Karen Belos

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not enough .. time

 

The first time I saw Velvet, I thought this was the most beautiful horse I have ever seen.  Silver mane and tail and 4 silver socks, against her liver chestnut coat that glistened in the sun. She enjoyed the trail and being with other horses.  In August of 1998, I joined my husband in Florence. Velvet shipped two weeks before my arrival. My husband made arrangements belonged to my friend Jim who never rode her; she was always locked in for Velvet to live at Florence Horse Center. She was thrilled to be in her stall. The farrier would not even shoe her because she was wild and herd situation not stall bound all the time and quickly became boss out of control. I didn't care, she was mine. Velvet lived there four years. In 2002 I moved her to Tally Ho sta­ bles, which was leased from Mr. Roland McLaughlin.    

I wanted to take lessons with her right away, but I could not because Velvet refused to stand in the aisle in cross ties to be groomed.  We would walk down Green Acre Road to Breckridge Circle and turn right. She continuously ripped the chains from the wall and ran on South Oak Road to the McLaughlin Farm mouth and we knew every child and dog on those streets. When we got to the mouth, Velvet refused to accept the bit in her mouth. She was abused by a previous owner who used the bridle to beat her in the face. When he was angry with the farm, Velvet would. say hello to all the horses and try to eat blades of grass on our walk around the farm. Countless times we would not let anyone touch her head. After seeing my frustration, Mr. Roland would stop and talk. In the course of one of these who owned a horse down the aisle helped me to get Velvet to accept the talks he told me as long as Velvet was at his stable when her time came. Every day for one week we would put the bit in her mouth. In February 2003, Tally Ho moved out it out several times a day. Ultimately, she realized I was not going to yank and the stable was once again Wildwood, a training facility for the bit out of her mouth and beat her about the face. Kathy and Marilyn Tennessee Walkers, run by Mr. Roland's §on Sam. In September 2003, were sisters. who also had horses down the aisle, began to advise me Mr. Roland passed very suddenly and would bury her on the farm. Mrs. McLaughlin continued to allow about several methods of calming Velvet down. I would rub her face with a soft kitchen towel which she learned to love. In the fall of 2004 Velvet started to flounder. On December 31, Velvet lowered her head so I could massage behind her wish to leave her stall so I called Dr. Allen Causey of Hewitt Animal; she even liked to have her teeth rubbed. I also gave up trying to Hospital. He looked at Velvet's feet and said she was in pain and would saddle her in the aisle. I would keep Velvet in her stall and saddle her.  I made the decision to put her down for when the third time following a 4 month illness. Sam kept her back to the open door; just in case she acted up, I  escape father's promise and took her to the farm; she was 28 ½ years.  In addition I started to place honey on her bit. The death of my beloved Velvet put a hole so great in my heart.  I was with her almost every day for over a year we had been riding either in the indoor arena or out doors. It was not nearly enough time with her.  I was prepared to take Velvet.  In life, we must continue on, so through my tears I contacted the out trail riding, but I was not sure Velvet was ready. There was only one Morgan Horse Association for a listing of breeders which led me to.find out, saddle her up and take her out.  

                Sunny is a three year old Palomino; it was love at first sight. This past time, she was ecstatic. I continued to take lessons on her once a week during February. Sunny moved into Velvet's old stall. Hopefully, with Sunny for years, at all other times we would be out on the trail, there will be enough time.  Karen Bellos lives in Florence with her husband Gary, 5 birds, 5 cats, and 1 horse. She serves as president of the Wildwood Garden Club and works with the retirement program at Poynor Adult Education. You may visit her website at www.garybellos.com.