost 15.2 hands and running about 1000 pounds of lean, perfect muscle.  He was the fastest horse running barrels on the Houston  non-pro circuit at age 20.  That is pretty fast.  He could also jump, take the kids for a ride or be the best behaved horse in the barn or trailer.  But make no mistake about it, he performed best for me and he was all my boy.  Lauren never had any success riding him, at least not after she past age 12.  I guess he considered her fair game then and he tested her all the time.

Looking swell at 30.

Since Kid has been gone, I have been on the search for a replacement.  I had Bruno back then, but never really rode him much.  I got Betty Sue and love her dearly but am not going to be riding her any time soon.  I thought the mare Kalani was my ticket back to having my own horse again, but that ended badly (except that she went to a great home).

Honestly (and don’t tell anyone), I haven’t really enjoyed riding for at least the last three years.  My hips, pelvis and knees hurt so much ten minutes into saddle time, that it wasn’t much fun. In fact, by this last fall,  I had essentially quit riding.  Then I had my other hip replaced.  I couldn’t ride then.

But some pretty great things conspired to happen all at once.  First, I have ridden four days  in a row now, and it doesn’t hurt!  I mean it is  like a miracle. Second, I found this ad for a mare named Nova who was born on January 19th.  Some of you will get this instantly.  My favorite aunt and my Godmother was named Nova.  Nova is an unusual name and yet this will be my second horse to carry this name.  January 19th was my father’s birthday and I don’t have to tell you what that means to me.  I was  looking for signs and these were good enough for me.

Nova, a paint mare, registered as Investment Art, is a pretty good-looking girl.

The other things that were imperative in my next horse, was good training and a quiet nature. This mare has both in spades.   She also stands a solid 16.2 hands, so might be brought along to jump a jump a two.

What I did not realize at all until Ally’s phone Time Hopped us, was that I had just negotiated a deal to buy Nova, exactly one year to the day from when Kid took his final steps.  We will see what life has in store for me but I am really hoping this mare lives to be the same 32 years old as Kid, and I am able to ride her every step of the way.

Happy, blessed Easter day to you all!!

I love the flaxen mane and tail!

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