Tomorrow my husband Jack and I take our carriage horse in to town to take people with disabilities for a ride in the carriage. It’s generally a great afternoon, one that fills you with purpose and meaning. We meet with the other RDA (Riding for the Disabled) volunteers and together we spend the afternoon with a group of local adults with disabilities to varying degrees. Its an activity we have only just started but it is so worthwhile. There are very few activities for older adults with disabilities but carriage driving is perfect, they get to spend a day out, challenge their fears and step out of their comfort zone. It gives them something to talk about, look forward to and I think in some cases, something to dream about.
a life with purpose...
Buddy is our wonderful carriage horse. He came into our lives back in February this year, he had finished his trotting career and was due to go to the doggers. Six months prior we picked up another SB (Standardbred) from the same trainer, we had mentioned to the trainer that we were looking for a quiet horse for RDA carriage driving and one day, out of the blue he rang and said he had a horse, we’d have to come that day because he was going on the doggers truck that afternoon. That was Merlin, a big beautiful black horse, a horse with presence that I will tell you about in another post. As it turned out, Merlin wasn’t really suitable for RDA but he stayed with us anyway. We found another little SB and she was coming along OK, still not exactly what we wanted but she had promise.
One morning, about six months after picking up Merlin the trainer called again asking if we wanted another horse, we already had 11 horses and couldn’t really take any more. I told him we’d think about it and after a week he called back, the horse was going on the dogger truck and if we wanted him we’d have to come that day. He was the brother to Merlin but he was so quiet we thought he was drugged, the trainer assured us he wasn’t so we took him on trial for a week.
We weren’t disappointed, we couldn’t have wished for a better horse. Buddy is now another treasured member of our family and he helps bring some happiness into peoples lives and a real purpose into Jacks. He is so gentle and trustworthy and does his work without effort.
I watch Bud and I know he has been emotionally effected by his racing career but in time he will heal. We are grateful that he has come into our lives, and its feels good knowing that we can help Buddy and in turn he helps us and others. He runs with the other horses on 400 acres but he’s still not very happy, I don’t think he trusts the situation just yet, I think he keeps waiting for the day that he will be raced again and he’s very wary. I know that one day he will learn to trust the human and allow himself to fully enjoy his life as a horse. I look forward to that day, it will come, it just takes time and love.
As a footnote, if you have the opportunity to own a SB, I would recommend you consider it. We now have three and they are just the most beautiful horse to have around and to ride. They have blown my theory that SB’s don’t make good saddle horses! If you get the chance, give one a go, I’m sure you’ll get out what you put in 
October 31st, 2009 at 3:21 am
I have just found this blog and am loving it! I have 2 rescued Standies. I has many issues…we are working through them together. I believe these horses have come into my life for a reason, and I am learning more than they are.
November 1st, 2009 at 3:21 am
That’s wonderful. We all have lots of lessons to learn and horses are the best teachers.