Tribute to Riley

O'Riley was born on March 12, 1992 – named as such because he was supposed to be born on St. Patrick's Day; of course Riley gave every one his first surprise when he was born early. Bred to run five furlongs with the same hopes and dreams of every race horse, his future took another turn when as a foal he was caught in barb wire. His racing career ended early for fear his scarred leg would not stand up to the pounding of the track. Perhaps it was fate - he was sold as an eventing prospect and found his way to Augusta, GA to begin his training.

Lauren Bennett was seven years old and Riley was three when they first met. Riley was the horse you remember as a little girl – beautiful, unattainable, the veritable Black Beauty of her childhood. They lived lives in parallel but never had the opportunity to interact. As Lauren became a competitive rider, she watched Riley grow up as well and become a successful eventer with his owner of that time. Riley and his owner moved to Missouri and Lauren thought it would be the last time she ever saw Riley.

Lauren continued to compete as an eventer on her pony Sintez, but soon outgrew her partner and began the search for her new eventer. Word spread that Lauren was looking for a new horse and she soon received a phone call that changed her life – Riley was for sale.

Riley's life in Missouri had taken a turn for the worse; turned out to pasture with limited hay and contact, he lost weight and lost his interest in humans. The Bennett's purchased Riley sight unseen for several years and had him shipped back to Georgia. Imagine their surprise when Riley stepped off the trailer bone thin, mane filled with burrs, and covered in ticks.

It wasn't long before the old Riley began to shine through the rough coat. Riley and Lauren competed successfully through Training level, competing regularly and consistently achieving top scores in the dressage portion. Their dressage score often clinched the win.

In a rare ice-storm in the winter of 2004, rain turned to sleet and the ground quickly became covered in a solid sheet of ice. As the horses were being brought inside, Riley was being his usual playful self. Unaccustomed to the ice, he slipped and fell. Riley tore his peroneus tertius muscle that day and everyone believed his career was over.

Devastated, Lauren watched as her partner hobbled around the pasture, swinging his damaged leg in a painfully awkward way. She decided to call her friend and former trainer, Nicole Palazzo, for help. Nicole responded immediately, picking Riley up and bringing him to Quiet Haven. At that time, Quiet Haven was more of a dream than a reality and Nicole had only her personal horses on the property. Nicole brought Riley home and began the long journey of rehabilitation.

Months of time off and shock wave therapy from Dr. Tetterton in Camden, SC eventually found Riley sound enough to return to the arena. Lauren and Riley eventually transitioned their careers to the world of Hunter Jumpers with the help of Nicole Palazzo.

In the winter of 2007, Lauren tacked up Riley for a schooling ride but found that he was off in his front right. Thinking it was perhaps an abscess, no one knew he would never be sound again. This time it was a tendon within the hoof and Lauren heard for the second time the devastating news that Riley would never again be an athlete.

Riley spent several months being a pasture buddy and trail horse for Lauren – still enjoying being ridden into the pond bareback for a quick swim on a hot day. Lauren was a working student at Quiet Haven and competed successfully in the Adult PSJ medal on Nicole's horse, Parker, while working to pay Riley's bills. Lauren decided that she would donate Riley to a proper home where he could be somebody's trail horse and pasture ornament. She found the perfect home – he would be a "husband horse" and be ridden occasionally but mostly pampered. Best of all, there was a pond on the property – he would still be able to swim.

The day that the new couple came to pick up Riley, Lauren put a halter and lead rope on him and cantered him through the fields bareback. As his last gift to her, he cantered soundly and quietly across the pasture and around the pond. He was loaded on the trailer and drove away to his new home.
Lauren kept in touch with the couple, who adored Riley and called her often to tell her how much they enjoyed him. Always the rowdy one, Riley often amused them with his antics in the pasture.
One day Lauren received a phone call from the new owners. She new something was wrong as soon as she heard the woman's voice. Riley was found down in the pasture, unable to stand. The vet was called – his leg was most likely broken, but they couldn't get him up to examine him properly. The vet left to retrieve equipment to lift him – the new owner sat on the ground with him. She says he was very quiet and calm and even ate some hay while they waited. After a little while, Riley got sleepy and laid his head down. He took his last breaths in the field where he loved to play. He was 15 years old.

Riley was loved by everyone who new him, but especially by Lauren who will always remember him as a part of her childhood and adulthood. Not many of us are fortunate enough to grow up with our horses and not many horses are fortunate enough to be cared for through three career ending injuries. But then again, Riley always had luck on his side.