Archies story: It all started a few years ago. My Dad was dying of cancer, so at that time I decided to move back to North Dakota to be able to spend some time with him. About 2 weeks after being home, My Dad said to me, I think we need to find you a colt. At that time, I didnt have a horse of my own. I always told myself that I just couldnt afford it, but I couldnt say no to my Dad. We spent some of his last months going to several big stock sales in Bismarck ND and werent having much luck. I then started looking on the internet for a colt. I ended up finding a cute little two and half year old Grullo paint, and my Dad agreed that he looked nice. I got him and named him Mikola (translates roughly to my friend ). He was the best gift I ever got from my Dad! About a month after getting Mikola, my Dad passed away. He helped me with training, and we spent some good times fixing up the barn and making hay together. I asked my Dad if there was anything he wanted to do before he got real sick and he said to me Im doing it!. He never got to see me ride Mikola, but I knew every time I went out for a ride that he was watching me from above. Mikola became VERY special to me. I moved back to Colorado that next spring. Mikola and I had a lot of adventures together for the next two years. Hauling and riding in some of the most beautiful mountain areas Ive ever been in. I saw so many breathtaking vistas through his ears! Then this last spring, we had strangles go through some of the herd at our ranch. All the horses got through it fine, but Mikola couldnt kick it. It developed into internal strangles. I took him down to the best place I could find: The Colorado State University Veterinary school in Fort Collins Colorado. We tried everything we could, but it was just too much for him. I had to say goodbye to my friend and we put him down the morning of Memorial Day. It was the hardest, and the best decision Ive ever had to make. After that, I was planning to wait a while before even thinking about another colt. But something (or someone from above) made me remember something...when we were kids, my Dad used to drive out the Indian reservation close to us in North Dakota and wed go look for the wild horses running around. Not sure if any of them were Nokotas, but my Dad always said how hed love to catch one. Thats what got me doing research on the North Dakota wild horses and eventually to the Nokotas. So the search began! It helped ease my pain of losing Mikola and helped me get through that hard time. I ended up finding Archie! He was at a ranch in Nebraska not too far away at Crum Creek Ranch. I called the owner Rodney Whipple. He sent me photos and a short video of Archie, and I was stricken. He reminded me SO much of Mikola! I knew I had to him. My friend and I drove out with an empty trailer to take a look. I think it took less than a minute after meeting Archie, that I knew he was coming home with me! With some fight, we got him in the trailer and the door shut. Left the trailer divider open and him untied. He did well on the 8 hour journey. When we got back home, we backed the trailer to the arena gate and opened the door and let him out. He was VERY excited and could see his new herd in the pasture from the arena. He was also VERY scared and wasnt trusting me AT ALL. He was rearing and spiking at me when I tried to lead him in the halter. I thought, what have I done??!! Hes going to be A LOT of work for me! I Kept him in a small pen next to the pasture for the first few days and we did A LOT of trust me sessions in the round pen. After a couple days, he finally went from turning his butt into me to kick, to following me around and putting his head into my chest for some love. I then knew the hardest hurdle was over! :-) He has come SO far in three months -much faster than I expected! He is definitely the smartest horse Ive ever worked with! I am looking forward to my new adventures with Archie. He is SO MUCH like Mikola that its a bit scary, but also VERY comforting. I catch myself calling Archie, Mikola, all the time. I still miss my friend Mikola...I can no longer see him with my eyes, or touch him with my hands, but every time Archie and I go out for a ride, I feel him in my heart.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Nov 2014 19:06:06 +0000
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