S1: "I'm done with horses."

You may remember S1, my first local horsey friend back when I was riding my mare Mara (2013). She and I rode our copper colored Arabians together and even went to a few clinics and shared a few trainers. 

Her temperamental gelding always kept things exciting, he really wasn't a help to Mara or, later, Mag. 

She introduced me to my wonderful trainer, Susanne, who simply loved riding Mag and quit us, saying, "You don't need a trainer, you just need friends to ride with." This is true. And I have none, other than S1 who lives an hour away by horse. 

Tonight I got the awful WhatsApp from S1, to both Susanne and me, "Girls, I have a new hip and shoulder. While taking my horse for a walk he ran full speed over the back of me and I had to go to the hospital, the Schockraum, intensive care and have had 2 operations. I'm done with horses." 

I remember her saying, a couple years ago, "After this horse, I'm done. It's just too much effort for too little reward." 

I feel so horrible for her, but I understand. Susanne recently went through cancer treatment, and when we met up a few weeks ago for dinner, she explained that her mare is getting very old and cannot do much dressage anymore. She survived cancer but her outlook horsey-wise is not good. 

I'm that age now, too, where I don't fall off and get back on. I haven't gotten on for a long while. But I have hope, and a good trainer, but even taking Mag for walks is a huge challenge. He simply doesn't react well to being in traffic. I'm hoping, maybe when he turns 20, he'll settle down and I can have some fun. 

Ah, I'm getting texts from Susanne, who just got the news, she's freaking out too. 

Enjoy your horses while you can.