The New One

We have a new little pony. His owners had lost their home. The pony needed to go within days, the family had been evicted. They also had a blind, 30+ year old mare. It was discussed that this mare should not be moved from her familiar home. She would be afraid and confused, and at her age would probably die soon. This would be unfair to the horse, would actually be an act of cruelty, nor fair to the ones taking her to watch her die. I made it plain that it was the owner's responsibility to provide a peaceful end for this dear old family member. She was given the last gift and was sent on her way amongst loving family members at her home. May she live again.

We brought the pony to Eye of the Storm. He was supposed to be 12 hands tall, a good useful size and very possibly able to be put in a lesson program at a local facility, the owners of which I trust very much. I was sure that no more horses would come here, at least until some of our current residents passed on. The pony's name was Cocoa. He was just 10 years old, not trained to ride but kind and had been used for pony rides. All the better to be trained properly, untainted by bad training.

As he stepped off the trailer I was astounded by one of the most beautiful ponies I have ever seen! He is palomino-ish, the color of a deer with a flaxen mane and tail. He looks like a little horse with a slightly bulbous nose like dear old Willie had. I was so very charmed by him. He is, in fact, under 11 hands tall, very slightly built, and a 4 year old child will outgrow him in 5 minutes. So much for the lessons program.

We have, of course, all fallen in love with him. He just loves people and would be happy to move into a house to live with someone. And though he will always be Cocoa to his previous family, we already have Coco, Moon's mother, so we must call him something else. After running several names past him, none fit. We want them to tell us their real names. Sooner or later they do.

Last year at this time we were working very hard to make Willie as comfortable as possible in his last days of life. Such a good boy, my dear Willie. Willie's name in his past life, we found out later, was Diamond Jim. It came to me that in memory and honor of that dear one the new pony's name is Diamond - our new little jewel. He has a tiny white spot on his forehead and with a little imagination it could be a diamond.

I placed my hand on his forehead and said, "Your name is Diamond," and he said, "Yes, it is." And so we welcome our beautiful little Diamond to Eye of the Storm.