Dusty
A donation was made in memory of Dusty on May 04, 2015.
Dusty, April’s “Silver Sun,” --Never Forgotten
We met and purchased Dusty, unregistered, a grey Arabian gelding on top of a mountain in Montana. He was a four year old, unbroken, but gentle horse. We purchased him for our 14 year old daughter, April. She started riding him that fall and it was just like he’d always had a rider on his back.
We did start him with a trainer that fall and he was ridden through the winter indoors. Spring came and we decided to show in state at Arabian shows, but he was not a registered Arabian. Fortunately we found my cousin, who raised Arabians and owned the stallion and mare he came from. She had all of the paperwork we needed. We received his registry and started showing him in June of the summer of 1984 in youth classes. We learned about equipment and dress from experience at the shows. Dusty seemed to love the show scene. He was in good shape so he was ridden in eight or nine classes, Western English Pleasure, and Saddle Seat. Shortly he was going into classes with trainers and winning blue ribbons. He was complimented by the trainers as a nice Arabian which pleased April. Dusty continued in Montana Arabian shows for five years. He qualified for regionals but we felt it was too far to attend. Family, April, myself, and grandkids continued to ride Dusty in the neighborhood and for riding lessons. Dusty took me on mountain trails a number of times. I was more afraid of what could happen to him than to myself. He lived, “the perfect show horse retirement.” That is a quote from Dr. Newman, his veterinarian.
Dusty developed Cushing’s disease and arthritis at age thirty. He was treated with medication successfully. His back teeth were worn down to his gums. So he was fed with small pellets. April was working in another town and my husband and I were spending winters in Nevada. My good friend and neighbor fed and medicated him for fifteen years. His thirty-fifth year on December 12, 2012, a beautiful, sunny day, he was euthanized and buried on the family property. There were many tears shed, including his veterinarian’s, on that sad day. His legacy was his wonderful presence in the show ring and the great memories we all have of “Dusty,” April’s Silver Sun.
Sharon P.
We met and purchased Dusty, unregistered, a grey Arabian gelding on top of a mountain in Montana. He was a four year old, unbroken, but gentle horse. We purchased him for our 14 year old daughter, April. She started riding him that fall and it was just like he’d always had a rider on his back.
We did start him with a trainer that fall and he was ridden through the winter indoors. Spring came and we decided to show in state at Arabian shows, but he was not a registered Arabian. Fortunately we found my cousin, who raised Arabians and owned the stallion and mare he came from. She had all of the paperwork we needed. We received his registry and started showing him in June of the summer of 1984 in youth classes. We learned about equipment and dress from experience at the shows. Dusty seemed to love the show scene. He was in good shape so he was ridden in eight or nine classes, Western English Pleasure, and Saddle Seat. Shortly he was going into classes with trainers and winning blue ribbons. He was complimented by the trainers as a nice Arabian which pleased April. Dusty continued in Montana Arabian shows for five years. He qualified for regionals but we felt it was too far to attend. Family, April, myself, and grandkids continued to ride Dusty in the neighborhood and for riding lessons. Dusty took me on mountain trails a number of times. I was more afraid of what could happen to him than to myself. He lived, “the perfect show horse retirement.” That is a quote from Dr. Newman, his veterinarian.
Dusty developed Cushing’s disease and arthritis at age thirty. He was treated with medication successfully. His back teeth were worn down to his gums. So he was fed with small pellets. April was working in another town and my husband and I were spending winters in Nevada. My good friend and neighbor fed and medicated him for fifteen years. His thirty-fifth year on December 12, 2012, a beautiful, sunny day, he was euthanized and buried on the family property. There were many tears shed, including his veterinarian’s, on that sad day. His legacy was his wonderful presence in the show ring and the great memories we all have of “Dusty,” April’s Silver Sun.
Sharon P.
