On Monday I made the decision to retire my horse from showing. I will still ride him for pleasure but not at shows. Here is a poem for how much I love him.
* * *
I've had you for eight years.
I've been taking you to shows for 5 of those years
I never thought that October was going to be the last time walking into that show ring with you
I thought we had more time
This is one of the hardest decisions I will ever had to make.
To leave you behind
as I load another horse on the trailer
to get another horse ready
to pretend that this was easy.
Showing without you will never be the same
You and I were
partners in crime
now I have to leave you behind
and try not to run back to you
I know that you will be there,
waiting for me at home
I know that you're still there to ride at home
home in the woods where we both love.
But without you in the show ring,
It will never be
the same
I know that this is for the best
but I'm going to miss my best friend on show day