Day Four - continued
The big screen TV displays the final score of the
victorious Utah Jazz. Jerry signals to the kids that it was time to say good
night and we clamber into the four wheeler and head home.
The next morning would bid us farewell. Jerry drives us to get our rig and to say farewell to Raker. Upon our arrival, Raker appears to be more rested and content. He has eaten most of his grain and all of his hay. The worried walk is gone and he stands quietly in the corral next to his mate. We take some video and phantom photos (we later discover that the camera malfunctioned). However, our keepsake picture of Raker, if only in memory, is that of Jerry leading him down the rows of cherry trees in full blossom, the sky of brilliant blue and the mighty mountains looming in the foreground. Jerry’s broad shoulders and back face us as he walks Raker to the grazing corral. Raker strolls along on the end of a loose shank, his long flowing tail tugged sideways by a gentle Utah breeze. It’s a peaceful scene of a man and his horse finally united. Raker has a lot to do to convince the locals in this no nonsense working horse country, but with time he should prove his tough government breeding and stand equal to the task.
Saying goodbye is always tough even after all these years of breeding and selling Morgans. They are still very much like children. I had bred Raker; was there when he foaled, was first in the saddle and sent him to school while watching him mature over the years. I am sad in some respects to know I might never get the chance to ride that smooth Cadillac canter of his, or see his sweet intelligent face again. But the feeling of sadness is relieved a little by the smiling faces of his new owners, knowing the joy that Raker has brought. We thanked Jerry for his wonderful hospitality and for making us feel so welcome. We long that the miles that separate us were not so many. We have become fast friends in our short visit. Bob and I wish them well with instructions to take good care of Raker. Somehow I think Jerry will, as we say our final goodbyes and point Big Blue northeast.
Postscript…We retraced our earlier journey making good time on our return trip. On our daily phone-in to the farm, we learn of a possible problem with our mare in foal. We leave instructions that our veterinarian be informed and we decide to drive straight through arriving home almost a day earlier. To our relief, it was a false alarm.
We have been receiving almost daily reports on Raker’s adjustment to life in Utah. Jerry and the gang continue to enjoy their new horse, as they reassure us that he is doing just fine.
A very special thank you to our volunteers who managed the farm in our absence. We would like to especially acknowledge the efforts of my mom who co-ordinated things and to Tania, Julie, Dorothy Ruth, Laurie, Melissa and Dave. Everyone pitched in to help with daily chores, teasing schedules, turnouts, grooming and new arrivals and departures from the farm. It is our busiest time of the year so we were grateful for their help, allowing us to make this long journey possible.