Our Gentle Giant

We were asked to foster a senior mare for VEA.  She is 25 years old, and is a very large appendix bred Quarter Horse.  Her name is Joy.  We figured we would be her convalescent home where she could spend as much time as she had left whether it be one year, 5 years or 10....horses can have a pretty long lifespan with proper care. 

Joy decided to surprise us.  She has a lot of spunk and tenacity for a 25 year old, though she lets herself get pushed around by the other horses.  She has a been there done that attitude, and the other horses tend to copycat her.  It is precious watching her splash herself in the creek and then go take a roll in the grass....and even funnier to see Jordin watching and mimicking. 

When she has a saddle on though, she is all business.  She will happily stay in a trot, but she listens to what she is told.  As a result of her amazing-ness her stay with us went from what we anticipated to be a retirement home to our shortest foster arrangement yet.  Joy has already left with an amazing adopter who has another senior gelding.  We will miss our gentle giant.