In Memory of Far and Away

"Tasha"

April 29, 1993 - June 3, 1998

"I bless the day I met you
and I thank God that he let you
walk beside me for a moment that lives on...
The good news is I'm better for the time we spent together
and the bad news is, you're gone......"

I miss you every day.

It is never easy loosing your equine friend and partner and it is even more difficult when you, yourself, are responsible for starting the chain of events that lead to her death.  I want to share with you what happened to Tasha, in hopes that I can prevent just one other partnership from ending the way ours did.....

Those of you who saw me at clinics and demonstrations over the past two years also saw Far And Away, fondly known as "Tasha", my wonderful chestnut Saddlebred mare and certification partner.  She was my best friend and top program horse.  One day in the spring of 1998, while the farrier was here, I tied Tasha (in her halter) to a hitching post in my yard. It was just for a minute - I’d be right back. 

As I tied her, a little voice inside me told me not to – she had pulled back while standing tied in the past. I ignored the voice; she hadn’t pulled back in a long time and we had done so much giving to the bit work since then - she could now even step on her reins and immediately give to the pressure 100% of the time – surely she wouldn’t pull back in the halter now.

I was wrong. 

During the sixty seconds that the farrier and I were in the barn,   Tasha pulled back.  I will never know why she did, nor is that  important.  Unfortunately, her leather halter did not break, but the post she was tied to did.  It flew back behind her and a sharp edge hit her sesamoid bone (hind ankle), causing an open joint wound and shattering the small bone into five pieces.

Tasha was rushed to Wisconsin Equine Clinic in Oconomowoc. Under the expert care of Dr. Doug Langer and his dedicated staff, she struggled valiantly to recover. In spite of the best of care and her valiant efforts, she didn’t make it. On June 3, 1998, Tasha died.

Many would say this was just a freak accident - that it wasn’t my fault. 
I disagree. 

I put Tasha in a situation that I knew could be dangerous. I ignored that common sense little voice. I rationalized that since I got away with tying her before, I would get away with it again. I know that anything you want your horse to do consistently, you must teach her to do. Teaching requires a lesson plan and lots and lots of practice.  But I hadn’t taught this lesson - I skipped practicing in the halter.

 I relied on luck instead of training.  And I knew better.

Next time you hear that common sense little voice warning you, 
please think of Tasha and the day my luck ran out. 

If you have even a shadow of a doubt, don’t do it......
for your sake, your horse's sake, and for Tasha.