Artie

For horsemen, most horses leave hoof prints on our hearts.  For me, they have always just been passing through my life.  I don’t forget the horses I have loved, or sometimes even disliked, but I have almost never expected to keep any of them forever. 

Artie came into my life  in 2015 when we bought him from Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center to compete in the Thoroughbred Makeover.  For the first time, we decided that this horse would not be for sale.

His racing name (Jockey Club registry) was Street Art, which was purely coincidental, but very appropriate, given Harry’s sculptures on the streets of many cities.

I used to say you could cry all the way to the bank, or cry over the grave, but it’s not that simple, of course.  Almost all the horses I have cared about have reduced me to tears for one reason or another, and they continue to do so.

Artie was almost everything I wanted in a horse, and he was wonderful in the Makeover competition, winning more money there than he won in his undistinguished racing career.  I called him “my old lady horse”, thinking we could age together, and I would ride him into true old age.  He was only 5 when we bought him, and hopes were high.

But Artie was always beset by bad luck, and he developed heaves (emphysema) at the age of 6, caused by allergies to the environment here, probably the trees.  Eventually, we decided to place him with someone out west.

The black cloud that has followed Artie, though, has been accompanied by a guardian angel.  His misfortunes seemed to have happy outcomes, and this was no different.  The first person to contact us, Holly, from Colorado, flew here to try him with her daughter, Kari.  It was a perfect match, and off he went, westward with his guardian angel smiling on his back.  I shed many tears, soon to be dried by Bart.  From Artie to Barty… I, too, have a guardian angel on my shoulder.

Artie retains a very special place in my heart.  When Jane and I went to Kentucky to show three years ago, we were astonished to discover that Artie was in Kentucky with Kari at college.  And of all weeks, Holly was visiting at the same time, so they brought Artie over to the horse park for a reunion (he had to stay in the trailer, since he wasn’t showing).   I have seldom been more thrilled with a horse’s situation.  He looked great and seemed very happy.

Holly had developed back problems, and Artie was very athletic, with a great springing trot, so she could no longer ride him, but Kari and Artie were perfect together.  I thought he was a great “old lady horse”, but it turned out he was the best “young lady” horse instead.

To my astonishment, Kari was in Omaha working as a saddle rep in the trade show at the horse show earlier this month.  She has finished college, and I was excited to hear about Artie.  Alas, the bad luck has struck again.  Artie got colic out in Colorado and had to go to surgery in April.  Luckily, Kari caught the colic early and got him to a clinic, and he didn’t lose any intestine.  The prognosis is good.  In true Artie fashion, he was very stoic about it all, and was home and doing well by the end of the Omaha horse show.

So, I am hoping that Artie has had enough of bad luck and will have smooth sailing from here on.  Kari and I will always be linked by our love for that handsome chestnut Thoroughbred with one slightly damaged ear and one big heart.