A Horse Named China

Photo in the Public Domain

Did you watch Roy Rogers on television back in the day when the good guys always won and Roy Rogers was, without a doubt, one of the good guys? Just as famous was his horse, Trigger. If you mentioned Trigger back then, everyone knew exactly who you were talking about. Trigger the horse. He was the smartest horse ever, always had Roy’s back and got him out of trouble many times. One smart horse. So, no wonder that Kim had a dream of having a palomino horse just like Trigger. Not being a horse person, I had something like that dream about Lassie, the smartest dog ever.

Here, in her own words, is Kim’s story about a horse named China.

I’ve had so many favorite pets, but there’s one that stands out from all the others. I grew up with a cowboy dad, and my childhood was filled with horses and cattle. I always had a horse to ride, but never one of my very own, until the winter I turned 12. I begged my dad for a Palomino, just like Trigger, but he said they were hard to find and expensive. He took me to look at bays and sorrels, but I wouldn’t settle for any of them.

Finally, one evening after work, he took off on a mysterious quest. I wasn’t allowed to go with him, which really hurt my heart since I was usually his shadow. The next day after work, he hooked onto the trailer and took off. I was watching for his headlights, and when I saw him pull through the gate, I ran toward the corral. He opened the trailer gate and out ran a skinny, dirty, gangly horse. She looked awful, but underneath all that shaggy hair I could tell that she was a Palomino, and I was so excited!

A friend of his that dealt in horses had called him and told him that he had just gotten her. He had too many horses and was short on hay, so Dad traded him a load of hay and $100 for her. He would say many years later that it was the best deal he ever made. My sister suggested the name China for her, and it was a perfect fit, because she seemed so fragile, but she was a lot stronger than she looked.

He made me leave her alone that night to get settled and used to the other horses, and the next day, he cleaned her up and started working with her. She was only 2 years old, she would turn 3 the following spring, and she didn’t know anything, but she was very gentle and willing to learn. She put on weight and learned how to rein and how to walk out, and finally after a few weeks my dad let me ride her. That was the beginning of a 25-year love affair.

We grew up together, going to trail rides, rodeo parades, grand entries, and team pennings. We worked cattle together and even tried to barrel race a few times (she wasn’t a fan!). I retired her when she turned 18 years old and an old shoulder injury developed into arthritis, and the heaviest thing she carried was my tiny daughter.

Finally, the time came when she was hurting too much for me to make her suffer any longer. I was with her right up until the end, and she’s buried in the corner of the pasture in front of my house, with her own fenced in area and a grave marker with her name and the dates she lived. She’s been gone 10 years and I still miss her so bad that I cry sometimes. I haven’t had my own horse since, and I don’t think I ever will. That piece of my heart went with her, and I’m hoping that when I get to Heaven, I’ll hear that familiar whinny and we’ll get to ride over Heaven’s green pastures together.

I told Kim when I first got her message that she was only the second person to tell me a story about a horse. Most have mentioned cats or dogs with two or three having bird pets. I love hearing all the stories. So, thank you, Kim, for sharing your story about China, and how your dad wanted to get you just what you wanted and did.

Has anyone gone the extra mile to give you something you’ve always wanted?