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Click on Photos for a Larger View |
BEYOND THE RAINBOW
As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,
I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade
I saw a wondrous image then of a place that's trouble-free
Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.
I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side
Were meadows rich and beautiful - lush and green and wide
And running through the meadows as far as the eye could see
Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be
My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new
And I wanted to go run with them, but I had something left to do
I needed to reach out to you, to tell you I'm alright
That this place is truly wonderful, then a bright glow pierced the
night
"Twas the glow of many candles, shining bright and strong and bold
And I knew then that it held your love in it's brilliant shades of
gold.
For although we may not be together in the way we used to be
We are still connected by a cord no one can see
So whenever you need to find me, we're never far apart
If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart
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Comments below by Christine, Sophie's
owner, and Anne of Hidden Creek. |
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| A dedication and
thank you from Sophie's owners: |
My Friends and Family,
It is with much sadness I write this email to you. This past Sunday
we lost my wonderful horse Sophie. Her death came very sudden.
Sophie had colic and we could not save her. I lost my best
four-legged friend of 19 years. It was a honor to have her and to
know her. If you are receiving this email than you either knew and
was touched by Sophie or you know me and know that she was my life.
I am the woman I am today because of this magnificent animal. Sophie
has been teaching me the lessons of life since I was 12 years old.
Sophie will not be in mine and Rob's wedding photos like we had
planned or teach our children to ride but her legacy will continue
to live on. I am blessed to have all of you and thank you for your
support. Sophie will be greatly missed.
Love,
Christine |
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Loving memories from
Anne Kusmich of Hidden Creek Farm: |
I needed time to think
about what I wanted to say about the short time Sophie was with us.
What I didn't understand the day of her death was that she was
suppose to be here with us when she left the planet. She came to the
farm in October and went from being lonely to being one of the three
non-blonds on the mare team. Four happier mares you never saw in
your life. Sophie was so happy at Hidden Creek Farm. I kept asking
the vet "why now", after all Sophie had been through when she was
leased, and after her amazing recovery, was she dying. I suppose the
plan was for her to come to a place where she was so happy and so
comfortable that she could leave Christine, and Christine would know
it was okay. That she had done everything for her ... loved her
beyond love ... brought her back to the beautiful horse she always
was, and could accept it was her time.
I came to really love the sweet mare that she was when she started
getting rubs on her legs from lying down and trying to baby her bad
back legs. The fronts always took the rubs. So I would go in every
day to put meds on the rubs. Sophie would smell my hair, swirl my
pony tail and give me love all the time. I would look up at her and
kiss her nose and laugh at the way she played while I was tending to
her legs. That is my lasting memory of her.
I am glad I was home on Sunday March 2nd .... she will be forever
in my dreams. The beautiful white horse with the happy, forgiving
heart.
Anne Kusmich
Hidden Creek Farm |
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Below is a brief history of Sophie and how she
became a member of the Hidden Creek Farm family |
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Sophie
(Softly Spoken) |
We welcome Christine,
Rob, Toby & Sophie to Hidden Creek Farm
Here is their story |
Sophie and I met in
September of 1988. I was only 12 years old and she was just 3 years
of age. I had lost my first horse "Annie" that spring and was not
looking to replace her anytime soon. My trainer had picked "Tri
Jest" up from a trainer at Philadelphia Race Track. Her father was a
great stakes horse named The Electrocutioner. My trainer insisted
that she was the horse for me and that we would "go places". Well,
he was right. After a few weeks of trying her out and a few falls my
father bought the dappled grey mare for me. We named her "Softly
Spoken" or Sophie for short. Sophie took me up and down the east
coast with a successful show career. She also challenged me in every
way possible. In our early days we boarded at a farm in NY and
showed the Hunters and some Equitation divisions mostly around home.
Sophie was never a fan of the under saddle classes so when I was in
college my trainer at the time and I decided to try her out in the
Jumper ring. This is when she really came alive! Sophie was
naturally balanced, quick and careful. With age the better she
became. We went on to win a number of Jumper Classics. She also gave
me many difficult rides. I often say that was her way of keeping me
humble.
While I was in PA I worked for and rode with Lisa Jacquin (Olympic
Silver Medalist). Once back in NJ I started to take lessons with
Jeff Cook and George Morris at Hunterdon. George had on more than
one occasion remarked what a special horse my mare was and he loved
her rollbacks! Sophie at this point was getting older and we maxed
her out her last year of showing at the High Schooling Jumpers. I
retired her from the show ring at the age of 19 after her hocks
started to give her some trouble. She owed me nothing. She deserved
to retire. Unfortunately my Sophie girl sustained an injury one and
a half years ago that leaves her unable to be ridden anymore. I
needed to find a safe place for her to enjoy her last years. I
researched for such a place and found Anne, Bob and Hidden Creek
Farm. This is where Sophie lives her life among her girlfriends. I
am extremely lucky to have been able to sit on the back of this
wonderful animal for so many years. Not many people can say that
they "grew" up with their horse. Sophie took me from the Children's
Hunter ring to the Jumper ring.
It does not get any better than that! |
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