[ back ]
With new friend, Lex is sticking around
(by Timmy Sullivan - May 18, 2011)
SENIORITIS, BY TIMY SULLIVAN
With new friend, Lex is sticking around
We adopted Lex today.
Lex is the handsome chestnut thoroughbred we "borrowed" from Rescue Village to keep Token company when Polly died. That was two years ago before Xenia and April.
I guess I'd better back up a little. Ed and I adopted Polly and Token from Happy Trails Farm Sanctuary a few years back. They were each over 30 years old, two ancient and gentle pasture pals who had been together forever and just needed a place to retire. Our barn had been empty for 15 years.
Ed was lukewarm about the whole thing, but I assured him it was a short-term commitment. "I won't adopt any more horses," I promised. "We'll just see Polly and Token through to the end."
Of course, what I failed to take into account was that the end wouldn't come for both of them at the same time.
Sure enough, just about a year later, Polly died, leaving Token heartbroken and alone. I knew I was in trouble, but I also knew Ed really loved Token -- though he'd never in a million years admit it -- so I took my best shot. "I can't stand to see him like this," I pleaded. "We have to get him a friend."
Ed reminded me of my promise, but I begged for an extension, and we came up with a compromise. We'd foster Lex until Token died, and that would be it. We'd be out of the horse business once and for all.
When Token died last fall, Ed thought he was finally home free. "When is Lex leaving?" he asked as delicately as possible almost as soon as the body was cold.
I think my exact reply was, "Leaving? Leaving? If we send Lex back and stop taking in horses, we might just as well sell the house and move to Florida and stare at the water while we wait to die."
Ed just sighed. The next day, Xenia, a sweet little old pony with all sorts of health problems came to join Lex. It wasn't a match made in heaven, but they kept each other company until this spring, when Xenia's failing digestive system finally began to give out and we knew that, once again, we'd be faced with one lonely horse.
At least this time we had some warning. Even before Xenia breathed her last, we called the Farm Sanctuary, and they picked out a pony to be with Lex just so he wouldn't freak out when Xenia died. "We'll just play it by ear," I told Ed. "If she doesn't work out, maybe we'll send Lex back."
April is only 3 years old and curious about everything. She's white with tan spots and has soft brown ears that make her look a little like a teddy bear. She's with us because her back legs are weak and deformed as a result of severe neglect during the first year of her life. We're hoping we can get her strong enough so she can be ridden and have her own little girl some day. She'd love that. But for now, she has Lex. The minute he saw her, he fell in love and the feeling is mutual.
I'm looking out at the paddock now, and there they are, the two of them, his head draped over her neck as they take the afternoon sun. So the game is over. Lex isn't going anywhere. This is his home. He took care of Token and Xenia, and now it's April's turn to take care of him. The adoption is official. And you know what? Ed is just fine with it.
[ back ]
