Tellie Overture

I witnessed an ultimate display of friendship in my sisters' indoor arena the night before last. Two days later, my emotions are still raw. I can only magnify the sadness which I'm feeling a hundredfold when I think of my two younger sisters, especially Barbara. It will take time---as it always does---to come to terms with the loss of a family member.

In this case, that family member was a 1,200 pound grey champion named Tellie. This loyal friend to Barbara added to a lifetime of winnings this summer by taking a championship in trail horse competition at Puyallup's Region 5 Arabian Horse Show. Tellie, with Barbara aboard, won a Canadian Top Ten Ribbon a few years ago in Regina, Saskatchewan. She and Tellie had spent many happy times at horse shows across the Northwest, and Tellie had always rewarded his owner with ribbons and trophies enough to fill a room.

On this October evening, I watched as Barbara quietly and tearfullycomforted and said good bye to her friend of 20 years. My sister Laurie stood by. She had discovered him lying out flat next to the indoor arena Monday afternoon after coming home from school. She got him up, walked him and called Cherise, the veterinarian. Barbara came home and the two, along with Dr. Neu, did everything possible to relieve Tellie of whatever agony was causing him to want to collapse and stay down.

Three hours later, it was obvious something had gone terribly wrong inside the frame of this tall and handsome Arabian-Quarterhorse gelding who was born chestnut, turned dappled grey and, like all other grey horses eventually turned white. Tellie had that chiseled, refined kind face of Arabians and that big, well-developed frame of Quarterhorses. He struck an impressive sight in the pastures and especially in the showring. He worked hard for Barbara.

With this past summer's triumphs, Tellie would be going into retirement and enjoying his own personal box stall after the sale of another ranch horse had opened up the vacancy. He spent his first night in that stall on Sunday. The next night he lay in anguish in the arena sand. Never wanting a horse to suffer when it's obvious nothing more could be done, Barbara told Tellie it was okay to go. This all happened so fast as it often does when horses are struck with mysterious illnesses.

Tellie now lies in a nice quiet spot in the woods south of the arena. Kevin came over from Montana to see that his sister's horse had a proper burial yesterday morning. He selected a scene surrounded by trees and with a view of the highway down below where, so many times, Tellie had ridden in the horse trailers as he and Barbara went off to the next show. Kevin carefully raked the dirt above his grave and says he'll bring wildflower seed in the spring to adorn the great grey gelding's resting spot.

Barbara, a very private person, is showing the same strength of character and understanding of life's realities that she's displayed so many times to all of us as a teacher of young people, horselover/trainer and devoted friend to all animals. Barbara always wants the best for everyone and everything. Her love, care and knowledge, along with Tellie's love for her, made this horse a champion many times over.

A very caring Cherise has sent flowers. The rest of us who know Barbara show our support by respecting her nature of grieving within. All of us will remember Tellie as one grand horse who was impish, who could nibble the heck out of anything and who would give it his all for his adoring owner.

RIP, Tellie.