This winter, Circle C Equestrian Center said goodbye to one of our longest and most senior working equines, AJ. AJ was a great teaching partner and was ridden in weekly lessons, weekend troop programs and during summer camp. He was an excellent trail horse, one of our first group of Horseback Archery mounts and a trustworthy Adaptive Riding horse for our riders with unique needs, goals and abilities. He was trustworthy and unflappable, whether it be sudden loud noises, surprise deer on a trail or a an overly exuberant Daisy Troop, we could count on AJ to remain steady.
With AJ in a lesson, we had a horse that we could count on to take care of the smallest or most fearful rider and who could be a stabilizing influence on other horses. AJ had his quirks and was a very good teacher of boundaries and why you should respect them and enforce them. Leading AJ to the arena by yourself was a milestone in confidence for many of our RIITs and students. It meant you were able to read AJ’s cues, establish leadership and maintain a safe boundary, while remaining soft and responsive. That’s a tall order, especially when AJ is expressing his opinion that his girth is tight enough, thank you very much!
As we reflect on AJ’s life and legacy with Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont, we would like to thank everyone who had a part in helping us take care of him, especially in the last few years. As our horses age, they can develop a whole host of geriatric issues and keeping up with our seniors’ care is a team effort. The Veterinarians at Lexington Large Animal Medicine and Surgery and Scarlett Mobile Equine helped us with preventative care, tooth maintenance, diagnostics and emergency care. Our Farrier, Jarreth Thomas, kept his hooves in good health and was careful to not aggravate arthritic joints. Frank, Clay and the whole Southern States team kept us well stocked in senior feed, hay cubes and beet pulp and helped us maintain AJ’s nutritional needs as his teeth and metabolism changed and he couldn’t eat grass and hay like he once did. Our Riding Instructors shared any points of concern or discomfort they saw during lessons and barn staff noticed if AJ wasn’t eating with gusto or was behaving differently in the pasture.
Our RIITs spent extra time grooming and caring for AJ, something he didn’t use to enjoy, but started to really appreciate this past year. Our Riding Instructors in Training were AJ’s primary handlers during weekend and summer programming. The love, attention and respect AJ received from his RIITs was so important for setting the tone and atmosphere for a ride where everyone feels safe.
Finally, we know our students over the years who have loved AJ and appreciated the lessons he taught them will miss him. Almost every rider at Circle C started on a group of steady seniors, and we will miss AJ being a part of that group.
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