Alibhai’s Alibar 3/28/1979 – 9/10/2008 (One Year Later)
It has been one year since I said goodbye to you and yet, you have made yourself known at the most delightful and needed moments.
I pull my car into the driveway at the barn. All the horses are outside. If I squint my eyes just right and look at your paddock, I see your blaze shining like a beacon, topped by your tiny, perfect tippy ears.
The horses whinny at feeding time. Amidst the chorus, I hear your deep, musical neigh beginning and ending each round.
A strong gust of wind blows and the horses suddenly cavort in their paddocks, snorting and pawing the air. I know you roused the troops and led the charge.
On the coldest and snowiest days, sometimes I can catch a glimpse of the wildest snow-horse of all.
Your green fly bonnet has been retired, but I ride horses in your old saddles and bridles. I cannot help but think that any bridle that the mighty Alibar looked through must be charmed.
I lean my face against a horse after he has gotten a bath. I can smell your coat, always sweet, even on a hot summer day.
After a difficult ride on one of the new horses, I cannot help but smile. Nothing frustrates me because for almost 20 years, I rode the gamest and greatest horse of all.
At every horse show, there is a teenaged girl proudly posing with her horse. She is wearing rubber boots and her horse is mud-spattered- they had the fastest time in the slop in the jumper class.
When I went to Devil’s Hill to scatter your ashes, I felt your unwaveringly solid feet picking their way down the slope. I heard the wind howling in my ears and felt tears streaming down my face as we outran the wind.
It is late and I turn the lights out in the barn. I slowly make my way back to my car and your left nostril is pressed against my right hand, as it was hundreds of times before.
And just every so often, I close my eyes and dream a dream of you. In death, you carry me as you did in life.
Trackbacks
- Pet Connection Blog » Monday jump start: Great reads from Teh Interwebs
- Monday jump start: Great reads from Teh Interwebs « Extremeanimallover’s Blog
- Dog Behavior Training Tips » Monday jump start: Great reads from Teh Interwebs
- Monday jump start: Great reads from Teh Interwebs « Extremeanimallover’s Blog
- Monday jump start: Great reads from Teh Interwebs
- Sarah K. Andrew: 2009- A Year in Photos « Rock and Racehorses: The Blog
Rock and Racehorses: The Blog 
Sarah… what a wonderful tribute… The Great Alibar is still with you and always will be! Hugs!
Oh Sarah….
sniff…sniff…
AMEN!!! I know my Keeper is with me too…
Lovely tribute to an amazing horse. You shared a once in a lifetime bond!
“Our hoofbeats were many, but our hearts beat as one.”
Very beautiful tribute, Sarah. Anyone would be so lucky to have a bond that you two did. My thoughts are with you. -Melissa
P.S., Will you be at Belmont, Saturday? I think it’s supposed to rain, unfortunately. We could really use that taking the bird urine for the team! LOL
That was beautiful. He sure was handsome!
I remember reading about this Alibhai on a certain forum.
Little did I know I would get to know more about him posthumously.
Bye bye. So long. Farewell.
He’s gorgeous, and his personality shines in these photos. You can actually see him thinking! Wonderful. Thank you for sharing them.
Beautiful post.
I can’t believe it’s been a year. I always follow your pictures on flickr (although silently lurking), and was touched when Alibar died as if he were one of my own horses. Reading this, I’m touched again. It’s just such a good thing to love a horse like that!
Your writing, just like your photos, has so much feeling to it. The images are placed so perfectly among your thoughts. Your sentiments ring so true to those of us who just love being with horses. I think my favorite part is where you talk about leaving the barn and feeling Alibar with you. I know that feeling. And how you know what you are doing now is possible because of Alibar. Awesome.
Sarah, it’s unbelievable to me that it’s already been a year, just as it’s unbelievable that we’ve watched you and Alibar grow up over the last 10 years or so. I am so thankful that you have shared your life with him with the rest of the world. I find myself thinking of you and Alibar from time to time. I think that you had the bond with him that the rest of us strive for in our own equine partnerships, something rare and wonderful. But when thinking about all of this and knowing you, it is not surprising that fate chose you to bestow this lovely and wonderful gift upon. I hope that you know that I still grieve with you for the mighty Alibar. Go with the angels old boy.
Beautiful. A wonderful tribute.
Just… Beautiful!
:::sob::::
What a beautiful and touching tribute. Have go get my Kleenex now.
I love how you love Alibar. Congratulations on a deep and healing year. Your blog is an ongoing miracle of inspiration. Thank you.