Above: Justin riding JIm. Jim was such a blessing to us all. Jim was a part of many happy memories for a lot of us.
Below: Candice riding Jim and Jessica riding Jack. Girls heading out to go riding. 
Although my dear Jim was a retired roping horse and not a retired barrel horse, I still feel this poem fits him perfectly. He was the love of my live and I miss him still today...
The Game Horse
He was tied up to the trailer out behind the stands,
a blaze-face sorrel gelding, roughly 15 hands,
High withers, slightly ewe-necked, back a little swayed,
white hairs on his muzzle, eyes sunk in with age.
An old warrior with his best years long since gone away,
left here baby-sitting at a small-town horse play-day.
Watched over by her parents, a young girl kissed the horse;
they coached her on the fine points and wished her luck, of course.
He hardly seemed to notice when the small girl took his lead;
he followed without balking but not with any speed.
She climbed on and walked him round some, he went without a fuss;
his head was down, the reins were slack, his feet dragged in the
dust.
When they called her name his ears pricked up, she sat up in her
seat;
trotting to the gate there was new lightness in his feet.
When they got into the alley he flared his nostrils wide,
picked up the bit and arched his neck, she latched on for the ride.
She let him go and as they went the years melted away,
and he was once again the barrel horse he'd been in younger days.
With eyes on fire and muscles bunched, raw power in his stride,
blazing speed and energy wrapped in horse's hide.
He had chased the cans from old Cheyenne to the Calgary Stampede,
from Amarillo to Salinas, he had lived the game horse creed:
'Run to live, live to run,' it was printed in his genes,
from nose to tail his big heart pumped blue blood through his veins.
Coming through the pattern they touched the last can some;
it was still up on its edge when they were halfway home.
When she asked him for a little, he gave her all he had;
the barrel stood, the run was good, and the time was not too bad.
When she pulls the saddle he's an old horse once again,
but while he's running barrels, he's all he's ever been.
So here's to that old gamer -- may our golden years like his
be filled with golden moments and glorious memories,
Of races run and races won, of places that we've been,
of friends we've made along the way and good things we have seen,
And someone who will need us for what we still can do--
may our needs be small, our wants be less, and our troubles be but
few. |
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Jim waiting patiently on me so we could go riding.
My Dear Gentleman Jim:
Jim was the horse that everyone wanted to ride and you knew that you could trust him to take care of whoever was on his back no matter what their riding experience...
Jim taught several kids to ride and he helped to build confidence when it was low.
Jim you touched the hearts and lives of so many people and you brought us all such joy,love and happiness...
Thank you for being such a wonderful part of our lives...We miss you.
Sadly on Sept. 21,2006 we had to euthanize Jim due to health problems. Jim was 24yrs old.
Jim, I love and miss you dearly, you won my heart the first day I met you and the day you passed on you took a piece of it with you.
You always warmed my heart with your welcoming nicker.
I will always miss your soft coat and your warm breath and I will miss all the special moments we shared at feeding times, just hanging out in the barn or pasture together and the rides we shared enjoying Gods beautiful creations. Jim you gave me so many happy moments and I will forever cherish the wonderful memories of the times we shared together. I look forward to the day that we will be together again to ride in the open fields and to the day that I will be able to again wrap my arms around your neck and feel your warm soft coat. I miss you so much my friend and I will forever count the days till we are reunited.
I pray that you are now pain free and enjoying big green meadows with all your loved ones that went on before you..
The Horse Angels
The Horse Angels came for me.
Oh! What a sight to see.
For now I'll live among the heavens,
For all eternity.
Even though, I'm now in Horse heaven,
I will always remember the love you shared.
The tender way you held me close,
The ways you showed you cared.
I laid my head within your lap,
You stroked my fears away.
You made me feel at peace and rest,
Until my dying day.
I know you loved me very much,
Your kisses told me so.
Then all the hugs you gave to me,
I'm sorry I had to go.
I see the tears that you cried for me,
But we aren't so far apart.
For I will hold your memory close,
And keep it within my heart.
But, now that I am in the land of Heaven,
There are lots of horses like me.
Where they weren't quite so normal on earth,
Here, they are as normal as any Horse can be.
So please wipe a way that tear,
We are not so far apart.
For I will always keep your love,
Within my Horse Heart.
Author Unknown |
