Target

     It has been a day over a week since Paul and I took Target to South Valley Large Animal Clinic to have him put down.  I can't think of how many times I have cried over this during the last week.  I have cried alone and I have cried along with Paul.  It was a very sad thing.

     We started out to have a fun day sleigh riding in Park City with Bruce Kartchner and his two grandsons, and we ended up barreling down the canyon with Target in the trailer trying to get to the vet as quickly as possible.  In a freak and tragic accident, the sleigh overturned and then Target dragged it empty and on it side for about a quarter of a mile, and in the process damaged his rear leg/hoof beyond repair.

I have many happy memories of Target, who joined our "herd"--usually two or three horses, as an unbroken 18 month old, and turned out to be a fine riding horse.  I haven't been out riding nearly as often as Paul or even Erika, but most of the rides that I have been on in the last six years have included Target in one capacity or another.  In the last few years, I have usually ridden Rory while Paul has ridden Target.  We have had some eventful rides together.  And I have watched Paul train, and delight in Target.  Paul has gotten much satisfaction from working with Target these years and we are so glad that we got a chance to own him.  Our greatest regret is the lost 20 or so years that we would have had with him, without this unfortunate accident.  I pay my respects to him and all that he has been to our family.