HappyValentinesGoLightly

Where-ever you may be. I love remembering my time with Lightly. I've mentioned I'm afraid that the typing will muddy the clarity of the memory. But on a day for sending out kind, loving wishes to all kind hard working people and horses and animals, I thought it only fair to remember a horse I loved, and lost.

His first few months at Peter's were spent as a school horse for his idiot owner. I loved on that horse every chance I got. My night check duties always included my personal delivery of talks and rubs on his huge head. His head was as big as my torso, but it did fit his body. He was just big, all over. "Back like an armchair, butt end like a battleship" is how Aldaniti was described, by Bob Champion. I watched the movie, sniffff. An old-tyme steeplechaser.

Well, GoLightly was an old time jumper. Always in style. Just a big, long, tall strong horse. His head was where people would tsk. I remember one of Peter's "show" grooms laughing at me, as I led him out to ride one day, for calling him "sweetheart". Well, he HAD a sweet heart! ANY one who tells you that ALL horses with roman noses, or smallish eyes are dumb, stubborn cruel etc. is full of themselves. I have a roman nose and small eyes too. I think I have a sweet heart, too. Just sayin'.

The first time I rode GoLightly, as I always do when I introduce myself, we just hacked the beautiful rolling, scenic trails I was lucky to have. Peter was planning on showing GL in Preliminary Jumper, and then selling him, so he did most of the over-fences schooling, at first.

I tacked him up that first time, a little shaky, as I'd rarely ridden so expensive a horse. I'd been dying to ride him, since I met him. The opportunity boggled my mind.
I was afraid it would vanish, this miracle of luck, this horse.
GoLightly cocked his big old head back at me, lifted his nose and snorted his derision at my respect for him. Hey Kid, I'm still just a horse, he seemed to say. Then he farted. He knew I felt bad about using him as the lesson horse. He didn't even hold it against me.

What can I say?
Our trails were winding, and rolling, and dangerous in spots. I'd ridden them on many different horses, mostly bad broke, or young, or whatever. I'd always felt safe, though. Confident that I could hold the horse on a path. But I was always the designated driver.

On GoLightly, I was finally compelled to say, Oh, Okay then. Just go ahead. He picked his way through those trails like a cat. It was such a release of tension, allowing Lightly, my sweet heart, to do what horses do. Cover ground with joy. GoLightly appreciated my light weight and hands and quiet, firm leg. He'd grown tired of the school horse thing, I knew.

I came home from that hack a new rider. A better rider, a more confident rider. Riding a MasterHorse will do that for you. I couldn't WAIT for the next ride...
Heck, no, I'm not done...

Thanks, all.