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In Memory of Lukas
by Chris Goodall
(click on
photo to enlarge)
“Tis better to have loved
and lost then never to have loved at all.” --Alfred
Lord Tennyson
On the
morning of December 11, 2011 I received the phone call
that every horse owner hopes never to receive. Lukas,
my 3-˝ year old Clydesdale/Saddlebred (Georgian Grande)
gelding, and his stable buddy had gotten out of their
pasture. Lukas had wandered by the road and was struck
by a van and killed. Thankfully, it appears he died
instantly. The driver abandoned the van. As I try to
make sense out of this tragic loss, I wanted to share
the story of Lukas’ too short life and the wonderful joy
he brought not only to me but also to so many others.
We brought him home at 8 months, a skinny, sickle hocked
weanling that stood on his toes and had hardly been
handled. Everyone told me to get rid of him and
wondered what I was thinking. We worked with him for
several months just to get him to trust people enough
that we could get a halter on him and (sort of) catch
him again if we turned him out. He eventually came to
learn that people weren’t so bad (in fact he was quite
the lover), but he always retained a sense of
independence. Now it was time for him become a part of
our equine assisted psychotherapy team.
|
Lukas decorated by his
therapy
center friends
for a Labor Day
Parade with them
(click on
photo to enlarge) |
Lukas took to
his job like a fish to water. He became a favorite
therapy horse, helping people begin their recovery from
depression, mania, schizophrenia, and addiction. He
developed an amazing sense of intuition and always
seemed completely in tune with what each individual
client needed. Lukas touched so many with his amazing
heart energy. A particularly memorable session involved
a young man who was struggling to overcome addiction and
bipolar disorder. Luke stood on the far side of the
pasture while the client struggled to figure out what to
do with the halter and lead line (he was supposed to go
get the horse and walk it around the pasture). The
client kept asking what to do with this “stuff” and
finally dropped the ropes in frustration. Lukas had
slowly walked up behind him and when the client turned
around Lukas took the last steps toward him. They stood
there for a minute and then the client started walking,
and Lukas followed with his head on the client’s
shoulder, no “stuff” involved. The young man developed
a sense of trust with Lukas he had never found with
other humans.
The ugly weanling grew into his body and developed into
a beautiful young sporthorse with three lovely gaits and
potential for both dressage and eventing. He placed
sixth at the USEA Future Event Horse East Coast
Championships this fall. I was awestruck for my “Amish
Warmblood” just to be counted among the entries that
included an imported Dutch Warmblood who had just won
overall Grand Champion Dressage Sporthorse at Devon, let
alone ribbon in a class of eight. I was excited to
begin our show career this coming summer and hoped to
compete in some USDF four-year-old classes with hopes of
(finally) completing my bronze medal with my wonderful
partner someday.
I can’t be sad about the achievements we won’t have. I
can only cherish the memories of our time together. I
am honored to have been able to spend three wonderful
years with him as my partner learning about heart,
generosity, and freedom of spirit. I don’t know where
my path will lead next; but know that it will be filled
with four legged teachers, though it’s unlikely that any
of them will touch me the way Lukas did.
Go out and hug your
horse today. Love THIS moment with them.
And please, double check the gate on your way out.
Chris with her horses, Juba and Lukas
(click
on photo to enlarge) |
