Losing a Friend - Tribute to Bugaboo
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It was about 3 years ago when I first laid eyes on him. He was a little grey Welsh Pony with big brown eyes. He had arrived at the farm that I ride at with two other horses. They all came from the same farm. I didn’t know it then but this little pony would be a big part of my riding.
He was mostly used for beginners at the farm, so I never got the chance to ride him. That all changed though when I started helping my instructor out at the farm during the winter. I would clean stalls, turn out horses, break the ice from the water buckets, do the feed, etc. In return, she would let me have a free ride. That was a big deal to me, because I didn’t own my own horse, and I only rode once a week. Well one week for my lesson I was asked to ride Bugaboo, because he was being difficult for the little kids, and it didn’t help that it was winter. So I got to ride him. The lesson was great. He is such an amazing pony. Let me describe him for you.
Some days Bugaboo is fast and some days he is really slow. I usually ride him with a crop, and a baby spur. Bugaboo has wonderful gaits, and isn’t hard to steer at all, except that he would fall in at the canter going to the right. He loves to jump, but he can’t jump very high, just up to 2 foot. He can’t jump 2 foot courses though because he gets tired as he goes along. Because he loves to jump, he goes fast. Even though he is 13.2 hands tall, if you let him, he can get the horse distance between jumps. One thing that Bugaboo was known for was his “zoomies” especially in the winter. You can be going around the ring nicely and then all of a sudden he would just fly across the ring, and he won’t stop. When he does this he gets himself nervous, and if you pull back to slow him down, he goes even faster, and just gets even more nervous. So the first thing you have to do is calm him down, which takes awhile. Bugaboo would also get nervous during transitions, such as from the canter to the trot, or vice versa. He would also swap his leads at the canter if you weren’t bending him enough.
As I rode Bugaboo more and more, I learned to ride him better, how to keep him calm, and how to handle his “zoomies”. Everything was going great. I rode him for two years straight, and it felt like I owned him. One thing that I love about Bugaboo is his personality. He was a lot of fun to ride, and he was such a loving pony. For example, on one occasion I was standing in the middle of the ring during my lesson, as my instructor was talking to me. Then all of a sudden there was this big loud thundering noise that came from behind us. Bugaboo went from a halt to a gallop in a matter of seconds. My first reaction was to pull back on him, but of course that doesn’t help if your reins are on the buckle. So, because my reins were that loose, I was leaning backwards as Bugaboo was going forwards. I landed on my back, and I was really shaken up. I got up, and sat down on the stairs. As I was sitting there, one of the girls walked Bugaboo over. He walked right over to me with his ears pricked, and he looked at me with those big brown eyes. It looked as though he was saying, “I’m sorry. Are you okay? I didn’t mean it.”
You can’t resist those big brown eyes of his. If he did something bad, and he’d look at you, you can’t help it but forgive him. The following summer after my lesson, my instructor told me that the lesson program was ending, and that the school horses are going to be sold. I was so upset. Also, my instructor wasn’t sure what she was going to do either, and I couldn’t imagine riding at another barn, especially with a different instructor. Throughout my 6 years of riding I have moved to different farms 4 times, and I have stayed with the same instructor. Well, after I got Bugaboo un-tacked, I asked her about Bugaboo, and how much he was for sale for. She told me the price and it wasn’t expensive. I was so determined to buy Bugaboo…..he would be my first horse. Well, I talked to my mom about it, and she said that we can’t buy him. “Where are you going to get the money?” “Where are you going to keep him?” “Where are you also going to get the money for the vet, ferrier, etc?” Then she said to talk to my instructor about it next week..
So next week came, and before my lesson, my instructor said that all of the other school horses were sold, including Bugaboo. She also said that she was going to keep Chili (he’s one of the horses that first came with Bugaboo) and continue teaching at another farm. My heart sank. I tacked Bugaboo up for my last ride on him, and I wanted to cry, but I never did like to cry in public. I remember my last ride on him perfectly.
After the lesson as I was taking his bridle off, I looked him in the eye and crying, I said, “I love you.” I’ll never forget that moment, for when I said that he put his ears forward, and nudged me. I knew for sure that he understood me.
A year later I now realize that it was a good thing that I didn’t buy him. If I did buy him, I wouldn't have been able to advance in my riding. Bugaboo went to a barn where little kids could ride, enjoy and love him. And just about a month ago, his new owners told my instructor that everyone there loves Bugaboo, and that even the older kids want to ride him.
I will never forget Bugaboo, and what he taught me. He left me wonderful memories to remember.
“Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.”
“Hold a friend's hand through times of trial, Let them find love through a hug and a smile, but also know when it is time to go- For each and every one of us must learn to grow.”
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Chris Antley Memorial
MOD
Wandie, I knew this story because I was there. But while reading this I cryed. This is very well written.
Wandie, I knew this story because I was there. But while reading this I cryed. This is very well written.
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30 days ago
• 3,273 views
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DRRRusty
i feel sorry for you
i feel sorry for you
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30 days ago
• 3,408 views
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the wind riders
I know how it is to hav freind that is like that I had a horse like that
I know how it is to hav freind that is like that I had a horse like that
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30 days ago
• 3,417 views
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T W I
Aw, that's sad! He reminds me of the pony I ride. I'm glad he got to go to a good home though,
Aw, that's sad! He reminds me of the pony I ride. I'm glad he got to go to a good home though,
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30 days ago
• 3,402 views
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happy day
this is the best story on here i could read and i don't read many of them, best one ever on here i have ever read that is coming from a pb buddy
this is the best story on here i could read and i don't read many of them, best one ever on here i have ever read that is coming from a pb buddy
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30 days ago
• 3,425 views
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Wanderin Boy Memorial
MOD
Thanks everyone......Chris, I cried when I wrote parts of it
Thanks everyone......Chris, I cried when I wrote parts of it
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29 days ago
• 3,394 views
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Seastar Stables
This is a strange occurance. Tonight we thought we were going to lose my horse. She looks like your Bugaboo. She almost didn't get up from the floor after so many tries. i was preparing myself for the worst. Thank goodness that someone was brave and strong enough to help me. Rest in peace beautiful Bugaboo.
This is a strange occurance. Tonight we thought we were going to lose my horse. She looks like your Bugaboo. She almost didn't get up from the floor after so many tries. i was preparing myself for the worst. Thank goodness that someone was brave and strong enough to help me. Rest in peace beautiful Bugaboo.
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29 days ago
• 3,405 views
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MountainMeadows
Wow, Tears sprang to my eyes too. Great job.
Wow, Tears sprang to my eyes too. Great job.
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29 days ago
• 3,408 views
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29 days ago
• 3,394 views
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Folly
Aww, this is a really sweet story :') He's lovely! I'm sorry he was sold :(
Aww, this is a really sweet story :') He's lovely! I'm sorry he was sold :(
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29 days ago
• 3,532 views
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King of Wings
aww bless, i shedded a tear towards the end, lovely story, x
aww bless, i shedded a tear towards the end, lovely story, x
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29 days ago
• 3,441 views
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gummy333000
oh whats so so so sad i wana cry now
oh whats so so so sad i wana cry now
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29 days ago
• 3,455 views
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Seastar Stables
I'm sorry... I got all mixed up... I came in from the barn, trying to cler my mind about Opal last night and I got emotional between this wonderful article and my own life. Sorry again!
I'm sorry... I got all mixed up... I came in from the barn, trying to cler my mind about Opal last night and I got emotional between this wonderful article and my own life. Sorry again!
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28 days ago
• 3,405 views
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Wanderin Boy Memorial
MOD
Thanks everyone. Seastar -- That's okay.
Thanks everyone. Seastar -- That's okay.
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28 days ago
• 3,394 views
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toffeelola
oh what a wonderful story-are you going to keep in touch with Bugaboo's new owners?
oh what a wonderful story-are you going to keep in touch with Bugaboo's new owners?
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27 days ago
• 3,423 views
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Emo Tokio
I am so sorry..I cryed..Its so sad..
I am so sorry..I cryed..Its so sad..
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27 days ago
• 3,432 views
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Wanderin Boy Memorial
MOD
toffeelolo - No I haven't been. I don't even know where he is.
toffeelolo - No I haven't been. I don't even know where he is.
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27 days ago
• 3,394 views
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crazy213
i am so so sso so so sry
i am so so sso so so sry
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25 days ago
• 3,427 views
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Moody Farms
MOD
I'm glad he went to some place good and that you have a good point of view about it! Nice article.
I'm glad he went to some place good and that you have a good point of view about it! Nice article.
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58 days ago
• 3,701 views
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Painted Destiny
Bugaboo sounds like a great pony. Have you ever seen him since this story was written?
Bugaboo sounds like a great pony. Have you ever seen him since this story was written?
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43 days ago
• 3,395 views
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Splodge
Aww, you must have been gutted when you realised he had been sold :( xxx
Aww, you must have been gutted when you realised he had been sold :( xxx
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Aug 15, 2011
• 3,418 views
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