02/17/2026
The farm was quiet today, as 1yr ago we lost our eldest…. ❤️ The sun was high, shining brightly, and spreading warmth wherever the rays could reach, just like our girl. I am certain she was visiting today, basking in her favorite paddock and saying hello to her former pasture mates.
Justacitygirl aka Emma, 2/6/1989-2/16/2025
Our legend & matriarch, our sweet, beautiful Grandma Emma, transitioned to Heaven on this cold, sunny afternoon. 💖
10 years ago, a spicy, sassy, red-headed mare entered my life. She was already mid-20s at the time. Given her age, I only expected a few good years with her. Boy did she prove me wrong... years came and went, and birthdays were celebrated again and again. 10 years of non-stop memories....
We spent spring/summer/and fall going for hand-grazing walks (her walking me most of the time), long rolls in the arena sand with a little gallop afterward, watching the birds & bunnies, nuzzling barn cats, getting endless scratches, and so much more. Winters...well, Emma had a love/hate relationship with it. She was happy for no bugs, but winters meant blankets, and although I know she appreciated the warmth, she really disliked being bundled like an Eskimo. One thing Emma loved was scratches. She'd nudge right up against you just trying to get her back scratched (she was just like me that way... I love my back rubs, right Kyle?).
Aside from scratches, food meant everything. She NEVER missed a meal, and if you were five minutes late she'd let you know. Even if you were early, you were still late. There wasn't a single meal she didn't give us nickers for her food. Regular hay and grain turned to alfalfa pellets soaked along with her grain wet down. Although she expressed her disappointment in being unable to eat long-stem hay, she relished in the soft fluff of the pellets. Grass became difficult to eat, but she still happily munched away, chewing cuds of grass for everything she could get and then spitting it out moving on to the next mouthful. She was a sucker for butterscotch-flavored horse treats, and I got her hooked on mango horse treats the last couple of years. She rarely would turn away a good snack.
From getting into feed cans, untying herself, sneaking out the barn for a stroll down the road, opening gates, destroying heated buckets, knocking things over in the barn, schooling young herd mates, hanging out with Bella (her favorite fluffy barn cat), being a confidante for her herd mates and me, enduring my constant silly selfies, and so much more....
There is no way to best sum up 10 years together. Every day I looked forward to chore time, seeing those adorable fox ears pricked straight forward with that little p**f of a forelock that never grew, nickering from the moment I opened the door until her muzzle was in the bucket munching away. I always smiled when she was on the halter outwalking me, even with arthritis nipping at her. Seeing her lope off after a good roll always made me smile. She would buck a little, and squeal sometimes. She was wise beyond her years, quirky, and spicy; but also sweet, caring, and loving. I loved everything about her. ❤️❤️❤️
To describe Emma to those who never met her personally: She was a horse that lived life on her terms. She never acted her age, even when her body started to fail her, she fought valiantly with every ounce of her being. 'Die young as late as possible.' That was our Emma. She was one-in-a-million, an absolute legend in her own right.
We will forever cherish the time we had with her, as it was a God given gift every day. Run unbridled through the Heavenly pastures sweet Emma. As you gallop through those beautiful, never ending green pastures, I hope you are reunited with your beautiful foals, and hopefully our entire Heavenly herd.
You made 10yrs of my life a special one. I'm so blessed to have been your 'Mom'. I love you with all my heart, forever and ever. 💖
'Where there is deep grief, there was great love'
