It's the UBF's birthday next week. He will be four years old which means I have owned him for half of his life. He has healed and grown into such a stunning animal that I gasp regularly when I see him. His neck is strong and muscled, his legs are full of bone and his face is graceful, kind and cheeky. His tail is thick with gorgeous black hair and his coat is a striking chestnut - almost orange when it glints in the morning sun. He gallops to see me whenever I call his name, he will leave his food for a scratch on his withers or a nose in my pockets and he has the cutest wonky nostril, which he wiggles when dinner is coming. He is so balanced as he canters around his field, he is chilled, laid-back and happy. He is mine, all mine. But what on earth am I going to do with him?
I didn't mean to buy such an impressive beast. My aim was to save a trotter, a horse which had been raced here on the island who could no longer compete - and give the animal a nice retirement, some love and plenty of food. The universe gave me Ed, the scrawny two year old who fell off the lorry 2 years ago. Over the last two years I have grown to love this incredibly beautiful animal, his character has given me so much joy and I love that he learns quickly although we are in no rush with his education. I already have another horse to ride every day, my lovely mare Kira who I plod around the lanes of the village with. I didn't mean to buy another horse who would need riding!
As I look forward to our future together, the UBF will be coming into his prime as Kira starts slowing down for her retirement. So perhaps I will let the future unfold as naturally as it always does, one moment at a time. He has given me so much pleasure just by being him, he owes me nothing.
I owe him everything.
Being a very good boy with the farrier this week
