Goodbye or see you later?

On December 16, 2009, I was given the absolute gift to ride a pasture ornament horse. A horse named Harley. After moving to a new barn at the beginning of that year I had been in love with this horse. I had always wanted to ride him. He was the sweetest horse I had ever met. He let me cuddle with him as he laid down and slept out in his pasture- something any other horse had never let me do before. He was an absolutely incredible horse. Sure, he moved poorly, but he had a great mindset and what more do you want? No matter how out of shape he was, I felt like I could keep riding him forever and ever because he would never stop trying for me.

Both photos from our first ride together

Time passed and I began working with Harley more and more. The bond formed. We were inseparable. He meant the world to me. I got to start jumping him once we started to get him more muscled. He was such a neat horse. I had never had the pleasure of working with an animal so willing to try. He was lazy and moved like crap, but had the heart of a champion.

More and more he began to "grow up" and really get back in to the swing of things. It became apparent he was ready for his first show. We took him to a small local schooling show at Santa Paula Stables here in Tucson. We showed in the 2'-2'3 pre children's hunters. It was a disaster. He was jumping over everything by at least two feet, he was amped up, bucking around the arena in the corners (but hey, I stayed on!), and moving like a giant egg beater. BUT, he was jumping square with his knees, and we even managed to pull off two thirds and a second place. Though he wasn't the perfect hunter, he proved to me that my time was well spent with him, and definitely worth perusing more. I wasn't going to let this wonderful horse and opportunity pass me by.

His first show!

weeeee!

The fences began to grow and he began to prove to me how talented he really was. He let me give pony rides to a little boy, and the fences began to raise. We improved his jumping technique and then slowly it all began to fall together. The pace, the distances to the fences. He had proved to us he was ready for something more. 

first oxer!

first 2'6 fence

2'6 oxer; end of a gymnastic

working on getting him to jump round

pushing up to 2'9

pony rides with tate :)

Later I decided, "hey, what the hell. Lets go to an A show." So we went to the SWHJA Fall Classic 'A' Show on the weekend on September 5th, 2010. Boy had he changed in that one year. It was CRAZY how great he was. He jumped bettter and acted better than he had at any other show. But on the first day in the hunters I actually ended up falling off in the first round (hehe! how embarrassing!) At this show, Harley won his first blue ribbon. The first thing I felt I had finally done right. Our first A show together. Our first time showing at 2'6 and I won. How was that even POSSIBLE? How was it that all this work I had done, was actually impressive to someone other than me? With Hillary as my witness, when they announced us in first place I cried. I straight up cried. I was so proud of him. I had never felt so good in my life. I had trained a horse to win on the A circuit. We ended up reserve champion that weekend. I don't think I have ever been glowing that much after a horse show.

Such a proud mama :')

Showing off his bling :)

my most favorite photo of him and I ever.
©H.Whitt Photography

he was still oddly impressed by the fences.

lol falling off in the warm up

I was so grateful and thankful of my trainer at the time, Rosemary Gordon, for giving me this opportunity. She gave me a horse to basically own and be the only one to work with this horse for nearly two years. We ended up year end reserve champions in our hunter division; a fate I absolutely never thought possible. However, things began to change and it was time for me to move on, which unfortunately meant leaving Harley behind. It was time for me to really start taking care of myself. I was battling with a shoulder injury initially caused by him and I had to take my health in to account. It was time for me to say goodbye. The last time I hacked him I left the barn an absolute wreck. I couldn't control myself. I left bawling my eyes out and sat in my car crying to myself for 40 minutes before I could gain my self composure. I hated myself for leaving him like that. I didn't think I could ever forgive myself. However, my dear friend Hillary had come out with me that day. She photographed my last ride with him and took my senior pictures for me with him. It meant more than the world to me to have that memory saved forever.

I was able to end my last ride on him riding in to the sunset

 I moved to Doubletake Equestrian and then found Joe. Months passed and I had my surgery. But one day when I was sitting at the barn, Jenny sat me down and told me that Harley would be moving to Doubletake. I had heard rumor that Harley was for sale but I never knew that fate would bring us back together. The day finally came that he moved to my new barn. I was absolutely elated. How was I so lucky that I got the chance to be reunited with "my" old horse.

Welcome to Doubletake Harley!

Harley was then bought by a young girl who loved him so much. I knew she would take care of him. How much she loved him was apparent in how she looked at him. I knew they would do great things together, and they certainly did. Many things changed though and Harley had to be sent to a rescue. I don't know the story, and nor do I need to. None of it is my business and I know the people who took care of him always acted in his best interest. And still continued to do so. They are very knowledgable and I believe they did everything right and cared for him in the best capacity they could.

Fast forward a little more and now we are here today. Harley was approved to be adopted after the quarter crack in his hoof had heeled enough for him to be placed in his forever home. I decided I needed to write this blog in his honor. This is the most caring horse I have ever met. He was my shoulder to cry on when I was having stupid high school boy troubles, problems at home, or when for some reason my womanly hormones just felt I needed to cry. He was my best friend that I could share funny stories from the day I had had before going out to the barn for him. He was the enabler that made me make some of the best memories with my other human best friend, Sarah. And most importantly, he taught me how to enjoy myself while riding. I have never laughed and smiled as much while riding as I had while riding him. He was the first horse I felt I had really accomplished anything with. I am so SO thankful for everything he has ever done for me. Now one of the best rescues in Tucson has placed him in his forever home, and while part of me is heartbroken that that forever home is not with me, I am so grateful that he will live out the rest of his life fat and happy trail riding and having fun. I know he will provide his new people with the same joy which he provided for me. 

So with that, I say not goodbye to you Harley, but merely see you later. I don't know what my future holds, but strangers things have happened. I know that our paths will cross again somehow.