Meet Zelda. She's about 36 yrs old now if not older. We acquired Zelda in 1991, July 4th to be exact. On July 5th, the vet estimated her age to be a minimum of 19 yrs old. Probably closer to her mid 20's. So an exact age for Zel isn't possible. Notice all the white coming out under her forelock. Under her mane there's a lot of white also. Zel got a treat today of going out in the front yard to eat a little bit of grass that may still be hanging about. She found one big clump that she kept grabbing so much of she had to spit half of it out. This old gal is as steady as they come. She still has spunk and a bit of energy, but any time they kids start ripping up the pasture, she sticks close to the barn and out of the way. Zelda is 14.2hh and is a Morgan / Qtr cross from the best we can figure.Zelda has an interesting story. She came to me straight off of a meat truck. A kill buyer had stopped to fix something on the truck and a friend of mine had seen her and a pony, they didn't look like they belonged. So he called me and asked me if I'd be interested. Of course! Bring her here! So he did. When she got here, she was in need of a little medical care. She had a chipped shoulder and a popped splint. Best guess was it had happened on the trailer. So we doctored her up, and let her just be a horse for about a year. I would apply a piece of mold able plastic to her leg every day, 2x's a day, vet wrap it, soak it (hot and cold), bute and just let her rest.
After her recovery, Zelda has taught many children how to ride, she's been a therapy horse since I've had her and has helped a few older children learn patience and basic horsemanship. She's taught them to love and be accepting too. She may be retired from just about all riding activities, but she still likes to kick up her heals once in a blue moon. She will gladly pack around a small child and is ever so careful with them. If she feels the child start to loose their balance, she will stop dead in her tracks. I will readjust them, get them set and we can start off again, but only when she feels that child is safe up on her. Her job now is to teach the babies how to behave and be respectful. She is, in her mind, their Grandma / mentor. She does a good job of it too!
Zelda is by far the best horse I've ever had the pleasure to be owned by. While she no longer helps with equine therapy, she will always have a place here until the day she's called to go over the rainbow bridge. That day, I am not looking forward to, but I know that she's earned that at the very least from me.
