On the first quarter moon in June, a blazing red horse jumped over the moon and galloped past the stars.
A flying horse he was. Barty, we had some times didn’t we? You were a cross country machine! With a heart bigger than your physical form you would have jumped the moon for me.
And when you could no longer do that you took place as a lead pony for the baby racehorses at the track (you always loved a job, that’s where you shined) even putting your own fears aside to take care of them. (Cows, Omg!) I’ll never forget you ponying a nervous TB filly by a whole field of cows to get to the track, I could feel your heart pounding in your chest and yet you stayed strong for her, because that was your job at the time, I was shocked you handled it so well. I seriously thought we were all going down! Um, because I distinctly remember you running off at top speed during the Canterbury horse trials, pulling my arms out of the socket because you saw a cow!
Then you taught many people how to gallop racehorses, you were a star, perfect. But you never connected with anyone else but me. You never trusted anyone else. You would not have jumped over the moon for anyone else. You were truly mine, and I was all yours. We were family.
Then after a time it was riding the fence lines checking for loose nails and waiting patiently for me to nail them back in (patient? you?) Until the neurological issues that plagued you your whole life became too much for even that and you lived in the field where you have been since you were three years old with some other horsey friends. We had a good last week didn’t we? Spent a lot of time together and you were feeling pretty good and happy.
My friend, my partner, my beautiful “Brave Boy” we have been together for about 25 years and it was time to let you go. To fly free. One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I am so sorry. That day will haunt me forever. It is killing me still. I know it wasn’t easy for you either. I was hoping it would be.
Later that evening when I went out to feed a dragonfly was on the halter you were wearing when you crossed over.
It never left even though I was at the barn for almost two hours.
Dragonfly. Transformation. It was from you.
A blazing red horse has jumped over the first quarter moon in June and galloped past the stars. Fly free dear one. I will never forget you, you are a part of me. I love you. You are truly a flying horse.
~ All my love ~
