I just found out that my first lesson horse, Junior, was put to sleep over the weekend. Because I want you to feel a sliver of my pain, I’m going to re-post one of the silly Junior Lesson Stories I put up back in April 2010.

I take lessons on a 20 year old TB named Junior.  He’s adorable, and…a dork.  One of the other boarders had their horse out and was trying to get him to load in a trailer–just for practice!  But said horse has apparently had his nose broken in a trailer accident before, so he was having NONE OF THAT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

They had the very bright idea of doing this RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE ARENA DOOR.  

                   |
X                  <– arena door
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^ commotion

Junior spent the entire lesson not paying any damn attention displaying the great empathy his kind old soul is capable by screaming his head off trying to console his companion.  We could have moved down to the far end of the arena but some more advanced riders were already down there, and it contains mirrors that eat equine souls which would have had much the same effect.

“Easy, Junior.”
“BUT THEY MIGHT BE KILLING HIM OUT THERE OH MY GOD.”
“He’s fine, Junior.  Pay attention please.  Please.  Hey.  Hey.  Up. Here.”
“BUT I HAVE TO LET HIM KNOW THAT I AM HERE FOR HIM.”
“He hears you, Junior.”
“IT’S BEEN THREE SECONDS HE NEEDS TO KNOW I AM STILL HERE.  I DID NOT LEEEAAAVE YOOOOUUUUU”
“Junior.”
“I UNDERSTAND HIS PLIGHT TRAILERS TAKE YOU PLACES THAT AREN’T HOME.  PLACES THAT AREN’T HOME ARE SCARY.”
“JUNIOR.”
“OH HEY LOOK POLES WEEEEEEEEEEEE.”

Ah, that fondly remembered feeling of loving a horse and wanting to smack him between the ears at the same time…

Other stories of Junior and, later, George, are here: http://poniesareevil.wordpress.com/