11/01/2024
Yesterday was the end to my beginning of my dressage journey. I had to lay to rest Rhapsody. August 26, 1999 - October 31, 2024.
Not many have heard much about Rhapsody, she was not one of our horses that went out showing every year, bringing home the ribbons, foaling out our next top horses; but she did play a more humbled roll in our lives, the development of Pferde Farm and the horses you see in the show ring today!
Rhapper was born from my first horse Lyric, who I was so lucky to have for 20 years and laid to rest at the age of 36! Rhapsody was born on my cousin, Haily’s birthday when Haily was just 1, so, Rhapsody stayed in the family!
She is the last of any Rapport blood we have, which is a tough pill to swallow. All that is left is the memories of the Rapport blood I had before; Mac, Merrilee, Pavlova. Memories from the years of summers staying at the barn and getting into so much fun and trouble with all the kids there. Working our tushies off and riding everything under the sun. The place I had my near death experience! Actually, that was Rhapsody’s full brother that got me off, reared and stepped on my chest, but I’m still here to remember those memories, the good and bad and having Rhapsody around helped me hang onto all of those!
She taught people how to ride, she was who Brooke started to learn dressage on, she was who John learned that he would like to have a place in the horse world as he worked with her on long lining and driving, she taught young, working students how to ride and only broke bones on one person, Lindsay Olson! She would be some peoples first times going into the show ring. Trail rides…no problem, grab Rhapsody. She retired her riding career early as I wasn’t doing many outside lessons at the time and she started her new career as raising all the babies! Never having to have one of her own, just raising everyone else’s. I don’t know if she felt lucky or wondering why they dropped them off for her 😂
She raised up Bretton, Dion, coco, Bon Bon and many many more.
She got a big bucket of grain yesterday and a peaceful escape on a snowy day to the brighter side, she can now run pain free and eat all there is to eat. ❤️❤️❤️
Kristen, Mary Schramel - have any photos to share?
