On Friday night, I had to put my beloved horse Scatman down. We had 22 fantastic years together. He was my first horse and the best one I’ve ever had. This gentle, beautiful Tennessee Walker was besides my family, my life. I’ve had many animals come in and out of my life over the years, but Scatman was very special.
It began in Morganfield, Kentucky over 22 years ago. I was there on business and saw him. He was for sale. I had never rode a Tennessee Walker before. Any of the horses I ever rode were those trail horses, normally quarter horses in the area I grew up in. That first ride on Scatman made me fall in love with him. He became my horse, and when I say mine, I mean that. He was great with kids riding him, but hated for other adults to ride him. He would flash the whites of his eyes, and quiver his lips. Very seldom did I ever put him through that.
I remember one winter back in Indiana when we were all snowed in. I lived about 1/2 mile from the grocery store and knew there was no way to get there by car, so, I bundled up and loaded up Scatman and off we went to the store to get the essentials for my family and some of the neighbors. While coming back from the store, we decided a hot coffee was in order, and went through the Hardees drive thru. When we approached the window, Scatman decided he wanted to see what was inside, and he stuck his entire head in the window, up to his chest. Maybe he was just warming up, I don’t know, but it sure shocked the girl working the window.
We had many trail rides over the years, and his trusted feet never failed me. A couple times we were in pretty stick situations, and he would lay down and let me get off, and then thrust himself out. For a retired racking horse, he sure was a good trail horse.
Friday night his life came to an end. He would have been 33 in May. He will be missed more then words can ever say, but he will live on in the hearts of everyone he touched, but most of all mine.
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