EscapedfromNewYork, arrived in 2009, with a broken ankle that had long fused on its own, he was severely underweight and had never seen a carrot. He passed away this week, of complications from colic. Before he died, he had grown strong enough to race Grade 1 winners Commentator and Fabulous Strike to their evening meal. But he was never strong enough to have a second career, or his own family to care for him. He was one of our youngest retirees and he should have been able carry a young rider on his back. He was gentle and quiet with the just right amount of energy. He was a curious, inquisitive soul who offered his help once when we entered his paddock to repair a fence board. What he might have accomplished had his early life turned out differently! But his ankle never healed correctly and he always bobbed in a rocking horse kind of way when he cantered. All the same, he never held those hard early years against humanity. He was a champion in his mighty heart and we were honored to have him as a part of our farm. He and AP Slew were pasture pals for a long while and they grew into their newly formed confidence and strength together. In the end, they joined up with a band of geldings in adjacent paddocks leading up the hill. Gone were the small, hard luck horses. In their place stood survivors, proud and sleek. When Scapey, as I called him, showed symptoms of colic this week, he was rushed to Rood and Riddle where he experienced a cardiac event which took his life. I thought, that surely, a heart that endured so much early hardship must have advanced in age more quickly than the spirit Scapey possessed. And as his beat its last, there was surely an audible crack heard from the hearts of those who admired and loved him so. Run on, side by side with AP Slew who surely was waiting for you in that high pasture. I miss will your sweet, curious face until I see you again. Your friend, Viv
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 02:21:49 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015