09/20/2026
Arwen of Rivendell
She was a queen. She was always a queen and a matriarch. I first went to meet her when her new owner could not catch her in the pasture. She had recently come from a PMU farm in Canada and didn't have much good to say about humans. I played with her some in the pasture and eventually got her watchable. I was impressed with how big and beautiful she was and also how kind she was even through her fear. Though she was nearly full term pregnant you could not tell. My daughter was looking for a jumper horse at the time but was adamant she did not want a mare. I kept telling her "there's something about that mare." I finally convinced her to go look and she decided there really was something about that mare. They became fast friends and my daughter got her going under saddle. Arwen brought her best to everything she tried. She did dressage, she jumped, she did trails and in her later years, after Ashley joined the Navy she became a legendary lesson horse. She taught innumerable kids to ride with the same kindness I saw in those first days. I will never forget the day i tacked her up for my then 4 year old neice. I turned around to do something and Liza was halfway up. She had decided to climb up the side of Arwen to get in the saddle. Arwen sood patiently. She taught them about how horses get pain and need body work to support them as she struggled with arthritis in her hips. Each day she brought her best to her humans and her herd. A few years ago, when her teeth were getting old and not grinding anymore, I had to move her from her herd and I thought she would be upset. She went to live with Rohan so they could both have chopped hay and giant buckets of mash. She marched in there like a queen and told him how things were going to be and that was that. She watched her other herd from the hill and I believe she's watching over all of us now. I called her my grateful horse because she seemed grateful for this life every single day. I knew that she would tell me when she was ready to go and i have been checking in with her regularly for the last few years. While I knew she would tell me when it was time, I wondered if i would have the courage to hear her. She did tell me and i did listen. When she passed all the horses were galloping and a dear friend said because shes galloping over them ❤️ I believe it is so. Rest In Peace dear friend. Thank you for all your help. You are missed.
