Bounty. He was my favourite horse ever. Yes I know favouritism and all that, but he honestly was. He could be an absolute angel or horse from hell but I still love him. I first met him in 2006 and began to part loan him on 23rd January 2010. I part loaned him for 7 months and they were some of the best (and hardest!) months of my life! He taught me so much and I enjoyed every second of it. Two of the most important lessons he taught me were to expect the unexpected and how to fall! I cannot remember how many times I ended up sat on the floor looking up at his cheeky face after he had decided he didn't want to jump. On 29th August 2010, Bounty moved yards due to a change in his owners personal circumstances. Unfortunately the yard he moved to was too far away for me to go 3 times a week so as hard as it was I had to say goodbye and move on. I was always welcome at his new yard and I went up and visited him a few times when we were passing. I will never forget the first time I visited him at that yard. It was about 2 months after he had moved and I didn't think he would recognise me. His owner gave me his headcollar and I went down to his paddock alone to catch him. As I was walking down the hill, I called out to him and he stopped eating and proceeded to canter over to the gate where he stood calling out to me until I got to him. I will never forget that moment. It was the first time I had felt a true connection with a horse.
On 31st August 2011, I was told the devastating news that Bounty had died due to a tumour in his stomach. The phone call came as I was about to leave my sixth form induction day. I was in shock. I had known he was ill and that things weren't looking good but nothing can prepare you for hearing the news that one of your best friends has died. No he wasn't human, no he couldn't speak to me and no I hadn't seen him in 6 months but I think that made it so much worse. I never got a chance to say goodbye. I used to say to myself that one day I would go and see him again but now it's too late. As soon as I saw his owners name appear on my phone I knew what she was going to say so I guess I was kind of expecting it but it definitely did not make it any easier. As I put the phone down I got up and walked out of sixth form and made for the stables. On the way I rang my mum to tell her the news and she was really upset as well. I got to the stables and went straight to his old stable and sat in there crying for many hours (even though there is now another horse in there!) I made sure I was gone before anyone else got to the stables because I couldn't bear to tell them what had happened. For the next few weeks I didn't feel like doing anything. I couldn't ride, I couldn't sleep and I was struggling to look at photos and videos of Bounty. I eventually forced myself to sit and look at every picture and video I ever took of Bounty and I think it really helped. He was an absolutely great horse and he taught so many people how to ride. He was, and still is, loved by so many people and he will never, ever be forgotten. Even now he's gone, he still continues to teach me things only he could teach. Not a day goes past when I don't think of him. I have a picture of him on my desk surrounded by rosettes and trophies we won together and it will never, ever move.
I love you forever Mr Bumpty. Sleep tight boy. Thank you for everything.
Bounty. 1996-2011 <3
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