OK - a big huge gigantic enormous exhale here. Talk it out Tuesday? Here I come.

My daughter called me from Alberta today, in tears. Of course, I hit the worst possible imaginings, and it was none of those. First big exhale. But the news was still not good. Our wonderful horse, the one my daughter first met at 16 the first summer she ever spent away from home, somehow fell and broke his leg this morning and had to be put down. This was one incredibly special horse. Here we are together - many years ago!

At 16 (17?), my daughter decided to follow a boyfriend out to Saskatoon for the summer. My condition was - find a job. Or don't go. She sent her info to every horse farm, breeder, trainer, and fanatic in the area. She found a job working on an Appaloosa breeding farm to help finish the young horses just returning from their 4 weeks of professional training (3 year-olds) and working in hand with the younger horses. It turned out to be a fantastic experience for her. The boyfriend did not last, but the horse experience did. There was a yearling horse there that fell in love with her. He would wait by the fence for her to arrive every morning and gallop along next to her car until she parked. He followed her everywhere. At the end of the summer job, the owners gave this beautiful registered horse to my daughter because they felt they had not paid her anywhere what was owed for the wonderful work she did. He arrived at our place the following Spring. This was the first time we had trained a horse from the beginning. My daughter was the first person to ever ride him, and we 2 were the only people who rode him for the first 2 years. He was a fun, brave, curious, goofy, amazing horse. I have never been around another one like him. At one point, I seriously injured my knee and could not put any weight in a stirrup. This was the horse I rode only bareback until I could use a saddle again - he was so well balanced, and so incredibly aware and considerate of his person that there was not one moment I felt insecure. Even when he spooked and bolted from a rattling hay wagon, he kept his balance so well I had no trouble staying on. He was silly (loved sweeping the floor with a broomstick between his teeth, or stealing the farriers tools out of his tool belt while having his hooves trimmed), loved kids and small animals, and always was happy to see us. Even his bad days were no big deal - he had given us so much, we did not mind putting up with his little fussiness from time to time.

Well, today, he met a premature end. Somehow he slipped and fell in his field and broke his femur - the really big bone in the upper leg. Nothing could be done, and he had to be put down. I cried all afternoon after my daughter phoned me in tears. 11 years with this horse was not enough. Even though they were far from me, that horse has been a huge part of our lives together as my daughter became the wonderful adult she is today.

OK, sorry for the bummer! I have NOT had a good food day - many things were eaten and drunk today. I'm sure tomorrow will be better.