The price of the ticket

Hi,
It is me, the DOR.
There have been many horses in my 50 years of life who have given me a "Golden Ticket". A special ticket that allows me to become a member of their family. These tickets have allowed me to experience some of my happiest moments, have made me a better person, and given me more blessings than I can count.
Like every ticket, they come with a price. Sometimes the price is one filled with joy and other times the price seems to rip your soul right out of you. Early this morning the price of the ticket took everything I could do to pay. Ginger took a turn for the worse and there was nothing that could be done to save her, she had Torsion Colic, my price was to love her the best I could and let her go. She crossed the rainbow bridge surrounded by her horse and human family. She was laid to rest by Harley, wearing her purple halter. Dakota wanted her to be ready to give little kids in heaven a ride if they would like one.
Ginger entered our lives in 2006. She was doing her quarantine where we board our horses. I found her to be a delightful horse and enjoyed her personality. We ended up adopting her to be Dakota's riding horse, but she turned out to be so very much more.
Ginger recently gave a friend of ours little girl her very first solo ride. She packed around a friend of Dakota's for Fall Follies. She was a sport and wore a costume for Spring Follies, she was a Hawaiian Princess. She participated in a week long kiddie camp and was one of the favorites. Ginger loved to get in the trailer and go...go anywhere, she loved an adventure.
Ginger taught Dakota that there was more to being a good horseman that riding and feeding, that a good horseman learned to listen to his horse and control his emotions. Ginger was a big girl who was as light on her feet as a ballerina. Anyone could ride Ginger, she always took care of her rider.
Ginger was a clear communicator. A glance, a tail swish, a lady-like stomp were all tools that she used to tell us humans we had crossed the line. When all else failed she would turn her butt, walk away, turn towards the human and wait for them to change their ways...I think she would wait all day if that is what it took to teach a lesson.
I owe Ginger a debt of gratitude that I could never repay. If it hadn't been for Ginger's quiet and caring ways I wouldn't have gotten my confidence back as soon as I did. Ginger lovingly packed me down trails and around the arena, allowing me to rebuild my confidence. It seemed that with every bit of progress I made the more animated she became...soon I wasn't afraid anymore. Thank you sweet lady for allowing me to find my confidence, I will think of your lessons every time I ride.
We teased that Ginger was the land hippo because she was so big. The truth is she was light on her feet and extremely agile. She was also light on the reins and very responsive, but if you wanted to push things she would give you an argument that you would NEVER win.
We nicknamed her "The Duchess"because everything about her was regal. She was always a lady and expected to be treated befitting royalty. I have said if she was a human her voice would sound like Ethel Merman and she would have ruled some small Duchy with an iron hoof.
So we have paid the price of the ticket, we only wish we had not had to pay so soon...it is a small price to pay for the rich blessings one special horse bestowed upon us.
I think a four-year-old little girl paid Ginger the best tribute at kiddie camp. She as riding Ginger, leaned forward to pat Ginger neck, looked intensely at my friend and said, "This is a good horse!"
RIP Ginger, you were truly royalty.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your horse, take every chance you have to give back to them all of the love they give to you.