HGG Community Forums

I didn't mention it on here, but the first horse I ever owned passed away suddenly in April. It was really hard and it's taken a while, but I think I'm ready to find a memorial horse for him on here. I'm looking for a chestnut warmblood gelding with nd1, a dark mane and tail, pangare, and no white markings.

I first met Zip after a freak snowstorm had just blown across Oklahoma. I had to wade through waist-deep drifts to find him in the farm's back pasture. He shared this pasture with eight other geldings, all of whom suffered from severe neglect and only had a few piles of moldy hay to chew on. Zip was lame and 300 pounds underweight, but appreciative of the human attention he had lacked for so long. The first time I groomed him, he backed towards me for butt scratches, which was alarming at first! He kept up that habit for the rest of his life, and we always had to warn guests about it. Although he hadn't been ridden in three years, he was gentle and kind with me and my younger sister. We knew from the beginning that he was a keeper.

Over the years, Zip became a part of the family. He featured on our Christmas cards and taught countless young kids to ride. My 2 year old cousin cried when we tried to take her off of him, so we let him graze on the lawn while she played on his back. My 81-year old horse-obsessed grandmother enjoyed a ride on him a few months before she passed after years of battling dementia. His gentle spirit earned him the 4-H Horse of the Year award for my state, and I still keep the award plaque tucked away.

Though he had a kind and gentle heart, Zip suffered lifelong effects from the trauma he experienced before he came to me, including severe separation anxiety from his herd. Although our wonderful farrier and vet team kept him in the best condition he could be, the previous neglect had worn his body down and he was retired to the pasture in his late teens. He lived the good life for a few years, and died suddenly when his heart decided it had had quite enough stress and was ready to be done. He's buried on our property, and whenever we ride past his grave, my other gelding stops of his own accord to hang out and pay respects.

Thanks for listening - I know this happened a few months ago, but with all the collective loss of this year, processing has not been clean or easy. Love to all, and hug your ponies and other pets!