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Junior is gone.

1K views 8 replies 4 participants last post by  MIEventer 
#1 ·
Junior's officially gone. I knew it was coming, but it was still sad to go out to the barn on Friday and see his stall empty.


For those who don't know, as I don't mention him too much, Junior was the pony I rode for a good two years. He basically taught me everything - how to jump (I jumped 3' for the first time ever with him as well), how to do a flying change, and how to clip. He wasn't mine and I wasn't financially able to lease him, but that pony and I bonded. The first time I rode him I was absolutely terrified - I'd heard rumors of the evil pony...he bucked one girl off....he bit another girl in the stomach and made her get stitches...I did NOT want to ride him. In the first three lessons, he took me out of the arena nine times (right through the open door). I learned to stop being timid and soon there was nothing I liked more than to take a lesson on Junior. I nearly cried when I outgrew him and had to move on to horses like Scooter and Leo.

He went lame about six months ago I guess it would be. They had the vet check him and nothing could be found wrong. They decided to give him some time off and see what it did. Every month or so my trainer would have me hop on Junior to see if he was sound...he never was. He didn't act off - tried to canter away with me the first time I got on him, and refused to go forward when I asked him to trot (typical junior) but he wasn't sound at the trot. My trainer told me they were looking for somewhere to take him unless he magically got better...but I kind of hoped they never would.

Anyways...shortly after christmas they found a home for him. He was given to a 10 yr old girl who just walks around on trails a few times a week. Really, it's the ideal home for him. He'll have a job and get to live out his life on a nice farm


I got to say goodbye to him at the beginning of December, on my last ride of the year. My trainer let me get on him and play around for a little bit, and afterwards I rode him bareback for a long time. It was nice, and I had a feeling I'd never see him again.

I feel like I no longer have any ties to my barn. All the horses I grew up on are now dead or gone. My friends have all stopped riding with me, and I've changed trainers several times.

Sorry for the novel. Will a few pictures help?

Our first lesson:


Later that summer:



(^all three of those horses are now gone...)

Last winter:



This summer:


 
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#2 ·
I'm so sorry. I understand how your feeling. I worked at a therapeutic barn for about 8 years, and you wouldn't believe the horses I saw come and go. Some were retired, some didn't fit in the program, and some were put down. It's always hard to let go, but I think you'll fall in love with another horse someday. Maybe it won' be the same kind of love, but love all the same. Don't let the lack of Junior take you away from horses. Keep your chin up, at least you know he went to a good home. =]
 
#4 · (Edited)
I'm hoping so. When I can start riding again, I'm hoping to maybe work off a few extra rides a week, where I may start riding some new horses.

When I first opened this thread I thought you were going to say that Junior had passed on. I'm glad he's going to a great home though to live out the rest of his life.

I miss this pony so much! Like you he was the pony who taught me how to ride. He wasn't like the normal school ponies. Even though he was difficult at times, once you gained his trust he was amazing. He was the first pony I ever rode, and kicked me while tacking up for my first lesson. After my first lesson with him I was a bit too scared to ride him. Eventually, when I first started riding him again I was scared to death. But after being put on him lesson after lesson I fell in love. Junior was my first horsey soul mate. We just clicked. I even leased him for about 2-3 years and loved every minute of those few years. I jumped up to 3 ft on him and learned how to become a much better rider. He was also the pony I've fallen off of he most. I've probably fallen off of him about 30 times. I even have a scar on my arm from when he stopped at a jump, and I went flying onto the jump and scraped my arm on the metal jump cup. I was never able to show him because of money but I bet he would have been a superstar.
Sounds just like me! Actually, the more I talk to people at the barn, everyone who's ever spent time riding Junior has a story like us. Seems like he was just special that way :) THey got a new mare named Twiggy and she's supposed to be like a new Junior....I watched a girl fall off of her after Twiggy fre.aked out and bucked at another horse...seems promising, eh?

Actually apparently he was known for bucking at shows XD My friend, who rides at another barn, shows a lot so I'd always ask her if she saw Junior...she always said, "Oh, he was the pony bucking all his riders off, right?"

I'm so glad that I get to see these updates on him from you (and all the other horses and ponies I first rode, too). It is soo sad to see all the horses I started out riding either being sold or having to be put down. I'm glad to hear you got to say goodbye to him. I bet that helped a ton.
Glad to help :) It is hard, watching them leave. Joey is still there, though (did you ever ride Joey?) He's no longer a crazy, instead packing kids around haha. Lilly is still there as well, giving w/t/c lessons. (I think that's all who are left). Obie was sent to a therapeutic riding center a few years ago....Streaker and King died in 2004/2005 (a week apart from eachother)... I think that's about it? I don't know who you would have known.

It was nice to say goodbye...in typical Junior fashion, he bit my helmet when I was putting his blanket on. :) What a perfect snot!
 
#3 ·
When I first opened this thread I thought you were going to say that Junior had passed on. I'm glad he's going to a great home though to live out the rest of his life.

I miss this pony so much! Like you he was the pony who taught me how to ride. He wasn't like the normal school ponies. Even though he was difficult at times, once you gained his trust he was amazing. He was the first pony I ever rode, and kicked me while tacking up for my first lesson. After my first lesson with him I was a bit too scared to ride him. Eventually, when I first started riding him again I was scared to death. But after being put on him lesson after lesson I fell in love. Junior was my first horsey soul mate. We just clicked. I even leased him for about 2-3 years and loved every minute of those few years. I jumped up to 3 ft on him and learned how to become a much better rider. He was also the pony I've fallen off of he most. I've probably fallen off of him about 30 times. I even have a scar on my arm from when he stopped at a jump, and I went flying onto the jump and scraped my arm on the metal jump cup. I was never able to show him because of money but I bet he would have been a superstar.

I'm so glad that I get to see these updates on him from you (and all the other horses and ponies I first rode, too). It is soo sad to see all the horses I started out riding either being sold or having to be put down. I'm glad to hear you got to say goodbye to him. I bet that helped a ton.

Anyways, here is the only picture I have of Junior...
 
#5 ·
Sounds just like me! Actually, the more I talk to people at the barn, everyone who's ever spent time riding Junior has a story like us. Seems like he was just special that way :) THey got a new mare named Twiggy and she's supposed to be like a new Junior....I watched a girl fall off of her after Twiggy fre.aked out and bucked at another horse...seems promising, eh?

Actually apparently he was known for bucking at shows XD My friend, who rides at another barn, shows a lot so I'd always ask her if she saw Junior...she always said, "Oh, he was the pony bucking all his riders off, right?"

Glad to help :) It is hard, watching them leave. Joey is still there, though (did you ever ride Joey?) He's no longer a crazy, instead packing kids around haha. Lilly is still there as well, giving w/t/c lessons. (I think that's all who are left). Obie was sent to a therapeutic riding center a few years ago....Streaker and King died in 2004/2005 (a week apart from eachother)... I think that's about it? I don't know who you would have known.

It was nice to say goodbye...in typical Junior fashion, he bit my helmet when I was putting his blanket on. :smile: What a perfect snot!
I know! I've heard quite a few stories just like ours. Junior was definately a special horse once you got through his nasty shell. Twiggy definately sounds like another Junior, but definately won't be able to replace him.

Also, I went to watch a few shows that Junior was in and he seemed to do pretty well, as long as he liked the rider. But if he had a rider on him he disliked it was a disaster.

Yes, I rode Joey a few times. He was the grey horse who was really thinly built, right? If he was, I loved riding him. He was so speedy and awesome to ride around jumper courses. I'm glad to hear Lily is still there. She was the horse I first jumped on and also fell off of a few times. Obie was my mom's favorite horse there. He was a great horse to ride when you wanted to perfect your cues because he would only listen when you asked him perfectly. I loved how he smiled for treats, too! I never really rode Streaker much, but I loved King. He was the main horse I first learned to ride on (along with Citris, I think his name was). He was so much fun and I loved taking him on trails. I just remembered I have one picture of King, too, and here it is...



Also, that sounds like a typical Junior goodbye! Atleast he didn't get your skin. :lol:
 
#6 ·
I know! I've heard quite a few stories just like ours. Junior was definately a special horse once you got through his nasty shell. Twiggy definately sounds like another Junior, but definately won't be able to replace him.

Also, I went to watch a few shows that Junior was in and he seemed to do pretty well, as long as he liked the rider. But if he had a rider on him he disliked it was a disaster.

Yes, I rode Joey a few times. He was the grey horse who was really thinly built, right? If he was, I loved riding him. He was so speedy and awesome to ride around jumper courses. I'm glad to hear Lily is still there. She was the horse I first jumped on and also fell off of a few times. Obie was my mom's favorite horse there. He was a great horse to ride when you wanted to perfect your cues because he would only listen when you asked him perfectly. I loved how he smiled for treats, too! I never really rode Streaker much, but I loved King. He was the main horse I first learned to ride on (along with Citris, I think his name was). He was so much fun and I loved taking him on trails. I just remembered I have one picture of King, too, and here it is...



Also, that sounds like a typical Junior goodbye! Atleast he didn't get your skin. :lol:
Yeah, Twiggy has some big shoes to fill! (figuratively...Junior's feet were actually teeny tiny)

Yeah Joey's the skinny mini. He's a cutie though. he's not fast anymore, the younger kids ride him now as kind of a buffer between pony and horse. I rode King one time and he made me cry.

Lilly's such a good girl. She's my mom's favorite horse, and after a lady fell off a few months ago my mom was SO excited to get to put Lilly away! She's the only horse my mom trusts (I don't blame her...Junior and Brooke bit, and Leo kicks).

I have a scar on my shoulder from junior. he definitely got skin then! oh well, something to remember him by eh?
 
#7 ·
Yeah, Twiggy has some big shoes to fill! (figuratively...Junior's feet were actually teeny tiny)

Yeah Joey's the skinny mini. He's a cutie though. he's not fast anymore, the younger kids ride him now as kind of a buffer between pony and horse. I rode King one time and he made me cry.

Lilly's such a good girl. She's my mom's favorite horse, and after a lady fell off a few months ago my mom was SO excited to get to put Lilly away! She's the only horse my mom trusts (I don't blame her...Junior and Brooke bit, and Leo kicks).

I have a scar on my shoulder from junior. he definitely got skin then! oh well, something to remember him by eh?
Twiggy definately has huge shoes to fill!

Yeah, I remember Joey, but I didn't ride him too often. That's awesome Joey has calmed down some. I bet he's a perfect school horse. He was always calm and forgiving when I used to ride him, just fast. I used to love King. During my first year of riding, he was the main horse I rode. He was so awesome! Oh, and Lilly! She was the sweetest horse. I loved her high pitched winny, it was so cute.

And yes, I definately have many scars to remember Junior from. I'm actually kind of thankful for them because whenever I see them I always remember the crazy, snotty pony who helped me become the rider I am today.
 
#8 ·
Twiggy definately has huge shoes to fill!

Yeah, I remember Joey, but I didn't ride him too often. That's awesome Joey has calmed down some. I bet he's a perfect school horse. He was always calm and forgiving when I used to ride him, just fast. I used to love King. During my first year of riding, he was the main horse I rode. He was so awesome! Oh, and Lilly! She was the sweetest horse. I loved her high pitched winny, it was so cute.

And yes, I definately have many scars to remember Junior from. I'm actually kind of thankful for them because whenever I see them I always remember the crazy, snotty pony who helped me become the rider I am today.
She's got the CUTEST jump - I hope I get to ride her once or twice when I start lessons again! aha.

he really is. For the little kids, he just goes around in circles perfectly. For the more advanced riders (or after he's had a week off), he's more spunky...he'll spook, buck, and refuse jumps. But nothing so severely to the point that someone would be scared, hah. It just makes you laugh cause he's so cute.

I like my scars, too. Plenty to remember Junior by :)

I found a video of me riding him probably three years ago, he was so young!
 
#9 ·
I'm sorry sweetie, I know it is really hard to say goodbye. It is very hard to say goodbye.

At least you know he is at a wonderful home, where he is still going to be used and loved and adored by another young girl.

Every horse that comes into our lives, come into our lives for a reason - to give us a gift that they were meant to give us. So that we can hold onto that and cherrish it in our hearts and minds.....and so that we can use that gift to make ourselves that much more of a better rider, for when the next horse comes into our life.

Take everything Junior gave you, and hold onto that and use that.
 
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