Buddy is my best friend. We have had our ups and downs since we first met. Our first Pony Club ride he tried to get me off by any means necessary....bolting, bucking...even rolling. I even told Mum I wanted to sell him. Not that I could go through with it.
After a few months we started to click and we were going great together..at a trot. I had never canter before and my Riding Instructer would not let me into the line up unless I cantered. Well, lets just say we were out there for a while, but we finally cantered. All that day and since then on we have never stopped.
In 2003 I noticed an odd spotting pattern over his coat, so me being me I searched and found he was infact a Few Spot Appaloosa...well, this answered a few of my questions, his white sclera, his natural ambition to go slow and go beautiful, as well as the answer to many peoples comments, "He is so slow", this suited me fine. We were destined for greatness in the Western World.
8 years on after we first met, we have been through so much together. Spills, wins, thrills, disaters in water jumps etc. We have also had many great times. Simple things like winning Blue after Blue at Regional, and winning the Youth Champ 2 years running and res 3rd year. Buddy even got the High Point Ridden Appaloosa Hack. We have also had bigger wins such as High POint NSW Rider and placings in the Top 10. Buddy was my horse during it all, without him I would have just been a spectator.
The bigger things we have been through such as learning to ride, and learning how to do Western, English and Showmanship for our Open Performance Showing. As well as learning the truth behind his big eyes, his great big loving heart.
Even to the last days, he was striving to please me. One time we were training for a big jump show, and we were jumping 80 cm jumps, I decided to try my hand at a 90cm jump. We had everything right, and his heart was in it. We leapt over it but we crashed though it mid way and it may a disaster area. We tried again at 80cm and he cleared with ease. His heart was in it, but we just were not ready. His jumping, he would just clear the jumps, from a 20cm to a 85cm, he would just clear each one by the same amount, inches. People would comment to the Jump Coach, that horse won't make that jump, he's not jumping big enough. True, he wasn't jumping big enough, he was jumping enough.
To the last day, lying in the stable, he tried so hard to get up, so hard to sit and stand. He winnied when he saw me, like he would each and every day. For without seeing me, and I him, we would both fret, to the point he would not each even if he was 2 doors up the road. He has such a big heart, and such a huge willingness and trust in me. He did things only I woudl ask of him, and if someone else asked him to do some thing, he would not do it. Only with me, only for me.
Buddy, you are my best friend, forever I will remember our lessons together, the way you were all mine and how we were each others world. I love you so much and I will never forget you, you will not only be a part of my heart forever, but you will own it for my lifetime and beyond. My truest friend and my bestest friend. You will always be a part of me. My beautiful Buddy, my Buddy Boy...Buddy My Boy... My Few Spot, My Friend.
