I bought Kyley on June 12, 1988 for $500 - every last penny I had in my savings account at 12 years old. She was three years old then - barely halter broke, and nothing like the horse of my dreams that I had imagined in my horse-crazy mind. In place of the large bay hunter gelding I had been dreaming of for years, was a 15-hand solid black mare - defiant, untamed, and not at all ready to leave the farm where she was born.
Over the years I was shown again and again why this solid black mare was destined to be mine. Through years and years of hard work, determination, ribbons, trophies, 4-H drill team, and long trail rides, Kyley and I grew up together, and have been inseparable ever since. She taught me the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, and everything in between. She had a beautiful filly in 1996, and I now own her 4-year-old grand-daughter. Our farm, Candlelight Acres, is named after her.
I'm now 32 years old, and Kyley is 24. Many miles and many years between the two of us, we still have that special unspoken bond that only exists between a horse and owner that have been together through thick and thin, for over 20 years. She's retired now (has been for years) and recently foundered. It's literally the first serious health problem I have ever experienced with her. And it's very scary.
This morning I stood watching her quietly eat her hay, and took note of her overall appearance. I guess this was really the first day I have ever thought of my Kyley as being 24 years old.... She has been 3 in my mind for so many years now, that I think my brain fools me into thinking she hasn't aged at all.
Everyone tells me she looks fantastic for her age. And I am extremely thankful for her health and vigor - and she rarely acts her age anyway. But it's an interesting time for me - this is the first horse I have had for this many years, and the first time I have really had to face owning an aged equine. I worry about her all the time - what she eats, how she's walking, and if the pasture is too slippery for her. Now that she's foundered unexpectedly, I find myself staring at her feet constantly, and taking a lot more notice of her comfort while she's moving. It's a different type of horse ownership for me - one that has kind of snuck up on me all of the sudden after all these years. I don't think I'm quite ready for this, although I don't think anyone ever really is.
I will own Kyley until the day comes when this Earth is no longer graced with her presence. I'm hoping that's 10 years down the road (at least).... When people ask me how long horses live, I have always said 'Somewhere around 30-35 years old, except Kyley, who has promised me she'll live forever.'
For those of you reading this who are currently experiencing owning an older equine, I know how you feel. And this morning, it occurred to me that she isn't as young as my brain thinks she is, and that tragic brevity of time is scary. I love my sweet Kyley - she is the one who 'started it all' for me. I pray that I have the wisdom to help keep her healthy, happy and comfortable during her twilight years.
