Champ was a grade gelding that was purchased when I was 11 from a horse dealer.
He was my guardian, my partner in crime and my best friend until he passed away in Feb of 2004.
He was the first horse I ever rode bareback (and the first horse I ever fell
off of...) Champ guided me through the basics of horsemanship with the patience
of a seasoned lesson horse, but he allowed me to teach him. He was a fearless
trail horse that plunged through big scary puddles and ignored the maniac drivers
that never seemed to slow down to pass us on the road. He took me places I had only dreamed
of going...
Champ put up with a lot when it came to me. Whether he was dressed up as the
energizer bunny for Halloween or giving endless pony rides, he would still trod
on (though sometimes it seemed, with mild embarrassment...) Through potomac
horse fever, broken arms and more fun shows than I can count, we remained
friends. But you know what they say, "all good things must come to an end."
Now, I admit I took for granted his love and loyalty. And I took for granted
that everyone would feel for him what I did. I could have never guessed then,
how wrong I would be.
I sold my older AQHA mare to someone whom I thought would be wonderful and I felt
that Champ should go with her as a companion so since they were very attached to
each other. It was hard to let them go, but I was confident that they would be given
a great home with a little girl that would love and take care of them as good as I had.
We trailered them down to their new home after a month of board and lessons at for the
little girl, which went well. Happy that they were going to remain together, but sad
that my old buddy was no longer going to be in the barn, I relinquished the lead ropes.
I never expected to have him home seven months later.
I would often go to see the horses at their new home. Something was disturbing
me about it though. Champ was losing weight. When I sold them, I had given a
detailed schedule of feed and care for the new owners. Champy and Star needed
VERY different care in that manor. Star was an incredibly easy keeper, even in
the winter only needing a handful of grain and a few flakes of hay to keep her
well fed. Champ needed two very large scoops of senior feed with weight builder
twice a day just to keep him from looking like a skeleton. It seemed as though this
wasn't going as planned. Then suddenly, when I arrived to see them one
day, there were no horses in the pasture, no signs of life, nothing. After
asking tons of questions and repeatedly trying to call the owners, I learned
the whole story about a messy divorce, broken promises and the trailer that
took my beloved from me. More phone calls... More questions... Finally,
success. A friend contacted me and asked me about a neglected pony she had
picked up. Upon my arrival at her house, I was stunned to find that my
childhood companion looked like a sad coat rack. He came home with me that day.
It took five months and a lot of patience to get him healthy and happy again. Then,
he rejoined the ranks of lesson horse and companion. He spent most of his time
grazing and frisking about the pasture with Skippy and Colby.
When I purchased a house of my own, he stayed behind with my two year old as a
buddy for her until she was sold. After that, we brought him home with us and
kept the company of a weanling who was taking it rather hard being separated from mom.
One cold rainy night he let us know his time was near. Colicky and sullen, I walked
him until we could both walk no more. When the vet arrived, it was merely a waiting game.
The wait was not long. Champy, my faithful, fuzzy little steed puffed his last breathe of
air into my face and slipped away. I miss him intensely and cherish all the memories he left me with.
