I started riding in October 1992 we were paired together and to begin with I thought you were really stubborn.  I soon realised you were simply misunderstood, I fell in love with you.  We soon became a partnership and you would not allow anyone else to ride you, the owners of the yard told me you had been sold on the 15th of January little did I know that I was your new owner.

From then on we had so much fun, I stopped you from being used in the riding school and we started going to shows.  You loved showjumping and would try your heart out.  We began getting showjumping lessons and you would take off, Cameron would chase you with a lunging whip because I would take my legs off you.  My mum and dad bought Sammy for Charis in the March and a lovely trailer so that we could go out more.

You loved going out to shows, pleasure rides and beach rides.  You always behaved, well you had the odd gallop but we loved it!  Remember when we did Chase me Charlie no one believed you could jump but I knew you would, the highest we had jumped at home was 3ft 6 but at the show you cleared 4ft 2!You started to be a bit silly when it came to loading but that was just you, you could be so stubborn at times!

You could be so naughty going through electric fences, taking hours to load you could be such a pest with the farrier but I loved you for it.  You managed to break all of my toes at least once but you never meant to it was always me being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  You gave me so many frights getting ill with laminitis and a sore tummy, I could always tell when you were ill and would spend hours with you willing you to get better.  I would sit with you hand feeding you.  Even when we had a really bad fall, you tried hard not to hurt me, making sure you rolled in the other direction.  We spent ages healing together, we took life slowly after that enjoying hacks and riding in the field.

I bought Rosie and you were not happy to share me.  When you were tied next to her you would make faces and try to bite her.  You loved hacking out in Dunnottar Woods you would take off during the hacks it was so much fun!  You would kid on you couldn't keep up with the bigger horses, you would canter when they trotted and gallop when they went for a canter.  I put you on loan so I could bring Rosie on but they didn't look after you aswell as I did and I couldn't have that so eventually Charis enjoyed riding you.

Even though you had slowed down you were still cheeky shredding rugs and acting like a four year old when being ridden in a field.  You loved playing with Tarek the two of you were either best friends or worst enemies remember the winter that you couldn't even look at him without trying to kick him, we had to use lunging whips to keep the two ofyou apart.  Eventually you accepted Rosie and would happily come in with her.  I rode Rosie whilst someone else rode you, you were such a good boy you showed Rosie exactly how she should behave and wouldn't bat an eyelid when she got scared and ran up behind you.  It felt great being out with you going on long hacks with my two favourite friends.   I bought you a new lightweight synthetic saddle to make sure you were comfortable, you loved it you seemed to have much more freedom, it was worth every penny to see you happy.

When I got married my one request was to have a photo with you in my wedding dress.  It was such a laugh me trying to sit on you bareback with a sheet over your back and me in my satin slippy dress.  You posing for the photos not bothered about my train and veil.  I treasure those fabulous pictures of us together.   You looked like a proud father!

This last winter you struggled your feet were sore and you got cold, when I put a rug on you would shred it.  In December you started to lose your facial hair and would keep sweating I couldn't see you like this so I got the vet out.  Nothing was found but I knew you weren't yourself no one would listen so I made the decision to allow you to retire, enjoy life and be pampered like you deserved.  You loved being groomed, fussed over, kendalmint cake and enjoyed your likits.  You started to become very very stiff we enjoyed a ride in the snow but you were very slow and stiff so I took you back in.   Even though you were sore you didn't complain or try to throuw me off, it was just like you, you never complained or tried to hurt me.

When March came you started losing more weight, by the time it came for you all to go out you were struggling to walk and looked so sad.  I knew something was wrong and couldn't bear for you to suffer.  I called out the vet.  It took a month of tests to discover that you were seriously ill, I knew it was time to let you go.  Throughout all the tests you remained cheeky but you didn't fight as much as you had.  I knew the time was getting closer for me to make the horrendous decision of letting you go. 

You waited for Bailey to arrive and watched over him, I was pleased that you had time to enjoy the sun on your back and play with your friends.  I stayed with you throughout everything, you had always been there for me.  When it was time you remained calm and when you were given the sedative you started to go. You lay down and I snuggled into you telling you how much I loved you.  You were gone very quickly, I know you had hung on for me but it was time for me to release you from your pain.  You looked so happy and painfree, I couldn't face seeing them take you away so Scott stayed with you.  You always liked him and I knew you would be in safe hands. 

I miss you so much, you were my best friend, you listened to me no matter what and never judged me.  You always tried your best and gave it your all.  Who is going to whinny to me now?  Who will stamp and paw to get treats? Who will cuddle into me and allow me to cry on their shoulder? 

I will always treasure our time together and you will live forever in my heart until we meet again my Charlie horse.