Monday, March 7, 2016

bye bye Bali

My dear ear be-fuzzed buddy Bali leaves our farm today - returning to the rescue agency to hopefully be placed in a new home with a rider who loves him dearly. I am... so very sad.

I haven't written much about him lately just bc of the sad factor... and actually haven't been doing much at all with him aside from the occasional snuggles in the field or when I bring him in for breakfast on the weekends.

But we spent a lot of quality together this weekend, as I said my goodbyes and got him all cleaned up so that he might look loved and presentable at the rescue.

Obviously this included washing all the mud and grime off his gorgeous luxurious tail. It was only in the mid 40s, so too cold out for much else in the way of bathing... Oh well.

I also tackled his thick lovely mane again - as it had grown out substantially from the last time I trimmed it. 

It was a bit of a quick trim (I was trying to make it quality time for both of us - not torture the poor baby!), but I think the shorter length looks much more dapper... if you ignore all his bite marks from playing so hard haha. 

I also clipped a couple choice areas - beard, bridle path, and fetlocks. There was much carnage haha - esp given how inquisitive he is. Notice he pulled all my boots off the rack and tossed them all over the place lol.

Then it was time for something I hadn't done since we x-rayed him in December: I rode him around for a little while.

There's no real reason for why I stopped riding him... other than it just made me too sad. Learning once and for all that he would not be staying at my farm, and that there was nothing I could do to change that... well. Yea. Just sad. 

Tho of course I've been able to enjoy watching his lease rider continue working with him, as she leased him right up until his very last day at the farm. They even came to OF lessons a few times with much fun and success. In another lifetime with a different budget, I would totally buy this horse and continue leasing him to her.... Le sigh. 

As it was, tho, I kinda just bopped around a little bit, since he and lease rider had their last lesson together later in the day and I didn't want to make him tired. Not that it was particularly likely haha - he was FULL OF IT. Launched a HUGE buck into the left lead canter and I very nearly ate shit... Oops lol. C'mon Bali, that's not really the note I want to go out on!!

Mostly tho we just played. Popped over a couple cross rails, stood around in the center so Mr Always Itchy could get all up in Kaitlyn's space for head rubs (lol), and just enjoyed his company.

It kills me that I get so easily attached to these horses... But idk. He's a pretty lovable special horse. Here's hoping that there some other rider will be just as nuts about him as I am, and that he finds the perfect new home. 

In the meantime, I've got a couple other pictures and videos that I haven't previously shared that will probably crop up over the next few weeks... But for now, I'll finish this sad sack little post off with the collection of videos of our brief time together.

They're mostly in chronological order... except for this first one, our stadium round from the CT we did last fall. Definitely one of my most favorite jumping rounds on any horse EVER - so if you only watch one video, make it that one.








Oh Bali... He might have some issues... but he is one FUN horse to ride and hang out with!

38 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry that he's not going to be around any more, but I have complete faith that some other person is going to love him as much as you do and he will end up in a perfect home.

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  2. You have given Bali some good skills, so someone will find him and love him as much as you do!

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  3. Although it is sad to see him go, you gave him skills to take into his next chapter. You paid it forward in karma! I hope he finds someone that will appreciate him as much as you did. He sounds like a neat little horse, and exactly the type I would be looking for, if I was looking.

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    1. Oh and PS - I feel EXACTLY the same way as you do, and can't continue riding a horse if I know they are moving along. Too painful. :(

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  4. Safe travels, Bali! You can't keep every horse, but you can work to improve every horse's skillset while you have them, and I think that's what you did for him. :) I'm sorry to see him go, but hopeful he will find his person.

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  5. Bali is lucky to have met you. It is a crappy situation but you gave him skills and whoever takes him will know what they are getting into. That is the best you could do for him. Hopefully he will find his own person.

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  6. I'm glad you two had each other in your lives, I'm just sorry it was such a short amount of time. Not a whole lot of lesson horses would've gotten the amount of individual care that you gave him and I'm sure he appreciated it.

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  7. Sorry you had to say goodbye, but hopefully he finds the perfect home soon.

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  8. Awwww, that's too bad :( Hopefully someone will scoop him up and give him a great home. I'm sure he loved his time you!

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    1. with you* I swear this keyboard hates me.
      (he's such a cutie I'm sure someone will take him home)

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  9. Hugs for you, and godspeed Bali! The love and training you were able to give him will surely set him up to find his very own special person this time around. I just know it!

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  10. So very sad :( I am hoping he lands softly and in an appropriate career with someone to love him like you did!

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  11. So sorry to see him go :( But it looks like he's landing fairly softly since he's going back to his rescue. I hope he finds his person soon!

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  12. I know you are sad, but I am hopeful he will find his forever girl! I'm sure all you've done for him will help him with that!

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  13. Aw Emma, so sad for you. I wish I could help find Bali his person somehow! :(

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  14. Aww farewell Bali! He is a better guy for having met you and the lessons will make him much more adoptable.

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  15. Working with sale horses is rough, especially when they're so easy to fall in love with. Hopefully the tools and skills you equipped him with will make his transition to a new home quick and easy.

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  16. Awww... I hope he gets the best new home and his own person to love!

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  17. I hope Bali gets a soft landing, he certainly sounds like he deserves it. I hope you can rest easy knowing that you gave him a second chance and some extra love and support when no one else really wanted to. I think there's a reason for these special projects that come into our lives:)

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  18. I'm so sorry. Here's hoping he finds the perfect home in record time /)

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  19. Sorry he's going back. I know that's a bummer. Fingers crossed he finds the perfect home though.

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  20. Sad! Sorry he had to leave. I hope that he finds the perfect person to love him. Hugs.

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  21. Fingers crossed for his forever home to pick him up soon <3

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  22. I'm sorry he's going back, but hopefully he'll find a good home.

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  23. Aw, sad to see baby Bali go! I hope he finds a wonderful home.

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  24. Sorru, Em. On the brightside, he did teach you a lot, and you really did make the best of your time with him :)

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  25. So sorry he isn't going to be able to stay, but I'm sure all the work and love you put into him will only make him more appealing for another owner!

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  26. Aw, bummer Emma, I'm so sorry.

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  27. So bittersweet! It really is too easy to get attached to these creatures.

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  28. Aww Bali, I hope he finds his person soon! All of the work you did with him will surely set him up well for the future.

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  29. So tough when the horse's physical limitations are a deciding factor! Hoping he finds a lovely home with a little girl to love and spoil him <3!

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  30. Big hugs. Bye Bali I hope you get a wonderful home.

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  31. Oh nos :( So sad. Bye Bali we will miss you!

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