04/01/2025
I like to joke that I ended up with Sandrik after Judson closed because no one else could handle him or wanted to deal with his quirks. It’s partially true. After all, he did kick me when I went to load him in the trailer and then jumped the fence and toured American Village upon bringing him home. I knew it was going to be quite the journey and it was. He tested my skill and patience as a trainer and despite the many frustrations I was determined to make it work. I think he’d had too many homes and too many different people in his life and that was the reason for his quirks. I looked into his eyes on two occasions and promised I’d take care of him and that I’d be his final home, I knew he understood both times.
Sandrik was special to me at Judson. He taught me how to canter a big horse. I described it as riding a carousel. He also let me extend the trot which felt like floating. He was quirky and full of personality. It could be annoying at times but was also quite hilarious. I enjoyed every ride on him. I love watching him running through the field and coming up to eat. He looked like a unicorn.
When I picked him up I gave him two nicknames, not ones that I used regularly but more in my head. “My Unicorn” because he surely looked like one, and “My Heartbreak Horse” for two reasons losing Judson and knowing, even then, that I would lose him, I just didn’t expect it to be this soon.
We had several broken halters, lead ropes, and bridles at first. He jumped the fences and round pens multiple times. I chased him around the field countless times after he broke the halter or bridle. Every time I was told he could be rehomed and every time I declined. We worked through it and he settled down and began to trust that he was ok. From then on he was fantastic, he still had his quirks, as they do. For a while he was “my horse” I rode him, jumped him, showed some, trail rode occasionally, and worked at liberty. I loved the work at liberty. As he calmed down he became a trusted member of my lesson program, and a definite favorite. I stopped riding him and let the kids enjoy him, as all horses deserve to be loved at least once in their lives by a little girl. He had several who loved him dearly and he helped with developing their dreams.
A few weeks ago I had a truly incredible final ride on him. I guess I kind of felt at the time it could be the last, I always felt like I was racing against the clock with him. There were a lot of things I wanted to learn from him and teach him and I always felt I never would. This last “working” ride was a good one. We played with leg yields, lead changes, and over fences. I wish I could do it once more.
Sandrik truly was a dream horse and one I’m going to greatly miss. Thank you buddy, for everything. I’ll see you again one day.
