Reunion Aloft - Saying Goodbye to a Special Horse

Reunion Aloft – Saying Goodbye to a Special Horse

Today is a sad day at the stables, as a friend bids a favorite horse farewell. Saying goodbye to an old equine companion may be one of the most difficult and painful, yet loving, things a horse lover may ever do.

We hope her sadness is softened somehow by the certainty that this special one is fairly beckoned upwards by his lifelong friend, who went on ahead about 18 months ago.

Gallop on, boys! We’ll miss you.

Reunion Aloft

The day has come,

The clouds foretold.

A cherished chum

Will join the fold.

Our hearts may fall

To watch him go.

We miss his call,

The bleached beau.

A partner dear

Calls him aloft.

We cannot hear

The whisper soft.

We witness not

Reunion’s glow,

As comrades trot,

Their joy to show.

His limbs are strong.

Behold, his gait.

He strides to song

With running mate.

Their chalky coats,

White and champagne,

Do fairly float

In flight, free rein.

Without a word,

But winged, fair,

They join the herd

In open air.

Image/s:

Cloud and Albert photo/s copyrighted by Linda Ann Nickerson

Nickers and Ink

“Death is the starlit strip

between the companionship of yesterday

and the reunion of tomorrow.”

Mark Twain (1835 – 1910)

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• Top 10 Favorite Songs for Horse Lovers
• Unbroken - Rhyming Courses on Wild Young Horses

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Zap! It’s a Zorse!

Zap! It’s a Zorse!

 (posted for the A to Z Challenge)

Z is for Zap … and Zorse.

Well, zikes! Gadzooks! That’s not a horse!

What is that creature? It’s a zorse!

A zorse? What, say you, could that be –

This creature that begins with “Z”?

This little equid in his stripe

Belongs to an unlikely type.

His lineage is quite a mix

Of horse and zebra, just for kicks.

 

Image:

Zorse Foal

Photo by Sarah Hartwell

Creative Commons Licensing

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Equestrian Terms 101 - What is a hinny? What do you call a cross between a Jenny and a stud? It’s a hinny. What is a hinny?

Image:

Zorse

Photo by Olliver

Public Domain Photo

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Borrowed Phrasings

Borrowed Phrasings

I lost my dear mare a few days ago ... and I am (for once) without words.

Here are some classic borrowed phrasings, known as "The Rainbow Bridge for Horses."

Anyone who has ever said goodbye to a much-loved horse may be familiar with "The Rainbow Bridge for Horses," but the words may touch us all nonetheless. A friend included this sweet poem in a handwritten card, which touched my heart.

You can find the poem online and read it, if you wish.

Feel free to follow on Google Plus and Twitter. You are also invited to join this writer's fan page, as well as the Chicago Etiquette Examiner, Features' Pets - National Pet Examiner, Madison Holidays Examiner, Equestrian Examiner and Equestrian Examiner - Madison and More on Facebook.

Treasured

Treasured

Anyone who has ever truly loved a horse knows how impermanent and unpredictable life really is. Statistically, horses can live to a healthy twenty-something. Sturdy ponies can boast even greater longevity.

Still, even a young horse can break hearts, slipping away far too soon.

My own special mare, a dear dam of twenty, has given us some beautiful babies and many years of kind companionship and righteous rides. Recently, the cycle of lymphangitis has given us several scares and more than a few emergency vet calls at the barn.

Last night was no exception. Lately, I’m almost leery of answering my cell phone, particularly when the caller I.D. reveals a call from a barn chum.

We know we are sharing borrowed time, so we will try to treasure it.

Photos c2010 by Nickers and Ink.

Stocking Up

A Rhyming Ridge Too Close to the Bridge

The horn may sound, and hounds may bay;

Companions search for words to say.

We watch for hours at her side,

Awaiting yet the coming tide.

The fever strikes; the lymph nodes swell.

Perhaps the clock may only tell.

I cling fast to a fraying rope,

And in the melting mud, hold hope.

It breaks my heart to see her fall. –

Another close call after all.

c2010 by Linda Ann Nickerson

Posted for a variety of prompts:

Meme Express (“mud”)

Simply Snickers (“horn,” “hound” and “hours”)

Weekend Wordsmith (“rope”)

Photo Prompts:

Camera Critters 

Love poetry? Check out Simply Snickers, a brand-new weekly poetry prompt. Try your hand with weekly prompts!  Or, look into The Meme Express for daily blogging prompts.

Click here to visit Linda Ann Nickerson’s poetry and humor blog, Nickers and Ink.

Click here to subscribe to an RSS feed for this writer's helpful Helium content. If you wish, click here for a free subscription to this author's online AC content, so you won't miss a single post! Do you love horses? Check out the content from the National Equestrian Examiner.

On Edgar Winter, A Horse Known as Cloud

On Edgar Winter,

A Horse Known as Cloud

This blog entry is dedicated to my friend Lisa, who rescued two very senior white horses a few years ago, after their initial owner died. (Look at the cool bracelets she makes to support these horses. They're sold on Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville website.)


One of those old fellows, a Cremello Quarter Horse originally named White Cloud (but also known as Edgar Winter and Cloud) passed away today.

(Scroll down to see a slideshow of Cloud and his friend Albert.)

These two elderly gentlemen have long been tagged "The Dirty White Boys" of their pasture, perhaps for their penchant for finding the smallest speck of mud in which to roll.

So long, Cloud. We will miss you.

A Cloud Unveiled

His glory days had long blown by,

This creamy horse, straight from the sky,

When she discovered love again

A-nuzzling his ivory mane.

Although Cloud’s back was ever swayed,

He promptly stood to let her braid.

And marched her twice around the pond,

Devoted with a heart most fond.

A Quarter Horse, long past his game,

He quickly to her heart took aim.

She rescued this one and his pal

A pure white gelding known as Al.

These dirty white boys held their court

In highest fashions for their sport.

With polka dots and fancy trims

They proudly pranced on ancient limbs.

These pensioners beyond belief

Soon willingly turned o’er new leaf.

They sprouted wings, at least in heart,

But couldn’t bear to be apart.

Now Cloud has gone alone ahead;

Arthritic longings he has shed.

Perhaps he prances in the sky

Through thunderheads aloft on high.

His comrade Albert, Sir the Lame,

May linger, nickering his name,

And search the pasture, ne’er to find

His equine partner, Cloud the Blind.

Inseparable, though they’d be,

For years until eternity,

Now Albert strolls a solo stride

Without Cremello horse to guide.

For cloudy eyes of palest blue

Have since regained their light and hue.

This noble gentle equine friend

Will gallop pastures without end.

c2010 by Linda Ann Nickerson

“But I have promises to keep,

and miles to go before I sleep,

and miles to go before I sleep.”
Robert Frost

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Posted for a variety of prompts:

Easy Street Prompts (“glory days”)

Meme Express (“promises”)

Monday Poetry Train (poem/s)

One Single Impression (“wings”)

Simply Snickers (“linger,” “look” and “love”)

Sunday Scribblings (“new leaf”)

Theme Thursday (“polka dots”)

Weekend Wordsmith (“game”)

Photo prompts:

Camera Critters (photo/s)

Scenic Sunday (photo/s)

Sunday Stills (photo/s)

Thursday Challenge (photo/s)

Wordless Wednesday (photo/s)

Love poetry? Check out Simply Snickers, a brand-new weekly poetry prompt. Try your hand with weekly prompts!  Or, look into The Meme Express for daily blogging prompts.

Click here to visit Linda Ann Nickerson’s poetry and humor blog, Nickers and Ink.

Click here to subscribe to an RSS feed for this writer's helpful Helium content. If you wish, click here for a free subscription to this author's online AC content, so you won't miss a single post! Do you love horses? Check out the content from the National Equestrian Examiner.

What Style of Boot Are You?

What Style of Boot Are You?

I haven't done one of these blog quizzes in a long while, so this sounded like fun. I thought maybe I'd be surprised by the results - for once.

Not exactly.

What style of boot do you think might represent you best, at least, in the eyes of the quiz makers?

Here are my results - along with a great big "Duh!"

Hey, Santa -
Are ya readin'?

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You Are Cowboy Boots

You are incredibly down to earth and happy with yourself. You don't pretend to be someone else. You also tend to be very practical. You don't really have a lot of room for fluff in your life. You are a very honest and direct person. You will give anyone a straight answer, even if it's a bit uncomfortable. While you're quite sensible, you always like a little bit of flash in your life. You don't overdo it, but you do like turning heads.

What Kind of Boots Are You?

Blogthings: A Fine Line Between Insight and Stupidity

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And Style to Boot
Did you do a bit of after-Christmas shopping this year? Did you spend Christmas cash at the post-holiday sales? These red-hot cowboy boots may add savory style long after those red and green Christmas clothes have been stashed for the season.
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Some children have an exaggerated olfactory ability to perceive odors at a much more extreme level than the rest of us. This may lead to nausea, which may quickly become contagious. Read on (in rhyme).
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The Boot Salute - a Quatrain Mix for More Than Kicks
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Glancing at Prancing

Glancing at Prancing

All summer long, the streets of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, sported a rather unique herd of horses. Painted by local and regional artists, the Prancing Carousels adorned sidewalks, shop porches and store windows. At the end of the summer, the carousel horses were auctioned to benefit an area therapeutic riding center.

(CTRL-click here to read more about the Prancing Carousels and the S.M.I.L.E.S. Therapeutic Riding Center.)

Here’s my slideshow, filled with photographs I took of the 2009 Prancing Carousels of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, this summer:

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One of my personal favorites, of all the Prancing Carousels of 2009, was Paisley Pete, by Sybil Brauneis Klug.

Paisley Pete

Photo copyrighted by Nickers and Ink

Bally-hue

With psychedelic patterned coat,

With tail a-flip and mane afloat –

A living statuary proud,

He gallops motionless ‘mid crowd.

Elusive though his spirit be,

No shame may fade his gaiety.

Restarting rainbow’s wondrous glow,

He prances proudly, off to show.

Aye, could it be he knows the cause

For which he prances without pause?

As now this technicolor steed

Displays his daunt for others’ need.

So riderless, yet on the edge,

Imagination pays its pledge.

One day, he’ll grace another home,

This happy horse with colored chrome.

c2009 by Linda Ann Nickerson

Posted for a variety of prompts:

Easy Street Prompts (“living statuary”)

Heads or Tails (“edge”)

Meme Express (Friday Freedom)

Monday Poetry Train (poem/s)

One Single Impression (“elusive”)

Simply Snickers (“know,” “need” and “now”)

Sunday Scribblings (“shame”)

Totally Optional Prompts (“restart”)

Photo prompts:

Camera Critters (photo/s)

Scenic Sunday (photo/s)

Sunday Stills (photo/s)

Thursday Challenge (photo/s)

Wordless Wednesday (photo/s)

Love poetry? Check out Simply Snickers, a brand-new weekly poetry prompt. Try your hand with weekly prompts! Or, look into The Meme Express for daily blogging prompts.

Click here to visit Linda Ann Nickerson’s poetry and humor blog, Nickers and Ink.

Click here to subscribe to an RSS feed for this writer's helpful Helium content. If you wish, click here for a free subscription to this author's online AC content, so you won't miss a single post! Do you love horses? Check out the content from the National Equestrian Examiner.