The Newest Member of the Family

For those who've known me a while, you're most likely aware that I lost my sweet gelding, Gunny, this past summer due to a bad case of colic.

Gunny and I gathering cows on Bad Water Creek
2012

I bought Gunny in 2007, when it became clear to me that it was time to retire Baron from active duty. Gunny and I traveled all over together when I was the Thunder Mountain Pro Rodeo Queen in 2008, and when I decided to move to Wyoming, Gunny came with me. It never mattered if I was broke while in college, I always scraped together enough money to have Gunny fed at the little stable outside town where I kept him. He was my partner and he was a part of me, a part of how I saw myself. Losing him at just 13 years old felt like losing a part of who I was.

I lost Gunny in July, and it's taken me until now to feel okay about it. It also took until now for me to feel okay about finding another horse. And I know the Lord is good to me, because right about the time I thought I could handle it, the perfect gelding appeared.

Meet Jethro, better known as Jet:

Jethro
Nine-year-old Quarter Horse Gelding

Turns out you can be blessed enough to have more than one awesome horse in your life. Jet is just the right height and temperament for me--a little quirky, really sweet, comes to his name, can smell a horse cookie from two miles off, and he whinnies at me every afternoon when I get home. 

For those of you who don't own horses, it might seem strange to place so much importance on one, but for me, having my own horse is exercise, joy, and therapy all wrapped into one, and that gelding helps anchor me to who I am and how I relate to myself. 

Losing Gunny, while different from losing a human family member, was a huge loss nonetheless, and I was overcome by grief. I couldn't figure out how to relate to myself any longer. But time and support helps grief, as does finding a new horse to help fill that void. 

So, welcome, Jet-a-roo!!!

I am thrilled to have you :-)