A memorial to a great horse....

Has anyone every seen the movie Babe? It's a movie about farm animals (that talk) but they all have these very distinctive personalities. By the end of the movie, you are moved to tears because you are so in love with these sweet animals. Minus the talking like a human, our family had our own horse version of 'Babe'.

Hanky Panky Rhea was my mom's best friend for 25 years. She and dad bought him when they moved to Columbus, he was 2 years old. Panky passed away this past week. In fashion, Mom stopped her world for the 3 days he was sick and spent it in the pasture loving and caring for her sweet friend. I am sure these last days were precious as the memories of our mischievous horse ran through her head!

Panky's most notable feature was his blatant disgust for men. Hated them. Never met one he liked! Im not sure how he knew the difference between men and women, but if you had one of each standing side by side, he would rub his head all over the woman, turn his cheek, and bite the heck out of the man! He was a true ladies man! He could charm the socks off of any woman that met him! Our most recent episode was when the Lane's and mom tried to go horse back riding. I have a video of Powers on Panky and he is being as stubborn as a mule! He wouldn't follow Powers's lead at all, kept trying to turn back for the barn, walking heavy and sloppy. Finally, Powers gave in and traded with mom. As you can see in the pictures below, he totally relaxed and just strolled along like the lazy old horse he's always been! I have to laugh just thinking about how he always got his way!

Mom was telling me the other day about earlier memories of Panky pulling garbage bags out of the back of the truck and dragging trash all over our fields, and biting at Barry's hair when he was a wee little tyke! He was the kids horse, gentle and never wanting to move very fast. I bet mom taught two dozen kids how to ride a horse with Panky as her guide. A sight I've never seen, but rumor has it he was also one of the fastest horses we've ever had! I can hardly believe it, he was normally slow as a snail, but if mom says its true, its true!

Today for mom, I just wanted to remember a great pet, a great friend, a great teacher. He was so full of personality... im sure we will never have another one like him! He was a charmer, and you could just see the 'bad little boy' in him! We will miss Hanky Panky. He's given us years of happiness and countless stories to tell. He raised us all and we are so very sad to see him go.

God, give him a big stall up there with lots of green grass and pastures to lay in. He was our delight and we will miss him so. We love you, Panky.