I pulled the car into the garage and we all got out at different times. Kim dashed into the house and Edie followed pretty close behind. I was still sitting in the driver's seat singing and taking my time. Soon Dad peaked his head through the garage door and said, "Where's Kim? Did she go in the house?" There was a sense of urgency in his voice and his expression held concern. Immediately I sensed that something wasn't right and assumed that the problem was somehow horse related.
"She's in the house," I replied. The exact details aren't clear to my mind but I think Danny went to get her.
"There was an issue with Texy in the trailer on the way home and we need to deal with it as a family. Get Edie and let's go together." He was dying. I knew it. Not Tex! Although he is one of our older horses, he still has so much energy and the go-get-em spirit of a retired sulky race horse. Why did this have to happen to him? I was almost crying as we started to head toward the barn. Dad said he wanted Edie to go first. That seemed strange to me as Edie was probably the most sensitive but nothing was really making sense. We approached the barn and the trailer was no longer attached to the truck. What had happened? Did somebody run into the trailer where Tex had been standing? Did a tire pop letting the trailer swerve out of control until there was an accident? I tried to voice my questions to Dad but he was hesitant in giving answers.
The walk to the barn isn't far but in that short time my mind was going wild. Here we were walking out to say our final goodbyes to a good horse that was still too young to die.
"Does Maria know yet?" I asked. She had developed a close bond with Tex in the earlier years that we had him. He had gone to His Ranch with her for a few months and they had spent a lot of time together before she had married and moved away. Knowing how sad I'd be if this was Bandit I felt a twang of pitty for Maria and relief for myself.
"Yah, she knows," Dad replied.
Edie asked if we would need to get two new horses as we have wanting a new pony for her for several months. Cruiser's great to have for young kids who like to be led around, but he's the typical pony when it comes to stubbornness. He's charged Edie when she's trying to catch him; he's taken off running for home when we're out on the trails and left Edie hanging on to the saddle horn for dear life. Yet despite these quirks Edie still loves and rides him and we've decided to hang on to him until we find that right horse.
Dad wasn't sure about getting two new horses. We were nearing the barn and I was both hesitant yet anxious to see Tex in whatever injured state he was in. As we walked into the barn Mom was videoing us with her phone and had a pitiful expression on her face.
Edie led the way into the barn and Dad instructed her take a look in the first stall and see how things were going.
We were a pretty somber group as you can tell by the snapshot I took of Mom's video.
"Mom, stop videoing. You're so morbid," I said as we walked in.
Edie cautiously peaked into the stall...
"Wait, is that my horse, Mom?"
You can imagine the shock of seeing a little buckskin pony staring back at us where we imagined to find a wounded, dying horse.
"Wait, what?" I cried.
"I thought something was wrong with one of the horses," Kim added.
"I thought you said something was wrong with Tex!"
"I said we had an issue with Tex in the trailer on the way home," Dad said before he laughed. I'm sure riding three hours in a trailer with a new horse caused some issues. Just not the type we had imagined :)
We were all so in shock and amazement that we didn't really know what to think. Danny was first into the stall while Edie just looked around. Dad assured her she could go in and that the pony was gentle.
The next few minutes were full of excited questions and we found out that the pony is a girl. She is ten years old. Her previous owner was an elderly man who had her for his granddaughter; however, his granddaughter wanted a more spunky horse than this pony. They had called her Princess, but her real name was Bitsy. We prefer the latter although the horse is rather stocky. Dad and Mom told Edie she could take some time to pick a new name for her new pony. We've thrown around some suggestions but it may take a while for Edie to decide and who knows what she'll come up with ;)
We were all in pretty lively spirits and partway through our rejoicing Danny said, "I'm gonna go give Tex a big hug!" What a relief. And what a tease my dad is.
This morning Edie was out of bed with no delay and visited her pony before she got ready and after she was ready for school. We're hoping to take her out for an easy ride this afternoon to get to know her better and see how Edie likes her under saddle. There is a possibility that she might be too much horse for Edie and the man assured Dad and Mom that if she wasn't a fit they could take her back. It's always a little difficult to be completely comfortable and trusting with a new horse and as Edie is of a more cautious nature we may find that her new pony would be better in a different home. However, we certainly hope that is not the case. This new pony isn't a super lovey dovey pet me type but we're hoping to change that by showing her lots of love and more affection than her previous rider.
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