Every now and then we have to make a decision, when our mind tells us one thing but our heart tells us another. And these decisions are not easy but our souls tell us what is right and wrong even if our brain tells us something different.
Spring Breeze aka Baby was my first Spanish Mustang. I got her at age 4 in 1998, she came out of a terrible situation, and she came with issues. She was very untrusting sometimes of people, didn't like men at all, was very small and underweight, and had the beginnings of COPD.
I loved her anyone, she was my soulmate and my friend. She had her quirks that is for sure, but we had an agreement. For many years when I rode her she would attempt to buck me off at least once a week. And I truly believe it was a game to her. Sometimes she would get me off and she would win, sometimes I would stay on and I would win. When it was out of the way(usually I wound up on my behind) she would look at me as if to say, Ha I got you, now lets get on with our ride.
We went through years of aggression on the trail, she had space issues, and her space was large and widespread. And no one and I mean no one was allowed in it. If a trespasser dared enter the restricted area the punishment was fast and swift.
But I loved her anyone.
She always met me at the gate, I could take her for walks with no halter and lead and she would follow me like a dog. She loved attention, learned to trust and learned(thanks to my ex boyfriend who bribed her with many treats) that men were okay.
She would help my ex work on the truck, sometimes leaning over to peer in the hood as if there was something she could do to be of assistence.
She would play touch tag with my dog, and the dog was usually it:)
No fence could hold her, she loved her walkabouts. I think she would come in and sit on the sofa and watch TV with me if she could.
Baby was my world, I loved her with all my heart.
I made a choice to move to Washington for a while to help my ex's father who was ill. While I was gone Baby was left in the care of a friend.
I spent a year in the PNW and when I came home I came home to a pregnant mare.
She got fat and crabby, but I still loved her.
She gave me Eskimo on April 9, 2002. My big red goober headed horse whom has his mothers personality, spit, fire and loyalty. He is my problem child, spoiled rotten, and an overgrown dog.
She raised him up to be a fine young man. He was halterbroke by being ponyed off of Baby. And she had the patience of Job with him, never cranky or short.
Then she was bred to Troubleshooter, and gave me Splash of Spring. My gorgeous girl who is the spitting image of her mom. Complete with all the love and all the spark Baby seems to give to her foals.
She raised Splash, spent a year off, did some riding, but basically was a lawn ornament.
Her COPD was under control, she never got real tall, just barely 13 hands. But she is like a Great Dane trapped in a Chihuahua's body. She was the queen and no one crossed her or dared question her throne.
Her third foal was out of Painted Warrior and gave us a spectacular stud colt, a blue roan War Bonnet with two ice blue eyes. Appropriately named Sinatara. He is currently a stallion here on the Blue Moon Ranch. A true gentleman, and lover. You cannot itch and scratch him enough. Truly his momma's boy.
Decided maybe we should not breed her anymore only because we could not seem to get rid of any of her offspring:)
She had a few more years off, babysat the youngsters, kept the young girls in line.
Ruled the pasture with an iron fist, no one dare incur her wrath.
But she also gathered a fan club of people who loved her, kids and adults. Her personality and loving nature towards everyone who came to see her was infectious.
She was bred for the 4th time to Ghost in the Grass, our appy stallion. This baby was drop dead gorgeous, a red dun appy filly. Soft as velvet when she was born. Truly a beautiful little creature.
Velvet found her new home within days of birth. A friend of ours always wanted an appy and Velvet was his dream girl.
This pregnancy was hard on Baby, her COPD flared up terrible for the first time ever. We kept her in a pasture away from dust, but it seemed that nothing helped.
Cal and Nancy wanted Velvet at their place, they live on a quiet dead end road in the country. We got Baby on some medicine to help her breathing and agreed she was officially retired. No more foals, no more riding, she was to become our mascot.
The medicine helped tremendously, Cal and Nancy bought the best hay for Baby and Velvet.
And they fell in love with Baby.
Cal came and talked to me yesterday. He asked if we would let him and Nancy have Baby and they would promise to take care of her for the rest of her life, make sure she always had her medicine and do whatever was needed to help her. He said she is like one of their children and the thought of her leaving was breaking their heart.
Her infectious love, her personality, her loyalty not only won them over but all their kids and grandkids. Baby and Velvet was on all the Christmas cards to the family, she is a part of their world.
So how do you make the decision to let a part of your heart go. I could be selfish and say no way you can't have her. But would that be the right thing. I have known Cal and Nancy for over 15 years, they are great people and would take wonderful care of her. She will be comfortable, loved, doted on, and want for nothing the rest of her life. They will spare no expense for her, she is like one of their kids.
She has touched so many lives throughout the years, everyone who meets her loves her. When she is good she is very good and when she is bad, well she is bad:) But you love her anyway.
She was my first spanish mustang, even if I never rode her, bred her or anything every again I would never love her any less.
But sometimes the right thing is not always the easy thing.
So after much soul searching, weighing the pros and cons, and arguing with myself I came to the decision that Baby will stay with Cal and Nancy.
That is where she needs to be, she is home. If there ever comes a time when they cannot take care of her she will come back.
She is close by and I can see her when ever I like, the grandkids get pony rides on her in the corral. She charms everyone who walks through their place. She is a queen in her palace, and she has deserved every bit of it.
And I miss her with all my heart even though she is a few miles away.
But my heart also tells me it is the right thing to do.
She has earned this place, earned the spoiling, loving and doting she is recieving.
And she remind me everytime I see her that great things do come in small packages:)
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