1. I found this picture today while sorting through an old hard drive, and immediately felt the twinge of nostalgia. This is my baby Zoey, she must have been about 3 years old here, still very much a filly in her own right. Years before she turned white, as all grey Percherons eventually do. I loved that horse so much, I have so many fond memories with her. She was too large for most tack, so I rode her bareback most days, sometimes with just a halter. She stood at just over 7 feet tall, and weighed in at over 2000 pounds. Draft horses often get pegged as very gentle, slow-going, boring types, and aren’t commonly kept as non-working horses. Not Zoey, she had so much spirit, she thought she was a hot-blooded Arabian. She was gentle when she wanted to be, but had such a sense or humor, and a real streak of mischief. She loved to mess with humans and animals alike, always with an amused smile on her horse-y muzzle. She was only green broke when she was given to me, a birthday gift from my wonderful mother. I worked with her in the round pen for countless hours, teaching her basic horse manners. But at the end of the day, the sheer power of this animal always humbled me, as she often liked to remind me that she was simply allowing me to ride her.I miss her. I miss her soft ears, the way she smelled, her horse breath down my back as she wrapped her neck around me in a hug. She was such a good horse. Always wanting a cuddle, attention, love, fun, carrots…lots of carrots.It all seems so long ago. I miss it all. I miss that life. Simple, honest, pure. Zoey has a lovely life, with a wonderful family. I know she is happy, and healthy. That gives me peace. But damn it, I miss that horse. Yes, in my heart, I will always be a country girl. 

    I found this picture today while sorting through an old hard drive, and immediately felt the twinge of nostalgia.

    This is my baby Zoey, she must have been about 3 years old here, still very much a filly in her own right. Years before she turned white, as all grey Percherons eventually do. 

    I loved that horse so much, I have so many fond memories with her. She was too large for most tack, so I rode her bareback most days, sometimes with just a halter. She stood at just over 7 feet tall, and weighed in at over 2000 pounds.

    Draft horses often get pegged as very gentle, slow-going, boring types, and aren’t commonly kept as non-working horses. Not Zoey, she had so much spirit, she thought she was a hot-blooded Arabian.

    She was gentle when she wanted to be, but had such a sense or humor, and a real streak of mischief. She loved to mess with humans and animals alike, always with an amused smile on her horse-y muzzle.

    She was only green broke when she was given to me, a birthday gift from my wonderful mother. I worked with her in the round pen for countless hours, teaching her basic horse manners. But at the end of the day, the sheer power of this animal always humbled me, as she often liked to remind me that she was simply allowing me to ride her.

    I miss her. I miss her soft ears, the way she smelled, her horse breath down my back as she wrapped her neck around me in a hug. She was such a good horse. Always wanting a cuddle, attention, love, fun, carrots…lots of carrots.

    It all seems so long ago. I miss it all. I miss that life. Simple, honest, pure. 

    Zoey has a lovely life, with a wonderful family. I know she is happy, and healthy. That gives me peace. But damn it, I miss that horse. Yes, in my heart, I will always be a country girl. 

Notes