Eagle Bay

My friend grieved over the loss of her beautiful little Arab this weekend. It wasn’t like we didn’t already know that Eagle Bay had “issues” but Kathy’s exceptional care had kept him going in spite of his problems and he looked and acted so healthy whenever we saw him that we never thought of him as being so fragile that we could lose him right now or so quickly. Kathy was much more aware of his fragility and even her friend and vet Dr. Burwash acknowledged that Eagle Bay enjoyed years of life that he probably wouldn’t have had without her care.  He lived a great life,  travelling up and down some of the most beautiful trails in the world, dining on the best of pastures and hay, his needs pretty much always coming before Kathy’s own.

Although I truly feel sad to see my friend grieve, I can’t help but marvel at the joy, love (and sadness) the critters we love can share with us.  How they can catch our heart strings and get quite a hold on us. I weep easily and have left little puddles beside the still bodies of horses, cows, dogs, cats, birds, rabbits and even a fish that brought joy to my life each morning when he did his little “good morning” dance for me. I saw Kathy’s lip tremble now and again over the weekend. Eagle Bay left a big hole in Kathy’s heart and her paddock.

I think that those of us who get to have a real bond with an animal are the lucky ones. Unconditional love is often hard to find between we humans but it seems to come so easy to some animals. Your dog still loves you even though you haven’t been your best self that day. The joy of whistling for the horses and having them come on the run from the far side of the pasture is enough to make our hearts soar. For a moment the world around us stops and all we are aware of are those magnificent beasts charging toward us with manes and tails flying in the wind. Their energy and excitement is shared with us as they stop and allow us to smell their breath and touch their soft and sensitive bodies.

Kathy has another old horse friend named Buzz who was born at our ranch but spent many years learning and showing with Kathy before he came back here to “retire”.  I took him for a ride yesterday. Of course, I spent the whole time thinking about and talking to him about Kathy and Eagle Bay and I’m pretty sure with the misty rain we were riding in that no one could notice that at least one of us shed a few tears. Both Buzz and I did agree though that if Kathy needs to revisit an old friend for another ride that he is available. And, if he gives her as nice a ride as he gave me yesterday, she really ought not turn it

down.  The previous photos are all of Eagle Bay but I am including the following one of Buzz for Kathy.

Friends Dean & Jen have sent some photos they took of Kathy and Eagle Bay trail riding in Kananaskis. Hope you enjoy these ones too Kathy.

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