Saturday evening we got the phone
call that you always dread getting.
My long time friend and horse lover, Kim,
called to say Prancer was down and
wouldn't get up. We hurried home to find
him up and eating. It became apparent
on Sunday that it was time to let him go.
Our beloved vet, Matt, graciously came
out on Sunday afternoon to help
Prancer on his way. Words of thanks
seemed quite inadequate.
It seems impossible to believe he was
with us for the past 22 years. He was very
active with me riding for the first 4 years
and since then he became nursemaid for the
foals, head honcho over the mares, pony
ride giver to family and friends and all
in all ruler of the roost for the past 18 years.
Here are some photos of Prancer
in his glory days.
You can't believe what a little downward slope will do to your
nerves as you approach a jump.
Prancer took it all in stride and
made the jump look effortless.
During the first few months withus everyone rode him. Here is Dad
in one of his better moments with
Prancer. After we got him off his
rocky hillside, he had a mighty
change in personality. Suddenly he
had food to eat, pasture land to roam
and lots of new buddies. He wanted
nothing to do with us and with riding.
Dad was having none of this. He got
on Prancer and was bound and
determined that Prancer would go
through this particular line of
trees. Prancer was equally
determined that he was not!! They
did circle after circle and Prancer was
winning the battle, but in the end Dad
and riding won the war. My guess
is that Prancer realized the food, pasture
and buddies were always there for
him at the end of the day and there
was always a scoop of grain too.
This picture was taken at the MTPChorse trials in 1986. We were actually
going to get a ribbon if we finished the
course without any penalties. I was
so excited when we turned for the last
two jumps that I gave him a good swift
"come on we can do it" kick. He promptly
kicked out in protest and the result was
we were all out of sorts while going over
the jump. He was the best boy and did
both jumps as I tried my best to just
hold on. After he landed he took off
towards all the other horses. I tried and
tried to get him to go the other way
in order to get through the finish flags
and to be done with my round of
Stadium jumping. We were headed straight
for the post holding the finish flag and
rather than hit it, Prancer stopped. Guess
where I went? Right on the ground.
Prancer proceeded to pick up both his
right legs and move them over and then
his two left legs in order not to step on
me. He was the best boy ever when
he just stood there waiting for me to get
up and get back on. We walked through
the finish flags and completed our round.
No ribbon, but definitely a lesson learned
and a horse admired for what he did.
Dad and I found Prancer for Mom forher birthday in 1984. She had no
idea that we did this. What a wonderful
surprise for her that day when she came
out to the farm and there he was
standing there waiting for her.
She rode him for a while. One day while
out in the field riding, lots of other horses
came through the field and Prancer took
off with them. Mom fell off and did the
worst thing a horse person could do. She
never got on him again. Well it might have
something to do with the fact that she
was sitting on this jump holding Prancer's
reins and thinking "Why am I sitting
here holding these reins?" It also may have
had something to do with the fact that
she didn't bounce like she once did!
Prancer with the Mom's brother and his family. Prancer was
always so reliable with little ones.
Prancer and his herd. He loved his
girls, especially Cinnamon, so much!
