The world feels a little darker today
To place your horse’s need for you to let him leave his failing body above your need to keep him with you – that – is the greatest and purest love.
Cynthia Garrett
The love for a horse is just as complicated as the love for another human being…if you never love a horse, you will never understand.
Author Unknown
Today ends an era. An era with one of the best teaching masters of all. Today we say goodbye to our friend and teacher, Errol Flynn.
A gentle giant, he is sure to have had a hard life before joining us at Steeldust Farm, but we cherished every moment with him. If you would like to share your favorite “Errol” memory, please go ahead and leave a comment.
One of my favorite memories (beyond the amazing shows we were in, and the scary ride where his feet got tangled with wire and after the minor freak out, he stood while I shaking like a leaf, untangled him, and learning how to gallop because even though I was scared, I knew nothing would or could happen on ERROL FLYNN), is of a lesson that Jennifer was giving my brother. She stood at the upper end of the arena and was walking with them as the lesson progressed. Errol ended up trotting in a circle, with an invisible lunge line, because he was so relaxed and at ease with Jennifer. That feeling of trust that Errol had for Jennifer just made me realize that if the horses are this happy and comfortable here, it truly is a good place.
I am going to include a message from Jennifer, and then some pictures. I would get your Kleenex out before you read on…
Today I had to perform the hardest task in my life of horses. I put to rest one of the greatest horses I have ever known, Errol Flynn.
Errol came to me 11 years ago. From a meat dealer in VT, he was very thin, abscessing in all four feet but very noble and wise. Brought back to health, Errol taught many students how to ride correctly because, if you got it right on him, he was perfect. He taught many lucky riders the true feel of the horse.
Not only did he teach beginners, he also taught Caleb, our down’s syndrome student (and my best friends brother) how to ride. He carried him through the Sandwich Fair parade for many years and took care of Caleb in all the games at the gymkhana shows.
I cannot say enough about this wonderful horse-always a true gentleman, always giving his best but also always teaching that if your heart was in it he was there for you. I actually jumped the biggest fence in my whole life with this horse and I will never forget it. It was slow motion, 5 feet tall and he took it like a champ! He made you feel like the best rider in the world and what more could you ask for? The world has lost a great, great horse today and my words can never express how exceptional he really was and how much he will truly be missed. Rest in peace my beloved Errol Flynn you were one of the greatest horses I have ever had the pleasure of riding, taking care of and just having been part of your life-Thank you!
Rest in Peace old friend. You deserve the best.
When we think of those companions who traveled by our side down life’s road, let us not say with sadness that they left us behind, but rather say with gentle gratitude that they once were with us.
Author Unknown
Posted in Uncategorized
March 31st, 2010 at 5:24 pm
Rest in peace Errol – I hope the oats are ever sweeter where you are…
:>(
April 3rd, 2010 at 10:44 pm
I keep a picture on my desk at college of Errol and my horse, Baby. Every time I look at it, I’m reminded of how essential he was to everyone and everything at Steeldust Farm. In all my years of riding, I have learned that there are very few horses that can truly touch people the way that Errol did-he was special to all of us. He was indispensable to Steeldust, and I can’t imagine the farm without him.
When I think of Steeldust, I think of running around the arena on a 90-degree day trying to keep Errol trotting as some kid bounced around on top of him learning how to post. I think of kids standing on their tippie-toes on a stool, trying desperately to groom Errol’s withers. I think of him taking jump after jump just so that a student could get the hang of it. I think of how everyone seemed to look smaller when they got on Errol’s massive back: little kids’ legs would barely reach halfway down his barrel, and we all had to tilt our heads back a little further to be able to see the person riding him.
He was a gentle giant, patient with his riders and always ripe with something to teach someone. Not one person at Steeldust walked away from Errol not having learned something from him.
April 12th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
Errol was the best horse to learn on- no doubt about it! But keeping him just in a trot was troublesome at times! Especially when a beginner had just ridden him the day before! I think about all the kids he’d help succeed! Teaching them something new and fun every lesson! Jumping, flat-work, trail riding or gymkhana- he seemed to do it all! Almost everybody who has ridden at Steeldust has ridden Errol! He was simply the best.
I remember a few years ago, Jenny and I were on a ride- Jenny on Errol, me on Joe, and we went up Pulsifer and we neared the galloping stretch and both horses took off! I had lost Joe’s reins and Errol wouldn’t stop, we were both scared, but now we just laugh about the good times! With Kristen he did mischievous things on our rides, but we always laughed in the end. There was no one who didn’t just have to love Errol! We all miss him very much, and hope he is with his old buddies Joe and WB ever happy and at peace~
Love you Errol!