Baby Doll was 24 years old when she was euthanized.   Two days before, she was kicking her heels up in the arena with Doc. Although she had colicked a few times in the past 4 years, he had a tumor that slowly over time, grew around her small intestine.  That particular day it had perforated the small intestine, and at that point she was in pain, and it was more humane to euthanize her. It was the worst day of my life, and my heart will ache for her for a long time. Baby Doll had a way of looking at me and telling me to "Get over what ever it was that was making me feel sorry for myself".  She kept me learning the whole time I had her. 

 

I bought Baby Doll from Amelia Pharr, who had her for 10 years.  In the 10 years she had her, she taught her two boys how to ride, rope and went on many trailrides.  When I bought her, it was to build my confidence back up on a solid horse, and that is what she did for me.  She took care of two boys, and then took care of a timid 45 year old woman.  She put up with all my Parelli, and was awesome at it - she would actually just watch the other horses in class, and when it was her turn, she just did it.  She made me look good.  Doc, her pasture mate had been with her during that 10 years too, and Amelia just wanted her and Doc
to retire together, and she knew how much I loved Baby Doll and would do the same for Doc. 

 

I was very blessed to have known her and had the chance to love her.  Everyone always seems to want young horses and I don't know why. Older horses have so much love and so much they can teach you.  Even now she is still teaching me.  I was trying to comfort Doc, and I was thinking about how she (Baby Doll) treated him.  I realized she told him where to stand, what to eat, who he could talk to, and when he could talk to them.  If he didn't listen, she let him know it.  So, I would lead him to a spot to graze, and just when he ate a few bites, I would abruptly move him to another spot, and did it again, and again.  Believe it or not it worked and he calmed and looked at me a little differently.  So there you have it, she is still teaching me. She also had a knack for flirting with any gelding that came by.  She loved the boys.  I believe she had one baby, and Amelia had wanted to breed her, but she would not take. She is buried with Amelia and her family, and that is where she should be.  She is home.  

 

She amazed everyone she met; no one ever thought she was 24. Like I said, two days before she was running in the arena, tail up, having a blast - poor Doc was thinking, "Is she ever going to stop?"  When I bought her, the vet looked at her teeth, and thought she was about 13.  She was 19 at the time.  Melissa Hubble at EVA called her the youngest 24 yr old horse she knew. She was just one of those horses that do not come along everyday, and you are very blessed if you have the chance to know and love one.

 

~Tracy