Cimmeron taught
hundreds of children how to ride over the past 19 years. Her smooth
trot and willingness made her the perfect horse for the very beginner.
She was patient, understanding and truly enjoyed human company
and attention…following you around the stall to be scratched
in “her spot”. If you were an experienced rider, she
would you give you quite a ride-going as fast as she could and
stopping when she wanted to stop!
Over the past 8 years, her breathing difficulties were managed
with medication and she demonstrated her will to live over and
over again. When she was “retired” 5 years ago, she
became depressed and despondent and after several months, we brought
her back. She let us know this is where she belonged and what
she wanted to do. We are all very fortunate to have had cimmeron
in our lives.
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At
Katarina’s, after a fresh load of beautiful hay was delivered,
Cimmi figured out a way to loosen a board
on the back side of the barn and was helping herself for a day and
a half. That’s why she wasn’t eating the hay in her
stall!
• On
a fox hunt, little Cimmi flew by all of the tall, elegant thoroughbreds
at a full gallop (there truly was no stopping her). When at a resting
spot, I looked around at several horses and riders covered with
speckles of mud she had kicked up. One of the riders got down off
his huge thoroughbred and gingerly tightened Cimmi’s curb
chain. He didn’t know Cimmi—he was still going to be
eating mud!
• When
Katarina picked Cimmi up from the family who was selling her, she
had her foal and a yearling by her side. Cimmi’s owner picked
up her little toddler and said watch this. The little girl grabbed
Cimmi’s halter and Cimmi gently swung her back and forth.
• When
Cimmi knew a beginner rider was nervous or delicate, she would do
the slowest, smoothest “baby” trot for them and a huge
smile of relief and pleasure never failed to come across their faces!
One of our newer riders a few months ago, actually squealed in delight
when she started to trot!
• A
gentleman in his 80s came out to ride Cimmi every Sunday for years.
He always gave her a whole bag of carrots. We had the best trail
rides. Once again…she knew. He rode with long reins and we
could canter around the fields at a wonderful pace. He’s now
in his upper 90’s and still writes and asks about her.
• Cimmi
was the perfect “husband” horse. She seemed to like
men and enjoyed allowing them to sit on her back and she was in
complete charge. She always took good care of them.
• At
Katarina’s, Cimmi would always find a way to get into the
soybean field at least twice a year. It took one of the “husbands”
to get her. She would allow them to catch her, but not us.
• We
tried to retire Cimmi several years ago, but after several months,
she was so depressed we brought her back. Well, we had moved across
the street to a different barn. The day after she had come back,
she got through the gate while another horse was being brought out
and trotted across the road and down the long driveway…back
to her “home”. Too smart!
• Cimmi
always had the neatest stall.
• On
the trail, if she didn’t want to go a certain way…she
could back up faster than most horses can go forward.
• When
picking out her stall, she would follow you around and stick her
neck out to be scratched over and over again.
• Cimmi
broke every volunteer in with a customary nip (or two or three)
on the arm.
• Oh,
stand back while the girth is being tightened. All clear-okay tighten!
• She
made the volunteers work extremely hard to pick out her feet…round
and round in the stall they would go. Cimmi with a look of undeniable
slyness on her face.
• The
past few years, so many meds to help her breathing. Lots of vet
visits. Several close calls…”she may not make it through
the night”. Only to find her bright eyed and eating the next
morning. She was such a fighter and had so much heart.
• The
last time I rode Cimmi, about a year ago…I thought come on
old girl, lets just take a nice stroll around the track a couple
of times. Well, she would have none of that! She started her slow
little trot and the next thing I knew, we were galloping at full
speed-I tried to slow her down, but she didn’t want to…so
I just let her go. It was wonderful!
Cimmi will be in the hearts of many
forever.
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