The Green Horseman

They say that at the end of life we regret the things we haven’t done more than the things we’ve done.

I’m not above celebrating my horses’ birthdays. I normally grab a few extra treats and give them some extra attention. I’ve never actually thrown a birthday party for my horses.

This year I decided to shake things up. Last year was tough and this year started tough. We need a little more joy. I decided that we’re having a party (with permission from the farm).

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Stanley, Mr. Wrench It, was foaled on February 29th 2016, it was a fair day with a high of 73 degrees. A leap year baby adorning a blaze resembling a crescent wrench. The young colt was delivered at Kinsman Farm in Ocala Florida. His dam Candle Maker, his sire Lookin’ at Lucky. I’m dying to see baby photos.

Over 3 years Mr Wrench It raced 36 times winning $99,964, with 4 1sts, 3 2nds, and 2 3rds. He placed first in his 3rd race…Maiden Special Weight at Thistledown. He ran 5.5 furlongs on the dirt, winning by a neck. On his next outing he won again…Prairie Meadows Juvenile Stakes; one mile and 70 yards on the dirt. He won that race by 6.75 lengths.

Just over 18 months late Mr Wrench It won again in a claiming race at Tampa Bay. This one 1 1/16th mile on the turf, by two lengths. Another claiming race at Mountaineer, One mile on the turf. He won that by 2 lengths again. It was his 32nd race. He raced four more times and retired in October 2021.

Mr Wrench It had a little over a year to rest and be a horse when Jazz took him out of the field and put him into my life at the end of 2022. I’m still friends with Jazz and his previous trainer today and I’m still so incredibly grateful for them, their big hearts, and their horsemanship.

It’s clear to me Stanley was well cared for through his life. He is a happy soul and confident. He’s kind but honest. I was told he was started in the fields of Ocala, so I’m not surprised at how calm and relaxed he is outside of the arena. He loves wandering and exploring.

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I used Stanley’s birthday as a way to celebrate him but also to see the people I love at the farm. It’s still winter so I limited the invites to those in the immediate barn and the small one next door. Our facility has a few barns and tons of amazing humans, but it would have been too overwhelming.

My original plan was to ride earlier in the day but the temperatures plummeted 40 degrees from the previous day and the wind was biting. The real feel was only 13 degrees. I chose life. On the plus side we had an incredibly productive and groundbreaking lesson this week.

I bought a couple of pizzas, and ordered a custom cake.

I made some horse treats.

My friend and her daughters also made some horse treats.

My mom brought carrots, my 2nd mom sent us a bag of horse treats.

There was so much love and joy in the room, and my soul felt full.

We talked, ate, laughed, and we spent some time out in the barn offering cookies to the horses (In moderation) and showing off tricks.

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We had a horse birthday party. It was a lot of fun. No regrets.