The Gentle Bear: Senior Horse Essay Contest Honorable Mention
by Jennifer Teigrob
Some senior horses hold the wisdom and love that young horses haven't had the time to develop. Our family owned a senior horse that truly was one in a million. Bartell's Running Bear had a story that started long before we owned him, but we knew him only in his twilight years. In those years he changed a young girl's life forever.
My sister Stephanie had a nasty little pony that had destroyed her trust and love for horses, and she had vowed to never ride again. Stephanie was small for her age and timid, so my parents knew they would have to find exactly the right horse to help her recover her trust in horses. Finally, they found Bear, a 21 year old half-blind, semi-retired 4-H horse.
In the beginning, Stephanie wanted nothing to do with Bear. However, slowly she agreed to help groom him, then go with my mom as they took him for walks. Finally she agreed to ride, but only for a couple minutes at a time. Bear was always steady, always gentle, and he always built her trust. It didn't hurt that he was a loud leopard Appaloosa that was fun to look at!
Bear took care of Stephanie and would stop if she began to fall off. He put up with her doing tricks like standing on his back and he often sported braids and flowers in his mane and tail. Bear accepted costumes of all kinds for costume classes and just for fun. Stephanie eventually completely overcame her fear of horses thanks to Bear's steadiness and love for her.
Stephanie showed Bear in 4-H and took him to the fair every year until he was 25. She won many blue ribbons and grand championships. Not bad for a girl who swore to never ride again! Stephanie developed her riding skills and moved on to more challenging and complicated horses. She eventually became one of the best equitation riders I have ever seen.
Our entire family loved Bear and even my dad, who does not ride, took Bear on a poker ride and had the time of his life. When I began working with young horses, I would often pony them off of Bear, knowing he would act the gentleman, and teach those youngsters a thing or two.
Bear was one of those once in a lifetime horses. He was a godsend for our family in his senior years, the time in his life when a lot of people would say he was past his prime, or used up. But our family needed his time-earned wisdom and love, and to us, he was perfectly in his prime! We lost Bear when he was 29 after a long, healthy and giving life. We won't ever forget him or the difference he made in our life's. Thank you BearBear!
Some senior horses hold the wisdom and love that young horses haven't had the time to develop. Our family owned a senior horse that truly was one in a million. Bartell's Running Bear had a story that started long before we owned him, but we knew him only in his twilight years. In those years he changed a young girl's life forever.My sister Stephanie had a nasty little pony that had destroyed her trust and love for horses, and she had vowed to never ride again. Stephanie was small for her age and timid, so my parents knew they would have to find exactly the right horse to help her recover her trust in horses. Finally, they found Bear, a 21 year old half-blind, semi-retired 4-H horse.
In the beginning, Stephanie wanted nothing to do with Bear. However, slowly she agreed to help groom him, then go with my mom as they took him for walks. Finally she agreed to ride, but only for a couple minutes at a time. Bear was always steady, always gentle, and he always built her trust. It didn't hurt that he was a loud leopard Appaloosa that was fun to look at!
Bear took care of Stephanie and would stop if she began to fall off. He put up with her doing tricks like standing on his back and he often sported braids and flowers in his mane and tail. Bear accepted costumes of all kinds for costume classes and just for fun. Stephanie eventually completely overcame her fear of horses thanks to Bear's steadiness and love for her.
Stephanie showed Bear in 4-H and took him to the fair every year until he was 25. She won many blue ribbons and grand championships. Not bad for a girl who swore to never ride again! Stephanie developed her riding skills and moved on to more challenging and complicated horses. She eventually became one of the best equitation riders I have ever seen.
Our entire family loved Bear and even my dad, who does not ride, took Bear on a poker ride and had the time of his life. When I began working with young horses, I would often pony them off of Bear, knowing he would act the gentleman, and teach those youngsters a thing or two.
Bear was one of those once in a lifetime horses. He was a godsend for our family in his senior years, the time in his life when a lot of people would say he was past his prime, or used up. But our family needed his time-earned wisdom and love, and to us, he was perfectly in his prime! We lost Bear when he was 29 after a long, healthy and giving life. We won't ever forget him or the difference he made in our life's. Thank you BearBear!
Labels: Reader story
posted by NWHS at
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