Image: Mel Rothenburger.

By Connor Gunn

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: On this Easter weekend, a happy story about a horse

Apr 16, 2022 | 6:48 AM

THIS IS A STORY about a horse.

Why, on this Easter long weekend, would I tell a story about a horse? Well, whether you’re Christian or not, Easter symbolizes new life, rebirth and, of course, Easter bunnies and egg hunts.

So, let’s pause from stressing out about the war, COVID, crime and all the other negatives that dominate the news these days, and think some happy thoughts.

I have a story to tell about Tanner, our 32-year-old horse, who has a new lease on happiness.

I’ve written about Tanner, and his buddy Bradley, a couple of times in the past. I wrote about the bond between people and their animals and, maybe more importantly the bond between animals with each other.

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On another occasion, I wrote about the despicable horse-meat business, and how we vowed to stay by our horses until it was their time, and to make certain their end came peacefully and painlessly.

Not quite two years ago, we had to keep that promise to Bradley, and I admit I get choked up thinking about that day. Brad was 35 when he left us. He and Tanner had been together for more than two dozen years. For days afterward, Tanner stayed close to where we buried Brad, mournfully calling for him. It took a long time for him to begin eating again. Horses are sentient beings.

They feel pain, stress and, yes, grief, despite what so-called experts might say. They remember.

For the past two years, Tanner’s days have consisted mostly of standing in a far corner of his paddock, staring at the cows at our neighbour’s place. Tanner is a beautiful buckskin, half Thoroughbred-half Quarter Horse. He was born to run and, boy, can Tanner run.

Watching the joy with which he tears around his paddocks or our hay field is a thrill. Bradley was never a runner but he’d trot after Tanner as best he could, and Tanner would always circle back so Brad could catch up.

When Bradley died, a lot of Tanner’s zest for life died too. No one should ever have just one horse. They are intensely social animals and they crave company.

We considered boarding Tanner somewhere with other horses but we couldn’t bear the thought of him not being here at home.

Getting another horse didn’t seem to make sense. A young horse would likely outlive us; an old horse would simply set up the same situation, in which one of the two would eventually die and then we’d have a lonely horse again.

So we thought about getting a donkey or a cow or goat or some other beast, as they’re said to be OK companions for horses. (Some horses even make friends with chickens.) We found that Tanner did change his attitude towards the dog — while he never liked dogs, he began tolerating Reo, our Golden Retriever.

Eventually, though, it became clear the only way to get Tanner out of his depression was going to be another horse, so we started keeping our eyes open for one close to Tanner’s age.

A couple of leads didn’t work out but a few weeks ago I happened to mention this to a friend, who said it just so happened she had such a horse.

His name was William, and she’d taken him in because his previous owner was moving and couldn’t look after him any more so had plans to put him down. One thing led to another and, two weeks ago, William arrived.

We kept them separated at first. Tanner spent several hours excitedly running around in circles before screwing up the courage to tentatively do some visiting over the fence. After all, he hadn’t been anywhere near another horse for almost two years.

By the time we turned them out together, it was as if he and William had known each other for years.

There was no posturing or kicking as often happens when strange horses are introduced.

The two of them now hang out together, graze together. Tanner is suddenly bright and active again, enjoying life again.

He’s running again; William, who we think is somewhere between 25 and 30, breaks into a trot to follow — it’s like the good old days. As for William, he’s adapted to his new home with amazing ease.

He’s an affectionate old guy, always giving us the “huh, huh, huh” horses do when they’re glad to see you in the morning, always begging for treats or to be petted on his big head. I don’t know how long either of them has left but, for now, for awhile, life is good for “the guys.”

On this Easter weekend, as spring continues its slow approach, the crocuses and daffs are up, the Canada geese have come for their annual visit after a long flight from the south, and all is once again as it should be out at the barn.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.