RETIREMENT…?

Hi. I AM LUCKY. I want to tell you a little bit about my story.

I am, as most of you know, now 33. Still don’t believe I’m 33--I look 33 anyway, just don’t feel 33. I am a gray Arabian gelding. I came to Mill Creek when I was about 8 and have been in the school ever since. Best thing that ever happened to me! I started out giving lessons to kids in the jumping ring. I never jumped really high—probably 2’6”-2’9”. Then as the years went by, Cory gradually moved me down and then more years went by, and then I just did a little walk/trot/canter with the children.

I’ve been hearing some talk around here from the kids that some people think maybe I should be retired. But I am retired! I’m exactly where I want to be. The little children that come to Mill Creek get to ride me. They are so little. Their feet don’t even come to the end of my saddle. I just love taking them out and letting them learn how to post to the slow, slow trot and how to hold the reins. It’s the best! I hope that I never, ever, ever have to leave Mill Creek because I know that I will always be taken care of here.

I have seen other school horse leave here when Cory retired them…like Gus. Gus was kind of like me. He was a really hard worker and always did everything 120%. When he was old and a bit lame, Cory sent him off to a really nice place with pastures. He just stood at the gate for several months and probably lost 100 pounds. She went back and got him and brought him back to work in the school. He put the weight back on and was very, very happy. I know that if somebody put me out somewhere with nothing to do, with no job, I would just rather die. I would rather just keep teaching little, tiny children how to walk and trot and hold the reins and find their stirrups.

I’ve known Cory for a really long time and I have seen her do right by lots of horses—like Chance. Chance is now a walking pony on the trails in the hills and is happy as a clam. Some of you remember Bruno. He was a good egg. I kind of miss him, but he had kind of given up on life. Cory gave him to someone who turned him out in a big field with other horses. He ran around all day and was truly happy. But that’s not for me! We are all different. Thank goodness Cory is a good enough horsewoman to tell the difference between horses who want to sit under a tree and rest and horses like me, who just want to keep doing the job we love.

So keep bringing me carrots and keep loving me and let me do what I do best!

Love,

Lucky