HOME CONTENTS CONTACT COTTAGES A Traumatic Experience with My Beau Lyncho --in the 'Mile-A-Minute' vines!
It was a beautiful day, and perfect for a ride on my big horse, ‘Beau Lyncho’. He was huge, with great personality, and we both just needed to get away for awhile. It was about 6 PM and we didn’t have too much time, so we had to make the best of it, so we would walk down into the creek, to just enjoy the water.
We had walked about 1/2 mile in the stream, and it was time to get out of the water. There appeared to be only one place to climb up onto the bank. It looked like we could climb up that bank easily, because there was not too steep, so we started to climb.
My big horse was my buddy. We shared many wonderful years together. We knew each other so well. He felt my feelings, and knew when I needed peace and calm, or when he had to make me laugh. He was good at that, and was often like a big clown.
Today, I just wanted to enjoy the water with him, to listen to the birds, and ripples of the water crossing the rocks in the stream.
We were far away from houses. There were no people around, just woods, the railroad bed, and the stream. It was so still, so quiet, and beautiful.
I looked up, and saw a man walking down the deserted railroad tracks. He stopped momentarily, to look at my horse, and simply said, “it’s a great day for a ride” Then, he walked on.
I waited in the stream for another 15-20 minutes, and saw it was beginning to get dark. We needed to get out of a stream bed, and looked for what seemed to be a safe place to climb out, by going up and over, what appeared to be a nice slope of green. There were those thin green prickly vines, covering the ground, and I figured we could go just go through them, to get up the bank. It was maybe 5 foot up, to dry ground.
I asked Lyncho to walk up the bank. As we were near the top of this small bank, my horse really surprised me. He just sat down! I laughed at him, thinking he was playing. He knew how to play, and he did fun things on occasion.
This time, he just didn't get back up! I climbed off, and I stumbled, tripping over something. I regained my footing, to stand by my horse, who was just waiting patiently. He wasn’t excited. He was just waiting for me to do something.
I discovered that he had walked over something that was covered with wet sand, and there he was, in a small gully, between whatever he walked over, and the bank.
My horse was stuck in a gully, just sitting there. He looked comical. I thought he was just being funny.
I prodded him to get up,-but he could not get up.
His back legs were stuck in wet sand! The sand wasn’t that deep, so I saw no reason that he couldn’t get up, so I prodded him again. ”Come on, get up”.
This time, he tried harder to get to his feet, and he stumbled. His hind legs just pushed deeper into the sand. Then, his upper body then fell sideways, between the ridge, and the bank, actually laying there, in this rut! He could NOT get up.!
The humor left, real quick. My horse was in real trouble.
There was no one in sight. Only woods, stream, and the railroad bed, for 3 miles left, or right! We were now, drastically alone
I again prodded My Lyncho, who tried again to get up for me! This time, he actually flopped over that thing that I tripped over. I tripped again, and then realized, that it was a dead tree.
Lyncho was –really dead stuck there, now laying across that dead tree, with his back legs stuck even deeper in the sand! I started to worry. I could feel my body tensing up, but I had to relain calm for Lyncho. I got a stick, to bop him with --to make him try to fight himself out of there. I could lift the flap of the saddle, and undo the girth, to get the saddle off him, hoping this would make it easier for him.
He gave me one more big try.-and my horse ended upside down, laying between that dead tree, and the bank! His legs did come out of the sand, but they stuck up, as he laid there on his back, still stuck.
I took the bridle off him, and I started to panic. I began to shake. Lyncho was just trusting me to help him, but what can I do?
I started digging the sand from under him out with my hands. Thank God, the wet sand was movable. If I can move that sand, maybe he could turn over to his side, but that tree was there. He still wouldn’t be able to get up with that tree in the way.
It’s getting dark. My horse just lays there, trusting me to free him.
We need help, but I just can not leave him! It would be too dark to find him, if I did get help. I decided to stay with him, and work all night, if I had to. I knew it wasn’t good that he was on his back for such a long time. That just wasn’t good for him at all.
I would stay with him until I could help free him, but I had to work fast. I worked frantically. My arms started to tremble in fear! I could feel my breath working hard, as I dug, and dug. I was so scared for him. I was sweating, and gulping breaths, almost loosing control!
I felt like I was about to loose my mind, like my mind was about to explode, and all my sanity was about to leave me! I was on ‘THE EDGE OF TERROR’.
My muscles were working so hard they were cramping, and I felt chills on my outer skin, as I continued to just dig.
It was so near DARK. I was loosing my strength. I couldn't do this alone, but I had to. There was no one around!
I started to PANIC, I was loosing it. I didn’t think I was going to get him out of there. I was frantic. Through huge tears running down my face, grasping for strength, with aching muscles and fingers, fighting for my breath, I let out a scream --pleading! "Please, SOMEBODY HELP US!" I was afraid my body would just shut down. I was going to loose my horse during the night. I couldn’t save him.
Then, from the bank just above us, I heard a voice. "Is everything alright down there?" It was that man, that I saw walking the tracks. When I first saw him, I saw him with 'WINGS'. He was tall, and beautiful. He had wings, I thought! I broke down, and wept! Was he real?
Then, he walked closer, seeing we were in real trouble.
I was so happy for help. I tried to tell him what had happened, and to show him what we had to do to save my horse. He came into the water with me, and helped to hand dig, to set my horse free.
We broke sticks, and used them as shovels or hatchets, to break the soil, and we scooped the sand with our hands. HIT and DIG! HIT and DIG!
We worked until our bodies shook in pain! We uncovered that tree.
I could hardly move, I was so physically and emotionally exhausted, but I had to. I struggled to my feet, to go into the stream, to find a long tree branch, to use as a pole for leverage. That man was still digging. I found a long strong branch to pry that tree -away from my horse. We put something next to that downed tree, and placed the long branch over it, and under that tree. We pushed down on that long branch, and propped the end of the tree up.
IT BROKE! Thank God! We pulled that dead tree away from my horse.
We dug some more, until he was free enough to roll onto his side. All this time, he was still patiently laying upside down! He finally rolled over, and away from the hill, almost to his side, and rested there for a minute. I thought he was giving up. He didn’t want to move, it was so traumatizing for him. I thought he was near being in shock. I had to get him up.
I couldn't let him rest there too long, so I yelled at him, and actually 'stung him' with a stick, to make him get up! It hurt me more than him. I didn’t want to hit him, but he had to get up! It was almost dark, and we could hardly see.
I think Lyncho was near in-shock. He was on his back for almost two hours! That’s not good! So I had to hit him, to get him up. I screamed at him, “Get up Lyncho!” “Get up”.
He did try again, and he lounged forward, and he fell down again, then he sat there like a dog, sitting on his butt. At least he wasn’t on his back anymore. He had to acclimate himself to being upright again, so I gave him a couple of minutes to rest.
I asked him again to get up, and he struggled to try again to get his footing, then he got to his feet, and just quietly stood there. He was going to be okay!
I broke, put my hand to my mouth, and wept like a baby.
My body hurt so bad! My arms, hands and arms were actually 'stinging', we had worked so hard! My legs were trembling. I realized that I could not have done alone! I don’t know how long, I could have stayed strong enough, to get him out of there by myself! It took two of us, working as hard and as fast as we could, to get him out of there. I thank God for this blessing. My horse was going to be fine.
I wrapped the reins over his neck, and led him slowly, as he staggered into the stream, where I splashed water against his body to get the sand off of him. He just stood there, and didn't move. I knew he was grateful! I know my horse, my big old thorobred ‘stud horse’ who had always been just like a magnificent ‘big-kid’. I was so grateful.
I then remembered that man! I looked back, to see that ‘beautiful’ man, who came to help us --our angel! His name was Moneypenny, or Pennymaker, something like that, and he lives in Lancaster County, PA, around Leola, I believe, and owns a gun or bait shop. I have never found him, and would like to publicly, thank him, and one day, privately, with a much deserved big bear hug.!.
GOD BLESS YOU --our Angel! Without any doubt, I KNOW that my God just knew how much I could take, and would not let me go through more than that, so he sent us you, right at that ‘critical time’ when I was about to completely loose it. I have never been that close to loosing my sanity.
He said to me, “When I saw you earlier, and asked if we were having a nice day”, you said, “it was a beautiful day!” I will never forget what you did for us!
When I looked at you, standing on that huge flat rock, I could say nothing –just go to you, and put my arms around you to give you a big hug. Of thanks. But I broke into tears, as I held on to you! I will never forget, that you hugged me back! You held me, as I wept like a baby! Thank you so much! That meant so much to me!
And what did you say to me? "Maybe now, you can enjoy the rest of your day”.
---May God Bless you sir! He blessed me with your presence, at that moment, when I first saw you with your wings!~~~~~~~
He asked if we would be okay going back, and of course, I knew we would be fine now. I thanked him, as My 'Lyncho' and I had to go back the way we got there, through the water and the rocks in the stream.
My Lyncho, he walked behind me, he kept his nose in my hand when I reached back to comfort him. He kept his nose there for along time, as we walked. I would stop, and give him a hug, we talked our talk, and then continued for what seemed a 2 hour walk back.
We were both exhausted! It was dark. Real dark. Finally, after passing our path, and re-tracking to get there, we were on the path back. We walked for a while, until I felt I wouldn’t be able to walk any farther. I didn’t have the strength to climb up, and had to walk until I found something to stand on. Then, he just stood, to let me mount, then he carried me back to the barn. I didn’t even want to ask him to carry me, he had been through so much, but I just couldn’t go any more. I had to find something to help me climb up. I found a tree trunk, and again mounted.
I could feel it in his steps. I saw it in his ears, as they perked, as he carried me now. I knew, he felt privileged to carry me back to the barn, for a well deserved nights rest, and his much deserved hay and grain.
They are called ‘Mile-A-Minute’ vines! NEVER go through them!
I will never make that mistake again!
~~~~~~~~~~
That was my BIG horse, my man and buddy for 21 years! I often said if I ever found a (real) man that would take care of me like Lyncho, who could make me laugh, and just feel good about living, --just like My Lyncho, I would marry again. Not until then. And, we too must be able to speak the un-spoken language of love.
In his years, people would just marvel at how he moved, --so graceful, and elegant! He was an awesome creature, and a wonderful 'gift'. I had to put his dad (sire) down, due to a fractured pelvis, an old injury that re-occurred. That broke my heart. I really mourned 'LYNCH'. We had bred him one time only to a particular mare I had, and when he died, I forgot to check my mare, and couldn't even remember to check to see if she had come into season or not. About 6 months later, I had the vet check her. She was "IN FOAL". I wept again. Could it be?
I mourned so deeply, that as I stayed in the stall, and laid next to his dead body, for a long time. My final moments with LYNCH, after he was put down. I had a talk with him. I asked that ‘IF he could’ --come back to me, I would want one white star, and for him to be almost 16'2", and to have one white foot. I also asked joked, --that he should earn me $70,000.00 to buy a farm, --by his 7th birthday. That story is a book --yet to be published. I was told that this story would one day, reach around the world.
I could hardly believe that I would ever have a foal from Lynch, I loved him so much.
I still had a hard time believing, even when the mare's water broke, that it would be born alive. I couldn't allow myself to care again. It hurts so bad, when you loose them. I had been hurt too deeply, in the past, and couldn’t take much more…
The foal was being born, and I thought, ‘and it's a chestnut like Lynch.’
I saw the big white star, ---‘just as I asked’.
It also came with ---‘one white foot, I also asked for’.
It was beautiful! It came out ---'whinning', as if to declare --‘I’m HERE! I made it’.
I thought that was cute, but knew he would die.
He dropped his little head. It just FLOPPED DOWN! I just knew he was dead!
He PERKED back up, ---‘nickered’ a HELLO, and dropped his head again.
I was doing just fine -looking at this ‘beautiful’ foal, until I wondered IF it was a filly, --or a colt.
I lifted the back leg, and I SAW, ---that it was a COLT!
THAT DID IT! -----I burst into tears! I ALWAYS LOVED the colts!
The LIFE they carry! ---CONTINUANCE!
I was so grateful! I felt that Lynch had come back to me.
I have so many stories about HIM, and now, the stories can continue, with his son.
---'Beau Lyncho'…Son of Lynch!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sadly, 21 years after Beau Lyncho’s birth, --I had to make that terribly difficult decision to have him put down, just this past August, of 2000. I CAN NOT yet --write or discuss that day.
That day was, -at a time, when I had a lot of decisions to make, and 'quality of life' was important for 'all of us'. I faced some real tough stuff, and had given my ALL to a project, that one day, will birth itself, in it's proper timing. Sometimes, GOOD people or things, are born too soon, or too late!
I always said that when my 'Lyncho' dies, I would die with him.
He gave me a life that was worth living. Now, he is gone!
MUCH of what I write about in our program --are things that we learned together.
What we are 'giving back' is what he has given me. Lynch, and Beau Lyncho, were gifts, from
the ‘Giver’ of all gifts.
They both took me through the happy days, and then through the tough times. They were both there for me, when I was hurt, or alone, or when I was let down, by yet another -human being. They NEVER LET ME DOWN! Sometimes we struggled, and many times we laughed. They both would light up, when I came into the barn.
Lyncho would make others laugh with his clown-like ways. He would do his 'old lady’ or ‘old man’ imitation -by flapping his lips. The more we would laugh, the more he would do it. He would 'push' anybody out of the stall, if I just asked him to. He would give me a buck, when I asked, until they got too big. He loved to hear me laugh, and he loved for me to just touch him, to just be there with him.
He was a character of characters. A great big ham and Bully! He would really put on a show at breeding season, and still shy away from the mares who wanted to kick at him. He would grown, --then curl his body away from them, so not to get kicked. He sure didn't like to be hurt! When he was hurt, he hurt big! He took full advantage, when he could, and at other times, he would NOT let you know he was hurting --so he could continue to work for me. He never wanted to let me down. I had to stop him, many times, when he wanted to keep on trying.
He would almost crawl onto my lap if something scared him, yet, he would be bold if the path --got challenging. He would always be there to take care of me. He would always wait for me, when he unseat me, with his playful antics. I COULD TRUST HIM! NOW, he is GONE! WHY haven't I meet 'a good man' like that! Horses don't have concealed purposes! That game, -is for humans!
Is it any wonder that 'my partner' --for 21 years has been the friendship of a Horse?
~~~~
The Spirit continues from within! I KNOW IT! Lyncho knows it!
Our next encounter will be absolutely incredible!
I Dedicate the Soft Touch Quantum Horsemanship Programs -to the LOVE of HIS MEMORY,
The wonderful life we shared together. He carried me through a ‘time of learning’
Now, we give it back, by giving to you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I see you by -running waters, where tall green grasses grow,
Where all the others there have joined you.
Where we again, -will flow.
My Friend…
The ‘nature’ of the magnificent natural, untrained horse, and ALL they have to give, is 'the gift' we pass on to you. Carried to you on wings --coming to you ---from 'Where Eagles Fly'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rose M Foreman, Equine/Rider Consultant, Coach and Program Coordinator
OUR 5-WAY-WIN DONATION
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Page last edited AUG. 11, 2010