We searched the papers for ads selling horses and lo and behold someone was giving away two mares "free to a good home.” How does that saying go - “Never look a “gift horse” in the mouth?” I don’t think they were on the mark with that one. I learned very quickly that you should always be suspicious if something is for nothing. It turned out that Lady and Stardust were rank horses that were let go too long with no training and bad attitudes. I had them for a short time and even with professional help, they were very unpredictable if not dangerous to ride. We didn’t keep them very long. We traded them and 500 dollars for a Palomino. This is the horse that threw my wife and caused a broken wrist. We didn’t keep him very long either. His name was Mr. Ed but apparently he didn’t speak our language and had a mind of his own. We called him the “twenty minute” horse. If after twenty minutes of riding, he got tired he would just decide to lay down whether you were on him or not. This was very disconcerting, especially if you had to walk home from a trail ride dragging a horse behind you. We were very discouraged at this time but my determination to find a good horse was strong.
I read an advertisement in the “Pennysaver” that there was a “seasoned” gelding for sale in Peekskill, N.Y. Now, the funny part of this is that Peekskll is where I worked and lived for a good part of my life. We called and made an appointment to see this horse. My daughter was about seven at this time and she was also the main reason for my interest in securing a safe horse. She was very disappointed in my first few choices and was asking, “When are you going to buy a horse that I can ride?”
Upon our arrival at what they called Circle P we were brought down to a lower barn and introduced to Mr. Goodbar. Mr. Goodbar was a mixed breed gelding (castrated male), sorrel (reddish brown) in color and stood 14.2 hands (58”) at the withers (top of shoulder). He seemed kindly and easy-going. We asked that he be saddled up and he was then led into their ring for a trial ride. Being the brave father that I am, I decided that since this was a horse for my daughter, I would put her on the horse first.
The horse was saddled and my daughter perched upon the horse. Mr. Goodbar was being led around the ring when all of a sudden black clouds gathered in the sky and a bolt of lightning struck not ten yards from where the horse was walking. This horse didn’t even flinch. I couldn’t believe it since I was struck almost blind by the bolt of lightning. I decided right then and there that this was the proper choice for a starter horse for my daughter.
We had joined a 4-H club in our area and I asked advice from them about purchasing a horse. They told me to have the horse “vetted” before purchase. I followed their advice and had a local vet check the horse out. We were informed that the horse was approximately 13 years old and had some hoof problems. I asked how serious the problems were and was informed that he was sound enough for a beginning rider. I negotiated on the price and was the proud owner of Mr. Goodbar. “Goody,” as he was referred to when we took purchase of him, seemed content in our new home and my daughter spent her free time bonding with the horse, grooming him and with my help, saddling him up and walking around our makeshift ring. We realized that this horse had a good heart and a kind soul, if animals can have souls. He was gentle and put up with our ineptness. He tolerated being saddled the wrong way, brushed the wrong way and actually through his patience and tolerance of us, we learned a lot from him.
As the summer approached, it came time for the show season and we found out that we needed shots and a “coggins test” in order to show him. We called a local vet and he came up to give the horse a full exam and test his blood for Equine Infectious Anemia. This is a virulent virus that is very contagious and almost fatal in horses and every horse is normally tested for this. In the course of the exam, the vet, Dr. Gandel, informed us that the horse, by his reckoning, must have aged a few years since the time we bought him a few months ago. By examining his teeth, he reckoned that the horse was closer to 20. It’s amazing what a few months on grass can do. We also discovered that since he was on grass and in a pasture instead of a concrete barn floor below grade, his hoof problems seems to have lessened. Everything else checked out fine and he was given a relatively clean bill of health.
Through the 4-H club my daughter belonged to and I volunteered time for, we discovered a number of opportunities for my daughter to “show” her horse. I think I got more joy than she did when she garnered many ribbons for “peewee” barrel races and pole bending as well as showing in Western Pleasure. She also took “Goody” to summer camp and was responsible for caring for him on her own for five days. At this time she was only seven years old. Goody was her best friend and companion for many years. She learned a lot of lessons about patience and determination that only animals can teach people. He was her refuge after a bad school day. She would come home, head out to the pasture, saddle Goody up and trot him around so that she could clear her head. This was therapy for her and served her well for many years. This type of service from an animal cannot be measured in dollars, but we always referred to Goody as our million-dollar horse. My wife and I also rode Mr. Goodbar in some shows and at home. He was kind to us and we also learned the basics of horsemanship with him.
As it happens to all of us, even humans, Goodbar slowed down and got older and my daughter became a better rider, looking for more challenges and faster horses. Goodbar was shown only in slower classes and my wife spent more time riding him. We found another horse for my daughter- a faster performance horse that could run barrels and poles and keep her in the championship classes. Goody was still part of our family and lived a long life here on the farm. He was used only for small trail rides and trotting around the ring locally.
One evening about three years ago, we looked outside and noticed that Goody was lying down. This was unusual because of the time of day. Usually, horses take their “siesta” in the late morning while being guarded by the rest of the herd. This results from many years of evolution and the “flight rather than fight” attitude of horses. Alerted by this unusual behavior we sent out to see what the matter was. We knew he was old and suffered from arthritis and other problems endemic to old age but it never dawns on you that this could cause serious problems until they actually happen. This seems to be a way of life for all of us. We put unhappy thoughts out of our heads for as long as we can.
We went out to the pasture and discovered that the poor old boy was down and could not get up. We pushed and prodded and we saw that he didn’t have the strength or power in his rear legs to raise himself. We pointed him down hill and with much prodding, we got him upright. We hoped that being upright, that he would maintain his balance and stay that way. The condition deteriorated so badly that we wound up using heavy blankets and a front-end loader to raise him up. We put him in a stall, tried all kinds of supplements and medications to no avail. It got so that when I was at work, I dreaded a call from my wife that he was “down again.” It came one afternoon in March about three years ago. My wife called and said, “He’s down and I don’t think we should do this any more. It’s time.”
We called the vet and explained our situation. Being the wonderful person he was, he explained that this was a good thing and Goody led a very good life and should have a peaceful death. He should not suffer any more. We made an appointment for that afternoon and Dr. Gandel came with his drugs and counseled us on how this was the right thing to do. I think every pet owner always wishes that somehow his or her pet would somehow disappear before it is time to make a decision like this. It is nicer to find that the spirit has left the animal on its own than to have to be the one to make the decision to take its life.
So the deed was done. We held his head in our arms as he faded away and we all cried. This was the million-dollar horse that helped my daughter grow up, that gave us many years of pleasure, which became a family member, who we talked to and bonded with. Mr. Goodbar will live forever in our hearts as long as they beat. Memories are bright and strong and his deeds with us and for us will sustain us. God bless this super horse. He can be numbered as better than any championship racehorse that ever won the Triple Crown because he was our Mr. Goodbar.
