A tribute to Granite Chief after sharing 10,000 miles together

Instead of spending much time writing about Chief, I’ve been spending time with him.  He is really a kind and gentle soul who has impacted my life in so many wonderful ways that I can’t even think of the words to describe how fantastic a journey we have shared so far.

Today I shampooed Chief’s tail.  OMG, it was dirt brown in color – I was happy with the results.  When finished, his tail was returned to it’s normal silver, black and blond color.  I have so enjoyed seeing him transform from being nearly black and charcoal grey with black mane and tail to a fleabitten grey with a silver mane and silver, blond and black tail.

We also went for another walk on the trail today.  I realized why my arm is sore – from Chief stopping to grab bites of grass constantly!  I guess he knows I’m a sucker and will let him get away with it, which I do.  The old dog tries to weave her way in between Chief’s hind legs as he walks and sometimes manages to get through.  Chief just picks his legs up higher to avoid knocking her head with a hoof.  <sigh>  The other dog gets in front of Chief and slows down or completely stops.  Chief just weaves around her, or else uses it as another excuse to grab a bite of grass.

This is kind of cheating, but I’m copying what I wrote when Chief made a previous milestone.  Everything still holds true, only moreso – I feel like the luckiest person on earth to have ended up with a horse that has a huge amount of personality as well as ability.  Here goes…

I really enjoy riding my horses and lately have especially cherished every single minute of it. I have loved riding every one of my horses but I especially have enjoyed the special relationship that I have developed with Chief. He is a once in a lifetime horse and I know that no matter how long I live even if it were to be a million lifetimes that I just won’t have that kind of relationship with another horse. Ever. I may have something completely different with another horse but it won’t be the same. The reason is that Chief feels the same way about me as I do about him. I have been head over heels with my other horses, but it wasn’t as reciprocal.

Chief isn’t an ordinary horse. He is a Spanish Arabian and I have no doubts would have been a 100% reliable and kick butt war horse! Not that any endurance horse is ordinary, they are all special and unique. But Chief is definitely one of a kind. Chief is quite a bit more attached to me and sensitive about my feelings than any other horse (or even a dog) I’ve ever spent time with. Chief really seems to read and understand my thoughts and feelings. I can’t explain it but we have a connection that is truly special and one that is of the utmost respect and adoration for each other. There are times that I can’t even think of his large beautiful sparkling eyes without getting a tear in my eye, or think about how he responds to the touch of the back of my hand on his neck as I gently caress him and speak softly while staring into his beautiful large eyes (did I mention that I like his eyes?) . Chief also knows when I am stressed or nervous about something and I can feel the tension flow through his body with each breath.

I feel the strength and security in Chief’s entire body when we are on the edge of a big drop-off and I know his full attention is targeted towards keeping us safe and getting us through that section and I have enough sense not to interfere. I know that he will slow or stop and slowly proceed one hoof at a time if he thinks the ground ahead is muddy or unsafe and will pause to ask my direction if he is unsure and will follow my lead and trust me with his life. Just as I have trusted him with my life. I know that I can’t make any bad decisions and allow Chief to get hurt or he will lose confidence and trust in me and I do everything that I can and am as conservative as I can be to make sure that doesn’t t happen. To shatter Chief’s confidence in me would shatter my heart. I need for Chief to believe in me as much as I need to trust Chief to keep us both safe. And Chief does. For 8,000 10,000 miles now Chief has done this. On our first ride we had a bad accident which really tested our relationship because it was caused by my lapse in judgment. I made so many mistakes that day. In some ways it brought us closer together. Some said that Chief was just too green but he had over 800 trail conditioning miles before going to his first endurance ride. That didn’t count the number of miles or hours I spent ground working or arena training him. I think that some things are meant to be

Sometimes adversity sorts relationships out and in the case of me and Cheefy we sorted it out and have never looked back. I have loved every horse that I have ever ridden, their gentle souls and positive attitudes have made trail and endurance riding a joy for me. Yet, there has been something about Granite Chief and the special relationship that we share that is more unique and special than there are words for. Chief has kept me sane, kept me safe, saved my life and we have also faced life altering situations. Chief also has tested my patience, my ability and inability as a rider and my tenacity as it takes a lot of determination, dedication and patience to put in the time and effort required to work with a horse like Chief. He is not your ordinary horse by any means. Not just in ability and personality but intelligence and most especially that unseen, unknown, untouchable and unexplainable thing that is the horses soul. Chief has touched mine. Heck, it’s grabbed hold and squeezed, held tight and not let go. Thank you Chief for you possess wisdom and strength that I never will. You have given me so much. Cheefy, You are My Hero.