Rocky, our blind old Appaloosa Pony, changed Maria’s life. The old pony was the first horse she loved, and he drew her into the equine world. Maria was devastated when we had to put Rocky down on the eve of that hard winter after weeks of trying to figure out how he could live with Simon.
I took this photo the morning of the Open House, Maria went out to see Chloe, as she always does, and get her gussied up for her many visitors.
I remember all the pet people demanding that we build a new pasture, “just” fence it off, somehow alter the nature of the farm to keep him alive, but we know better than to listen to people giving advice from their computers. The vet persuaded us, she suggested we be merciful and spare Rocky – he was then 100 years old in people years – another winter, and more tension being anywhere near the donkeys, fence or no.
She was right, I am always amazed how certain people are about things they don’t know and have never seen. I didn’t see any of the people giving us such strong advice here on those winter mornings to help feed and care for Rocky, nor are they here now. Animals need to be understood and known as well as pitied and rescued. Knowing their true needs is a form of rescue, I think, perhaps the purest.
When we went to New York City to see the carriage horses, Maria felt the call again, she began thinking about how to get her own horse. Our farrier Ken Norman and his wife Eli rescue horses, Eli thought Chloe and Maria would be good for one another, and she was right. Their relationship is tender and beautiful, and also sometimes stormy and difficult.
When Chloe sees Maria, she starts whinnying and comes running and the two talk to one another in much the same way Maria talks to the donkeys. Each morning, she brushes her, talks to her, they take walks or rides together. Chloe is a beautiful addition to our lives, and another step forward for Maria. Somehow the horses give her strength, touch and uplift her. I see that Chloe needs this too. I am happy we have a horse in our lives again, I believe this will be a long and happy relationship.