>>> And who knows if it was really a "bolt" back to the barn or just a >>> joyful wild run to get back to buddies and where the food is.
Everything I read said that he spooked and threw his rider, so I'd suspect that would rule out any joy in his run back to the barn, but I could be wrong. If anything, I think this may point out that horses that are good at one endeavor may not be the best at another. I think it's pretty safe to say that horses that perform best at certain sports - especially ones like high level eventing - need to be very forward and energetic. Maybe they even need a certain "edginess" to them to really give it a good run on the cross-country course, and to shine in the jumper and dressage rings. I'm neither condemning or condoning what happened to Teddy, either in the ring or on the trail, because I don't know the full story either way. But, I can say from personal experience that as our Thunder became a better and better trail horse, he lost a little bounce to his step in the show ring - he continued to win as long as Emily rode him, but the next little girl who rode him and showed him was a very laid-back child, whereas Emily was much more competitive...and on edge. By that time, Thunder was pretty blasé in the ring, having done it all - including trail riding - with Emily. By then, he rarely put on the same memorable performances with that girl as he did with Emily. That girl was almost as good a rider as Emily too. Believe me, it was MUCH more pleasant for me to watch the new-and-improved-Mr.-Dependable Thunder win a red or white ribbon knowing he was not going to provide any surprises, than it was to watch him accumulate the blue ribbons for Emily. I admit I don't know anything about Teddy, but I can only envision him as a young Thunder. Thunder really might have bolted on the trail in his earliest years with us. I'll take the Later-Day-Thunder over the Edgy-Thunder any old day. :) Any way you slice it though, Teddy's loss is a tragedy. Karen Thomas, NC
