To ride dressage is to dance with your horse, equal partners in the delicate and sometimes difficult work of creating harmony and beauty.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

"I could have missed the pain...

...but I'd of had to miss the dance."

Our last dance - Tuesday morning before the rain set in.

The view out my east windows throughout Wednesday.

It was better after the sun set; out of sight, out of mind (or at least a little less ON my mind). Then, last night around choretime, I had something of an epiphany. I have been mourning not only the upcoming loss of my dancing partner, but also the end of the dance. I have really, deep down, been crying over the possibility that I may never have another dressage horse. No other riding I have done has developed the same kind of relationship with a horse, the subtle and nuanced level of communication and understanding. And when you get one with the right mind combined with physical ability, the results are almost magical.

Russell and I have had that kind of relationship for over eight years now. On top of that, he has been the horse to whom I could trust both my safety as a new mother and that of my son, just a toddling tot when Russell first joined us. There's a whole lot of special memories wrapped up in this horse; once-in-a-lifetime memories. (My dad said once, after watching Brian scale up the side of Russell like a mountain climber, "There's not a horse in 20,000 like that.")

God willing, I will be blessed with another dancing partner someday. Russell's dressage days are over, but he can continue to be a trusted babysitter and special memory-maker with his new family, just by being who he is - Special Majesty.

4 comments:

Mary Ann said...

(crying as I read this)... he's going to a good place, Michelle, at least one where you know he'll be loved. There are many who never have that opportunity once their animals have gone out of their lives.

Laura said...

Your next partner is out there. It doesn't lessen his value to you by getting another... He's enriched your life, and that of your family by being yours - now he can work his magic where it's needed somewhere else!

Chin up...

A :-) said...

Been thinking about you all day. It's OK to be sad - and OK to look toward the future, too. This is happening for a reason, even though it makes your heart hurt. Hang in.

thecrazysheeplady said...

{{{hug}}}