07/19/2025
Tonight, we said, "See you later," to one of our golden girls. Blondie was one of a kind. She fought off death, I can't even count how many times. Coleen and Jansen and I would plan our time out of town around each other so someone was always here at the farm just in case...when BEC first adopted her, the girls swore she would always "try to die" whenever I would go out of town.
She survived everything life threw at her for over 30 years, and life threw a lot her way. She had chronic uveitis in both eyes and heaven forbid she keep a fly mask on. A few years ago, her "good" (less bad?!?) eye ruptured, and we had it removed emergently. She stayed overnight in the hospital like she owned the place and left the next day calling for her new donkey best friend.
She took Al under her wing, then Pickles, then Whiskey. She raised probably close to, if not more than, 100 riders. She taught them to steer only if they wanted to stay in the ring. She taught them an independent seat, only if they wanted to ever leave the gate in the jump ring. She always, and I mean always, answered me when I called to her on my way back and forth to the house, "Hey Blonde Girl!" She loved her girl Naomi with all of her heart. Kids and instructors alike would often be left with their jaws agape when they would watch Naomi ride her, seeing what Blondie kept hidden inside for only a select few special riders.
While I won't miss the pins and needles every time my phone beeps or rings when I'm away, i will miss her little nicker and her feisty attitude. Rest easy, girl. You've more than earned it.
