24/10/2025
Today we said goodbye to Phil. He was quite possibly the best “gift” horse the world has ever seen. I have known Phil for 22 of his 28 years. We met at a make-shift horse sale. An average size TB in an average chestnut wrapper. A big cowboy threw an ill fitting western saddle on him and ran him in circles in a tiny round pen with terrible footing. His eyes begging for us to make it stop. My friend, Sharon, bought him that day. She rode him and took lessons on him and eventually took him home to live in a big field. 12 years ago Sharon reached out. Phil had a quarter crack that she just couldn’t keep a shoe on and maybe it was going to end him if he couldn’t be still and keep his shoe on. He came to live with me. We learned Phil had a LOT of rules to living a happy life😂 as we learned what he liked, and more importantly, did not like, we realized Phil had a lot more to him than his plain brown coat would make you think. He was kind, honest and spicy in just the right way and Phil didn’t have no in his vocabulary. Every single thing he was asked to do was met with an enthusiastic “yes!” He taught some lessons and he found himself a kid. Sharon eventually gifted him to his kid, Laine(lily). They had a grand time together! They did all the things together, learning to jump, ba****ck/ neck rope riding, gallivanting and shenanigans! When Laine needed to take a big break from riding to take care of an injury Phil returned to teaching lessons. A new rider came into Phils life, Kate. Phil was thrilled to have a new person to teach his ways. Phil was once again gifted to someone who needed him! Together, Phil and Kate had many adventures! He was always speedy but careful and completely forgiving. When he started taking more and more bad steps, Kate retired him completely from riding. Phil has enjoyed his years of retirement, eating grass with his person by his side and greeting everyone who comes to the farm. There has never been a more happy, friendly horse than Phil.
It is so hard to watch our special horse friends go from strong enough to carry us and all our cares away, to struggling to eat and unsteady feet. Lots of times the “right thing” is also the hardest thing. We are all going to miss this little chestnut horse with the biggest heart. ♥️
