Tilly - Atilla My Hun

Tilly, Atilla My Hun, a horse given to me at 9 months old for free. I had him for 18 years. He didn't look like much to start with but as the ugly duckling turned into a swan so did he. We went through a lot together. He was my all around. We trail rode, roped, dressage and eventing. Our first eventing schooling show he took a second place. We should have had first as that gal got bucked off but it was between fences so . . .

I started him and rode every buck except for one. He bucked during a jumping lesson on a bank jump towards home. He had given me his best bucks before or so I thought. He had never bucked like that - it was wild. I did a somersault and landed on my back. I heard the bones break. It sounded like when a chiro gives you an adjustment. He broke my ribs, broke off part of my vertebrae. This was two weeks before we were to do our first eventing schooling show. He went on with a junior rider and took third place. He was my champion, my high point, my Tilly.

Trail riding, I was once asked if he was an endurance horse, my reply was he thinks he is. We would start at the end of a good 300+ riders and be at the lead by the end. One time as we went bucking by I was told the rodeo starts after noon! LOL!

I lost Tilly to colic - impaction variety. Most horrible thing I have ever seen - a horse dying. Godspeed Tilly!