There are incredible highs and incredible lows to this horse thing

It's been a few days since I last wrote anything. I've been grappling with the aftermath of our last show. Seems there are some people (judges actually, but for anyone who shows, it's good to remember that they are JUST people) who believe that when your horse reaches a certain age, it's off to the....oh, I don't know, pasture, retirement home, or worse. In any case our first test (we do dressage) wasn't so good, not necessarily my ride, but the judge thought that my horse should, dare I say it, RETIRE.

You'd have to know Monty to understand why this is absurd. He was born and bred to show; his work ethic rivals most humans. And my barn is riddled with senior citizens; human, equine, feline and canine. Where should we go? Keep in mind this is a schooling show; we're not going to the Olympics (although Monty has, but obviously not with me).

This is a topic that is really important to me. What happens to older horses? What do those of us who love them do? If your horse is still "serviceable" and still wants to work, why can't he? And then there's the whole middle aged rider and not wanting to fall on your duff thing. Who could be safer or more reliable than that older horse who you know has outgrown the whole "the world revolves around me" attitude and is really dedicated to knowing that his rider is o.k. too. I took a good spill last year on a younger horse and let me tell you, I don't bounce as well as I used too. Not physically or figuratively.

For me, I'll stick with my very distinguished and loving gentleman for now, safe in the knowledge that I'm safe in my saddle. When the time comes for him to come home and retire to his condo, he'll let me know. In the meanwhile, judges, judge me as harshly as you'd like, our skin is as tough as horse hide.