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Inch

"Won't Give an Inch" foaled 5/19/79 17 hand Thoroughbred Mare, Chestnut w/white blaze.   Inch is a Thoroughbred mare, ex-race horse, broodmare and jumper. Inch was sent to me by Debbie and Steve Peden. She has training for miles, but is a little excitable and has ringbone in her left fore foot. This is a horse with a great pedigree who would love to be a mother again, but I don't breed horses. Inch is mostly just a ride for me. At a walk or (very long strided) trot, she's great. She'll be a good step up for more advanced riders Inch holds a special place in my heart because of her long friendship with Bobby Sox. Although she's 17 hands and he was barely 14 hands she was Bobby's "woman" - his status symbol or trophy wife if you will. She tolerated his napoleonic ways, holding Joey as a proper sized boyfriend in the background. In the last year of Bobby's life, Inch gently switched to being his protector. As his eyesight failed, he would get separated from her in the herd and stand calling for her. She would carefully move to a location where he could catch her scent and find his way to her side granting him reassurance and saving his face in the process. When Bobby Sox died, Inch was inconsolable, and showed great rage toward me until the night I broke down in her stall pleading for her to understand that I had to help him on his way. Amazingly enough, it seems she thought I didn't care. She walked carefully to me, dropped her head in my chest for the first time in months, and stood quietly in my arms letting me cry. I had never believed that animals understood the concept of death, but her behavior was all too typical of a friend or family member in the same situation. She also took many months to accept Navigator, who moved into Bobby's stall. Each night she and I say good night to Bobby Sox, and I believe it's a comfort to her to hear his name. She's special, this Inch. I look at the sadness in my big girl's eyes. She has taken on the same mission as I - taking care of the elderly. And so she loses one friend after another ... First Bobby, then Charra, and most recently, in June of 2008, the sweet Mitey Nice. Inch is older now too. As a horse her size approaches her 30th birthday, I must remember that her days are numbered too ..... Inch has begun to caretake Mitey Nice, and Charra, two elderly ponies. She is so kind to them, and always worried about where they are. It makes me sad, when she's due for more grief as these old ladies pass onward, but it seems to be her mission. Below, she stands guard over Mitey, only months before the Mitey Mite passed on.   Thank You Terri Edwards and Neigh Savers for sponsoring Inch! Please contact Casey if you would be interested in sponsoring any of the un-sponsored horses at The Golden Carrot. return to Horses page  l  Previous  l  Next