07/18/2015
Bailey came into this world in April 1985 – a gorgeous buckskin with an amazing life in front of her she was ready to explore. It wasn’t until 15 years later, while living in Orange County, CA., did we get the chance to share her life. I had acquired Rebel, a small and sassy Bay Quarter Horse, and taught Teale how to work around horses and care for them. She began English riding lessons, formed a good ‘seat’, and quickly fell in love with and switched to Western riding. Her growth in learning to ride and her love for horses moved us into searching for a horse of her own. That’s when Bailey entered our lives. A been-there-done-that horse, Bailey spent six years in the Rainbow Rider, an equestrian drill team, rode in parades, did a little roping and reining, and a lot of trails. We went to see her in Ramona, CA. and Teale quickly fell in love with her. Before we knew it, she was being delivered to us in an old 2-horse straight load trailer that came with her for one price – what a good deal!. Teale immediately loved on her, spent lots of time grooming her, and started riding her on trail and in the arena. Shortly thereafter she wanted to start roping on her, so we trailered nearly every weekend to Pomona, CA. to a roping practice. Bailey seemed to be a natural at it, bolting out of the box and chasing down the cow – with the exception of wanting to bite at the cows. Teale took to it naturally, as well, and outperformed many of the riders there. One day when trying to load Bailey into that old 2-horse straight load trailer (that she was really too big for), she reared back and came down on her front feet and walked away limping terribly on her hind leg. The damage was done – she has torn a large hold in her semitendinosus muscle and needed therapy treatments and rest for five months. Therapy consisted of medicines, hot/cold water therapy, massage therapy, sound waves, and anything we thing would help. After the long five months, Bailey healed up extremely well and was back on track to riding again. Smartly, we sold that old 2-horse straight load trailer that she was too big for and got a new Logan 2-horse slant load – Bailey walked right in (nearly) every time. Not too long after, Teale went off to San Diego to college and Bailey followed along. We boarded Bailey a small private ranch in Lakeside and Teale continued her riding and cleaned stalls to earn part of her board payments. She brought many friends over to visit Bailey and even get a short ride on her in the arena. Everyone was impressed with her beauty, strength and calm attitude. When Teale graduated from college and became busy with work, missions, and other things, Bailey came back to Orange County to be with Rebel, and another horse I had acquired, Cowboy. They lived comfortably in a stable, but I always knew larger paddocks or pasture would be best. It was in 2007 that I moved from Orange County to the San Diego to be closer to family, particularly my ailing mother. I had shopped for horse property around San Diego County, but I kept coming back to Ramona, the birth home of Bailey. It was there that I brought her home to a 5-acre property with pastures that they could run freely in. Bailey and Rebel were trailered there first. When I unloaded them and put each in their own pasture, they immediately ran to the top of the pasture and back several times, investigated each inch of their new home and quickly relaxed into their new environment. Cowboy came next into the third pasture and the whole family was together. Teale moved in and spent some time with Bailey, having friends over to ride and rope off her, and generally just to be around her beauty and calmness. Bailey was the perfect example of what horses do to a person’s heart, how they can bring calmness to chaos, show love when you didn’t think there was any, respect at all times, and curiosity and silliness like a young foal. In 2011, Teale married Justin and moved to Tennessee. Bailey was now 26 and fully retired, so she meandered the pasture, did a lot of napping, loved her carrot treats, and was the love of both Cowboy and Arthur’s lives. Arthur is a new Quarter Horse I acquired and quickly became pasture mates with Bailey, with Bailey being the boss. However, Cowboy, being in the next pasture, was truly in love with Bailey and was very jealous of Arthur. Cowboy would cry and run back and forth any time Bailey would leave the pasture to go into the barn or for any reason. Cowboy loved Bailey, but I never really could tell how Bailey felt about Cowboy – she was quite aloof with any horse. She was her own amazing horse. In 2014, Teale and Justin brought an amazing little boy into the world, my grandson Liam. They called Tennessee home now and want more children, so I made the decision to move to Tennessee. I made all the arrangements, put the house on the market, landed a job, and moved across county with Bailey, Arthur, and Cutter in April 2015. Yes, Cutter was a new Quarter Horse I acquired for trail and Cowboy was no longer with us – his legs had given out and he could no longer walk, which is another whole story. Anyway, they were moved in a large air-ride horse hauling truck and seemingly made the long, hard trip without trouble. But I immediately knew something wasn’t right with Bailey, now 30 years old. Her temperature was extremely high and the vet was called out, many tests were run, and a diagnosis of “shipping fever” was made. She was immediately hooked up to IV antibiotics and was administered a host of other anti-inflammatories, respiratory meds, and other things. She lost her appetite and dropped down at least 300 pounds or so - we were doing everything we could. Trying everything to get her to eat, but the infection and the heat and humidity of Tennessee were taking a toll on her. She began to improve sometime after three months of medicines, although she was weak and needed to gain, but we were hopeful. Her temperature leveled off, her white blood cell count was getting better and she was eating more. Then on July 17, 2015 after eating a good lunch, she just laid down and said goodbye. Her body said it was time and now she’s at peace in the pasture overlooking Arthur and Cutter. We miss you Bailey Girl…
