Free retired dressage horse ~ Windsor, CA

[NanciK]

~ CROSS POST FROM BAEN ~

Retired dressage horse - free to good home, Gelding, Bay, beautiful dark bay, Age: 25, 16.0H, 1200 lbs, I have had this wonderful boy for 22 years. i love him dearly, but he needs a new home. I am a single working mom and have no time for him. it would make me very happy to know that he has a home where he would be loved and cared for. he has been retired for the past 5 years because i have not had the time to ride. now i don't have time to even go see him. he is well cared for, but i cannot afford to keep him where he is. An ideal home for him would be where he has access to grass, has a pasture buddy or two, and gets some human attention. he is also ridable (he is trained to grand prix).

Phone: [phone]

[quatzie]

Wow, so sad .. to work all your life for your owner. If I had the space for another horse

[NanciK]

I agree. Notice that she said she doesn't have the TIME ... she didn't say she couldn't afford him altogether, just not at his current place. Sad indeed.

I think this is the scenario for which this poignant poem was written ...

~~~ To The Owner Of This Horse ~~~

Alone I stand in this dark stall - staring into space
Wondering how this came to be my final resting place.

I think back on all I did for you and try to understand,
Why you would let me fade away beneath your very hand.

I gave you all I had to give, and still you wanted more,
I pushed myself so you'd receive the very highest score.

I forgave you when you were too quick to punish or to scold,
I just remembered you were young, and wished that you were old.

I always carried you safely through each trial and each course,
And all I wanted in return was for you to love this horse.

Yet here I am - alone and cold - a mere shadow of myself,
With our pictures and Blue Ribbons still displayed upon your shelf.

I do not feel selfish, in this, my final plea,
I just want to understand why you did this to me.

I know that as time passes, people will change their ways,
And children will grow up and forget their younger days.

But how does one forget a friend - someone they once adored,
And start looking at their old champion as nothing but a bore?

Now I know my coat has faded and my eyes, they aren't so bright,
But I assure you that within my heart still burns a quiet light.

Yet, here I stand alone and scared of what may lay ahead,
Will I ever know another kindness or have a warm dry bed?

So people, when you buy a horse, just please remember me,
And what sadness I endured despite the life I tried to lead.

Love your horse with all your heart - give him all you can,
Do not forget to rub him with a calm and soothing hand.

No matter what life brings your way - remember till the end.
When you break your horse's heart, you betray your truest friend.

~ author unknown