Horse Trail Chicks

We have not posted for several weeks, for which we apologize. It has been a very dark time for us, as Kerrie’s thoroughbred, Prophet, was ill and, sadly, passed away on Friday.

Prophet, née Clear Profit, was born in 1999, bred for the racetrack. He had a successful racing career, earning almost $80,000 with 14 starts. After retiring from racing and then spending a decade in unknown circumstances, he came to our barn in Vermont. At first he was very difficult under saddle – stopping, bucking, and rearing. Kerrie’s friend Mindy took him on to keep him from the auction house, planning to train and then sell him. Kerrie offered to help. They discovered that he had health issues and got them treated. Kerrie gradually spent more and more time patiently training him. She fell completely in love and bought him from Mindy for $1. Prophet has been her faithful riding partner ever since.

If you met Kerrie you might at first think she was one of those nutty horse people who fawns over her horse, tells people she is the only one who can ride him, that he has the most wonderful and quirky personality, and has no faults. But in time you would come to realize that, in fact, Kerrie is not nutty and Prophet was nearly perfect (except for having frequent health problems) with a very interesting personality (just look at some of the videos on her Facebook and blog posts), and though he would allow other people to get on his back he would only let them ride briefly; then he would suck back or move sideways or just stop altogether. He also seemed to get mad when Kerrie rode other horses.

Kerrie and Prophet had the kind of relationship that we all dream of but rarely achieve. Although many retired racehorses find trail riding too scary, Prophet eventually came to love trail riding and even preferred the woods over dirt roads. He loved to gallop really fast and took every jump as if it were 5 feet high.

He rarely spooked and if he was ever afraid of something, gentle reassurance from Kerrie was all he needed to move past it. He trusted her completely. When Kerrie went out to the pasture to get him, he would whinny and come to her (while my horse just gives me the “if you want me you’ll have to come get me” look). Kerrie was absolutely devoted to Prophet, who ranked even higher than her boyfriend in her life (fortunately Josh, like many horse-boyfriends/spouses, is resigned to this reality). Prophet was equally as devoted to her. Her love for him, gentle approach, and patience had transformed him from wanting to kill her to willing to do anything she asked and I am certain that he loved her as strongly as a horse is capable of.

As I have gotten older, I increasingly appreciate the good things in my life. I think this comes from realizing that nothing is guaranteed and that everyone on the planet has many daily struggles.  Every day that I spend with my horse I think to myself, “I am so lucky to have you and that you are healthy and so good to me.” Any of us could lose our horse at any moment. I know it’s trite, but true: don’t take anything for granted; love your horse; appreciate your horse’s good qualities; tell people how lucky you feel. When I think back on all the times Kerrie talked about how wonderful Prophet was, I never thought of it as bragging. I saw it as her deep appreciation of this wonderful horse. She is terribly unlucky to have lost him, but fortunate that she profoundly cherished him every single day of his life.

Prophet, you were one-of-a-kind. You made Kerrie so happy every day and I believe she made you happy too. Your life was far too short and it breaks my heart that the two of you did not get to enjoy the retirement she had planned for you, grazing in the pasture behind her house.

Happy trails, Prophet.

If you wish to help Kerrie with her large vet bill, you can do so here.

Monica