Soundtrack

How do I even begin to put into words what this horse gave me over nearly a decade together? In short, he turned me into a rider.

He held my hand when I was terrified in (and out of) the show ring. He never punished me when I made mistakes. He taught me that this sport is really fucking hard and it’s not always going to feel good.

He showed up even on the days when I doubted. And he taught me more than I ever wanted to know about managing fungus.

Even though so many of our memorable moments happened at competitions, it was a different kind of joy to watch him relax and—dare I say—enjoy slowing down over the past few years.

To finally hack around the barn on a loose rein at a pace (slightly) slower than an F1 jet. To roll his treat ball around, searching for that last crumb. To somehow mellow out while still finding an astonishing number of ways to get in trouble.

There will never be another horse like him. I am going to miss you forever.