Departure Of Morning Glory | A Sad Horse Story

By: Elizabeth Clark

I awoke and looked over to my left where my sisters bed was. It was empty and I inwardly scolded myself. Usually I awoke the exact same moment I heard my sister get up, even if I was in a dead sleep. I quickly got out of bed wondering how long my sister had been up and with the horses. As soon as I was dressed, I rushed outside. The morning was clear and smelled fresh of spring. I heard the birds singing their sweet spring song but I heard a hint of something else in their song.

It was as if their song was more joyful today for some reason. When I reached the paddock, I spotted why they had that extra exuberance in their song. My sister sat next to our Tennessee Walker mare and when I looked closer I saw that they weren’t alone. A gangly looking bay foal was laying beside Sofi, its mother. I squealed in joy and my sister quickly motioned for me to be quiet. I stopped, then walked forward.

“How long ago did she have it?” I asked not able to hide the joy in my voice.

“Not too long ago.”

“Is it a she?” I asked hoping it was.

She nodded and I began to stroke the little filly’s soft black man.

“She looks just like Sofi.” I said. My sister nodded as she stroked Sofi’s mane.

“Run up to the house and tell everyone.” She quickly ordered me.

“But I wanna stay-” my sister shook her head and I quickly ran back to the house yelling to everyone that the foal was here. Everyone was jovial and exuberant with the birth of the new foal. She was very tall for her age and as beautiful as anything could be. Our other mare that was pregnant, but not due for another two weeks kept looking anxiously over at us all. I spent the whole day with the new filly Morning Glory, (named that because she was born on such a beautiful morning) while my mom went around and took pictures. When Glory laid down she would just lay her head in my lap and let me stroke her soft, downy mane. I went to bed that night with not a care in the world.

The next morning I awoke and found once again that my sisters bed was empty. I rushed outside to find my sister with her mare Pretty Girl and next to her, gleaming in the morning sunlight a copper foal lay next to Pretty Girl. “I thought she wasn’t due for another two weeks?” I said.

“I think she got jealous of Sofi and decided to have her baby early.” My sister said with a joyous sparkle in her eyes.
It was another filly who wasn’t as large as Glory but just as beautiful.

“What’s her name?” I asked.

“Spirit” my sister said happily.

Later when we checked on Glory and Sofi, my dad noticed that Sofi wasn’t producing any milk. I began to panic afraid my dear Glory would die. We quickly rushed out to the store and bought some milk supplements but as the day progressed Glory just got worse. The whole day I was praying to God to help her get better. She was such a miracle he couldn’t take her away so early! Later that night my dad and sister left to take her to the hospital hoping it wasn’t too late.

Well they were gone we all sat around eating what was usually my favorite food, pizza, tonight though it just felt like cardboard in my mouth and had no taste. As I swallowed every bite, it became harder and harder to get down my throat. I went to my room and continued to keep praying. I kept asking for them to help Glory, she was so wonderful, I couldn’t loose her!

I went outside as the sun was beginning to set to say good night to Spirit who was curled up beside her mother. “You don’t know your half sister is sick do you?” I asked the small filly. Spirt just looked up at me with her trusting brown eyes and I began to cry. I looked up at the purple sky and thought of Glory and sent out another prayer to God asking him to spare Glory’s life.

When I got back inside my mom said no one, had called yet. Then the phone rang and my mom sprang toward it. Her face fell as she listened, then hung up.

“We lost her.” She said and that was all.

Tears began to stream down my face and I raced to my room. How could this have happened, how could she have died! She was so perfect! I wondered how I could have been so happy just the day before and know here I was crying myself to sleep. After morning Glory’s death I tried to push it out of my mind and go on. I still had Spirit and I knew I should be grateful for that.

When I think back to Glory it always makes me want to cry again.

That perfect creature was taken away from me so soon. I ask why, why did it have to be Glory that died, she was so perfect? Now though I think maybe that was it, Glory was just too perfect for this world. I was blessed with knowing her for two short days. Those two days will live on in my mind forever though. This is to you Glory with all my love and devotion. You brought so much joy into my world and I never got to thank you or say good bye.