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| KATIE |
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Today I lost my best friend. One minute she was a happy go lucky mare named Katie--the next she was gone. When I leave the ACTRA finals in Reno I leave behind a friend that blessed my life, took me to many victories in the arena, and a horse that no other can take her place. The morning began as any other--she was impatient banging the door any time I got close, begging for attention. She got her very last bath that morning, ate her very last breakfast, enjoyed her very last time with me. I returned in the afternoon to saddle for the very first roping at the finals. When I got out of the truck I said to the friend with me, "Watch how she knows my voice," but there was no sound of joy that she usually showed. It is one of those dreaded moments--I knew instantly something was wrong. When I looked in the stall her eyes were laced with pain, she was down. She only hesitated a minute before she struggled to her feet to come to me. Friends raced for medicine, to call a vet, trying to help in any way possible. A hour later we were standing in a veterinary clinic with six people working to save her life--while a sweet little mare stood trying to fight for her life, still laying her head in my arms and following my every move with pain ridden eyes. Sometimes you have to make one of those dreaded decisions. She had a twisted colon-- I know I made the only one possible but it still hurts. There is a time when you know she has given her all--so we spent our last time together with her head in my arms as she consoled me as much as I did her. I had to walk away with her in my heart and my trailer empty. She showed everyone that she too had the biggest heart, the bravest soul, and a bond that she took to her grave. Grown men cried as she showed a strength and love that humbled them. Katie was a sale barn purchase, who had less than 30 days of roping and had never been in competition. Within three days she was asked to prove her worth when our other heel horse hurt himself and she had to go to the WTRA finals in his place. Every time she backed in the box at the finals she just got better. Within a two week time she attended the WTRA finals and the ACTRA finals making more money than we paid for her. The last two years I placed second in state for ACTRA year end, won the mixed roping at state 2001 and 2003. She won the mixed roping in 1999 at Sheridan County rodeo, and carried us to numerous other wins. She was used by my nieces when they were young and never moved a muscle when one of them hung up on her getting off in a goat run. She packed dudes, she packed flags in grand entries, she rode bareback, and she was never lame a day of her life. She took the jerks of being tied on like a big horse--but most of all she had personality. I will go on and rope, I will go home with an empty trailer to an empty stall at home, and most of all I will go on. But today I say good-bye to a friend--a friend that always gave unconditional love--Katie, I love you and I always will. Thank you for all the good times you gave me--love always Diana. * I want to thank everyone who helped and consoled me. The Wyoming group was wonderful as they comforted and did everything they could to help. People I had never met went over and above with caring, and everyone back home were the greatest. Never could anyone have had such emotional support. Thank you for everything. |
Garth Brooks', "The Dance".
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