Rain Dancer - with Chris from 1997 • October 17, 2014 • video • Slideshow movie from pasture camera

(From Martin) As anyone will tell you, I'm not a horsey person per se. However I share the love vicariously through Chris. I knew Chris had grown up with horses, was riding on the family farm in England early on and loved horses. Our second date in 1985 was at a dressage event. However it would be quite a few years before Chris followed-up on her horsiness.

In 1995, our neighbor Bev, said she was going to take English riding lessons and Chris decided to join her. Chris continued on after Bev quit and eventually began riding a horse named Rain Dancer. Dancer was not working out well with kids lessons and Bunny (the Trainer) asked if Chris wanted to buy her since they got on so well. Otherwise Dancer would be turned back to a previous owner. Chris and I have always totally supported each other in our passions and when she asked, I said yes, definitely. On November 28, 1995, Chris bought Dancer for $700.

Later one Sunday, I received a call that I needed to come to Bunny's and take Chris to the Emergency room as she'd been bitten by Dancer. Chris always took the blame for the incident, as she had been cleaning Dancer's belly and may have become too personal. When I arrived to pick Chris up, she showed me her bloodied head and one of the other riders immediately passed out. Chris was fine. The doctor stapled her head back together. Other than a few bruised toes and a kick to me in the shin when Dancer had  trouble getting up later in life, Dancer was always good natured. independent, but good natured.

This began a period of Chris boarding Dancer at various horse facilities, sometimes driving 45 minutes one way several times a week, especially on Sunday morning when she would have an opportunity to ride. I rode Dancer once, however due to back & neck problems, it's not something I could continue. I rode some when I was little. This may be one of my bigger regrets. I often thought about going out and riding with Chris around the trails, or the neighborhood. It would have been fun and Chris offered, but I declined. 

When we began looking for a place to build in the late 1990's, we looked west, but ever thing was so rocky. Chris had an opportunity to ride east in Mckinney Roughs. Chris loved the area and we found 4.5 areas in River Crossing which is a horse community. The goal was to have Dancer living with us. Our son Anthony, who is an architect, even sketched out a home with the stables underneath. Humm...a bit too close.

          

Chris & Ken getting an assist with drainage by Troubador and Sheila • Chris and Barbara out riding • Chris took Dancer out to ride as often as possible

So the home (with a recording studio for me) was built, a stable added and Dancer came to live with us in June of 2002. I could not have imagined the joy this brought to Chris. She now could spend as much time as she wanted with Dancer. For awhile Chris boarded a few horses, however didn't like putting Dancer through the frequent loss of attachments.

   

Dancer and Sonata nibbling on Chris' tractor • Dancer & Knickers •  Dancer & Sky •

 

Chris began looking for a second horse that would be Dancer's long term companion. Her friend Dominique found KD, who is a wonderful Arabian, who most likely would not be around if Chris and Dominique hadn't rescued him. Over the years KD was a bit bossy to Dancer, however mostly they got on well.

There are more photos below about Dancer's life, but there is more to her than photos. Dancer was incredibly intelligent (Chris can expand on this better than I). She was independent, resourceful and giving. I cannot imagine that Chris and Dancer could have been more suited for each other. Chris' horsey friends often commented that Chris' care for Dancer and KD was like country club living.

I was lucky to be the recipient of Dancer's beautiful personality and love. Not always, but often I would accompany Chris to say good night to Dancer and KD. Taking them treats, especially carrots. I liked to hold up a carrot for KD and he'd bite it in half for me. Dancer would carefully grab the carrot closer to my fingers, hold steady and give me this "look" and then the carrot was gone. As Chris cleaned up the shavings, I'd go out with Bracken. Dancer would come over to the gate and accept dog cookies from me. I would be the lucky recipient of licks, nudges and hugs. I'd often rub her ears, which she enjoyed. I cannot honestly express the love I felt from her. Another regret, was for the times I was too tired or lazy to go out to the stable. Chris would tell me later that on these occasions, that Dancer would go to the gate looking for me.

In Dancer's later years, Chris dealt with many problems for a horse Dancer's age. It scared us when she couldn't get up and we installed cameras so we could keep track of her in case something happened. Dancer was very smart and realized in the past year she should not lie down in the pasture any more and had difficulty in the stable. Chris really worked on this with her. After having her teeth worked on a couple of years ago, Dancer did really well.

It was frustrating that due to Dancer's age and physical problems, Chris had to stop riding Dancer (which was another reason to add KD to the family. Then a couple of years later KD developed problems and can no longer be ridden either. Chris' daily care never wavered. I honestly never have understood how she does it. Through rain, sleet, rare snow and incredible heat, Chris is up every morning taking care of Dancer & KD. Chris is also lucky that we have horse folks close who trade off the care when someone needs to be gone.

It is not surprising that we all feel the deep sadness to have lost Dancer yesterday. Chris made an incredibly difficult, but correct decision when Dancer's pain could not longer be managed, getting up was now almost impossible and she quit eating in recent days. I lost a dear high school friend a week ago and I know that losing a family member for many doesn't equate to losing an animal. But Dancer was family, as is KD and Bracken. They love you unconditionally and are there come rain, come shine. Dancer gave so much love back to Chris. KD is lost. We are lucky that recently some horses moved next door, so he has some semblance of a herd.

So I have tried to capture moments for Chris of Dancer and KD, so I'll share these here. I am sad to the core about losing Dancer and I know Chris is empty right now. I know we'll be fine in time and we know how very lucky we were that Dancer was in our lives for more years than we tought possible. Love, Martin

---

These go from most recent to early photos

 

Chris & KD Saturday morning

  

KD

                                          

Friday, November 17, 2014  • video

Flowers from Sharon, Anthony, Julius and Rowan   10/17/14

Chris and new Vet with Dancer Nov 8th

     

Misc while Chris in Seattle • Chris rain video

     

Stable chips • Chris trimming the grass with Dancer and KD • Martin KD • video

   

Chris, Dancer and State vet taking blood samples

    

Liz, Bennie & Chris moving limestone

   

Chris Dancer KD - 4th of July 

   

Chris moving new material into the corral for Dancer and KD

       

June 12 Chris Dancer & KD

         

Sunset 050914

   

KD & Dancer "Where's Chris going with our trailer?" • video

   

     

Chris with Dancer & KD in the stable • video

 

Dancer & KD coming in for evening

         

Chris & Gary spread the muck pile • Bracken & Martin on deck • video

   

Chris spraying pasture • video

     

Dancer & KD  •  Chris grazing Dancer & KD • Chris brushing bracken which B loves • Dancer Chris neighbors Jeannie & her husband

     

Thought the same raccoon had returned 16 days later, however turned out to be a different on.  It was also released.

  

Chris Dancer

  

Chris heading to the muck pile

            

Raccoon trapped, warning Bracken, sleeping the next morning and released into the wild (16 days later the Raccoon is back in the stable eating Dancer's food.)  video

  

Raccoon eating Dancer's food caught on night vision camera

 

Chris Spraying weeds

      

Chris Dancer & KD

     

Snow and tree down & Chris repairs fence

   

Preparing the stable for trip

       

     

New Dancer KD web cam installed to check on Dancer in other cameras blind spot  behind the stable

Chris' stable rat is finally caught in an ABC trap

2013

Dancer had a problem getting up again and Chris walked her around after Martin, plus Debbie & David helped us get up.  video

   

Chris taking Dancer out to graze

       

Chris, Dancer, KD & Bracken

   

08/20 vet

       

July 4th KD's birthday, Ken came up and Chris fixed a great dinner and extra carrots for KD

        

Chris Dancer, KD & Martin

       

Chris taking Dancer and KD out to graze and Dancer & KD coming in for the night

     

Chris with Dancer, KD & Bracken

    

Sharon, Anthony, Julius & Rowan Texas visit

  

Chris took Dancer and KD out to graze in the front & Bracken & Dancer connected. video

              

     

Chris with Dancer & KD, wind blew down tree on fence, Chris & Gary spreading manure on pasture.

 

01/16/2013  Chris with Dancer & Bracken • Chris working in the stable

2012

    

12/2/12

   

Bracken & Dancer & KD waiting for Chris to return from the UK

      

Chris just before UK trip

   

Chris washing Dancer & KD

         

July 10, 2012 we finally received 6 inches of rain • video

       

Dancer gets treated by the Vet

Chris working with KD on the trailer loading & Dancer bath • movie

                            

3/12/12 Horses trimming our grass - movie

   

Feb 1 - Dancer & KD - mud • grazing in the yard

Jan 12 Chris took KS to McKinney Roughs (injured his head in the trailer)

   

Jan 4th KD & Dancer

2010

Chris Dancer & troubador

   

Chris bringing Dancer, KD & Troubador in from the rain • video

 

Chris & Dancer

   view video

             

Chris with the regular evening wash of Dancer & KD w/troubador standing watch

   

Rain coming, so Chris brings in Dancer & KD (but we want to stay out) • video

                

June 1, 2010

     

Chris and Dominique take Dancer to the vet - movie

   

 

Chris with Dancer, KD, Bracken & Troubador

 

Dominique & Chris enjoy sunny ride

     

Valentine's Day • Chris took KD and Dancer for walks with Dominique and her horses

 

Chris and KD out for ride while Dancer munches

 

Barbara taking off rugs and Dancer & KD enjoying being out

2009

           

Spending time with the family • movie

   

Dancer & ferrier

  

Chris & Patty back from ride • (right ) Chris at Patty's for ride - Chris says this is the last time she was able to ride Dancer

 

Sunset in May 09

              

Chris with Dancer on wash rack, Martin with Dancer & KD

    

Chris & KD riding with Dominique, Patty and Patty's friend from Conn

     

Chris & Dancer mucking

 

Chris (Dancer) and Patty out for a ride while KD looks on

2008

      

Chris and Dancer with Troubador & Bracken (view movie)

Chris riding Dancer & KD looking on

   

Chris returning from having Dancer's teeth floated

 

Chris out with KD and Dancer 082308 - movie

 

A brief rain shower • movie

        

     

     

Family Photos June 19,2008

  

Chris, Dancer, Dominique, KD, Patty & Molly riding -  movie

          

Chris heading out for ride with Barbara

       

KD and Dominique's horses watching Chris & Barbara out for ride • view movie

  

photos of Chris & Dancer & Dominique & Chris taken by Nell Carroll for the Austin American Statesman - click on article below to see larger image.

January

      

Chris & Dominique loading for McKinney Roughs (with Bracken watching from her room) - movie

    

  

     

Dancer in stall relaxed 02/24/07

  

Dancer & KD 02/15/07

 

Ice and snow in Cedar Creek • KD and Dancer • view movie

                             

 

Chris & Dancer preparing to go to McKinney Roughs 05/21/06

     

    

Chris Mother's Day, May 14, 2006 • view movie

   

 

Dancer & Ben at sunset

 

Chris & Dancer with Laura & Ben - Chris, Troubador & Ben  -  view video

 

Chris with Dancer trimming our grass while Troubadour looks on

    

2005

 

Dancer October 2005  movie

   

Troubador, Chris & Dancer  • view movie

   

Movies Chris/Laurie/Dancer/Sky • Back In the Saddle • Troubadour 1 • Troubadour 2

Chris, Dancer, Laurie & Sky

   

   

Chris Dancer and new friend Knickers - view movie

      

Dancer grazing in the front yard - February 2005

 

Dancer and Sonata with Chris' tractor -  Chris & Ken inspecting damage

   

Chris & Dancer off to McKinney Roughs

2004

   

Dancer & Moonie movie March 2004

 

Dancer tipping over Chris' wheel barrow

 

May

Chris weeding with Dancer

Movie of Dancer and Moonie coming in for supper

     

  New stable mats added in July 2004

  

Dancer & Moonie with Chris & Marjorie November 2004

  

movie of the run

   

Sonata moves in with Dancer - view RealPlayer movie

2003

     

April

 

Dancer waiting for Chris and Bach at the Feedroom door

     

June

         

       

Sheila to Austin, Texas, USA

          

Watch movie of Dancer's reaction to Moonie

2001

           

Dancer Movie • Requires Realplayer • Go to another movie • Requires QuickTime

                   

  

Dancer & Moonie with Chris & Marjorie November 2004

Moonie and Dancer 10/2/04get RealPlayer free

   

  

movie of the run

 

Moonie leaving for other pastures in December

   

Sonata moves in with Dancer - view RealPlayer movie • get RealPlayer free

 

Dancer and Sonata with Chris' tractor -  Chris & Ken inspecting damage

          

March 2005 • Dancer looking for Sonata • get RealPlayer free

Dancer moved home• July 2006

 

Helen, Bud, Chris & Dancer

   

   

Chris & Dancer at India's

 

In 1995 Chris & Bev at Bunnie's talking English riding lessons.  Chris joining Beverly for the lessons resulted in Chris acquiring Dancer and rekindled her horsey personality.