Steph's Website

FOXFIRE MEMORIAL TROPHY

In January 2005, a couple of months shy of 19 years old,Trinity's Foxfire passed away due to colic.  Foxfire was very special to me and to many of my students who had the opportunity to ride her.  Joe & I witnessed her birth, did all of her training and had a successful show career.  She didn't begin her school master career until she was about 15 years old and until then, no one but myself ever rode her. 

I was a little nervous about how she would react, she did have a bit of a spook in her.  I decided to give her a shot in a group lesson with Fleety-her mother and best buddy.  She worked well with voice commands from me, so if something did occur I could get her attention that way.  So up climed Issac Smith, about 9 or 10 at the time, and we did the lesson with great success.  Foxfire seemed to enjoy the kids and remained calm.  The rest is history.  She taught many riders how to sit the trot, to ride staright and forward and even some jumping and, the inevitable, how to ride a mild spook.

In 2005, the KDCTA suggested that we have a Memorial Trophy that would be presented at the annaul schooling shows.  Amy Rominac made a beautiful "looks just like her" sculpture which sits on top of a lovely Oak base created by Dave Huebner.  Each year names of the Trophy winners are inscribed an mounted on the base.  The Trophy is displayed at each show along with a scrapbook about Foxfire and pictures of all the winners.

Eligibility requirements: Must be currently taking at least 2 riding lessons per month.  There is no charge to sign up for this award.  The rider with the highest dressage score of the day wins a ribbon with Foxfire's picture on it.

The loss of a friend is a sad thing.  We love our animals as much as our family members because our animals are part of the family.  Some folks may go through buying and selling several horses until they find the right one.  I tend to keep what I have forever.  I owned Foxfire since birth, in fact I witnessed her birth.  Sometimes I think it is easier when you know it's coming...you can kind of prepare yourself.  Unfortunately for Foxfire, there was no warning and no choice in the matter.  Colic is the number 1 killer of horses, and it claimed my friend before her time.  So this page is a dedication to her, Trinity's Foxfire.

Foxfire goes to heaven Jan 23, 2005, drawn by Eli Smith.

Terribly sad news

I am writing with a sad heart to let everyone know about Foxfire.  Fleety’s daughter, Trinity’s Foxfire, would have been 19 years old on Mar.9^th.  Foxfire passed away at 6:30 am Sunday due to colic complications. 

Sat morning found Foxfire to be having colic symptoms and being cast in her stall.  I gave her Banamine at 8:45 with not much relief within a ½ hr.  Her whole body was wet with sweat, a sign of severe pain.  With help from Chelsie and Dale we walked her and changed blankets frequently until Dr. McAllister arrived.  She had no gut sounds and Dr. McAllister could feel an obstruction in the small intestine.  My choices after examination was to get her to New Bolton for surgery within 6-12 hours or to put her down.  Traveling to New Bolton was really not an option with the weather situation, so we took her to Centre Equine where she would have a warm stall.  Upon an arrival exam, her heart rate was up, which was expected from the trailer ride, but he heard a few gut sounds.  Basically Dr. McAllister spent the night checking on her and giving her fluids.  Her last pain medication was at 5:30pm Sat, then by 5:30 am she started getting bad again.  Dr. McAllister said that she laid down and expired awhile later.

You all knew Foxfire and many of you have ridden her.  Foxfire had a full life.  I was privileged to see her be born.  She was all legs!  I trained her and we had successful show seasons and fun trail riding.  She didn’t start giving lessons until she was about 15, so I was pretty much her sole rider.  Someone once offered me $20,000 for her.  “No” came out of my mouth so fast, it even surprised me.  As with many of you, my horses are my children, in other words, not for sale, ever.  Foxfire was a wonderful teacher and I’m sure there was a lot of “Fleety” influence there. The two of them were joined at the hip, best buddies hanging out in the pasture or going to a lesson, they would nicker to each other frequently.  Foxfire had her quirks but in a mild way, just to let you know you need to be in the right place at the right time.  Foxfire was my schoolmaster for teaching students the sitting trot and canter depart on the lunge.  A lot of kids and adults have had a great time riding in Drill Team performances and schooling shows with Foxfire as their equine partner.  I’m sure you all have fond memories of Foxfire too.

Foxfire will be buried at Centre Stables in the next few days.  I want to thank Sara and Dale for granting that request for us, thanks to Don Smith for getting the truck and trailer together and taking Foxfire to Centre Equine, thanks to Christine Dorman for the use of her trailer, thanks to Dale, Sara, Chelsie, Brittany, Dave Burns and Natalie for helping me on Sat, and thanks to Joe, Maribeth and Linnie for being my emotional support, and especially to Dr. McAllister for helping Foxfire to be comfortable as she could in her last hours.

I guess this is my way of saying goodbye.  Thanks for listening.

Most sincerely,

Stephanie