Connected

This is Gallie, a stocky quarter horse mare I worked with regularly out at the farm in St. Augustine. Her owner is a college student and had been out to see her twice in the past two years, all while her parents continue to pay board for the animal to live there. I started working with her because the farm was in need of a good lesson horse and we wanted to see if Gallie could play the part.

The first time I tried to ride her, she reared up while tied in the wash rack, and tried to kick me while I put a saddle on her. Over the span of several months, I took baby steps working with her and trying to get her back in shape. She’s knocked me down, broke several sets of reins, and bit me, but luckily I was never seriously hurt.

But eventually, you could say I grew on her. Something clicked when one morning I went to get her from the pasture and instead of pinning her ears and sidestepping away from me, she nickered gently and came walking up with her head down low. She’d let me love on her, scratch her between the ears and stood quietly while I groomed her. When under saddle, she got right down to business and was a pleasure to ride.

I miss this mare more than anything. I can’t help but feel I abandoned her now that I’ve moved and she no longer has a person.