Holly Taylor

Holly, age 28, crossed the Rainbow Bridge on Monday, November 11, 2024, with her herd and family by her side. 

Holly was a heart horse, a dream come true for the little girl that lived in Sarah.  In 2008, Sarah decided to fulfill a lifelong dream of learning to ride horses because she always felt a special connection to horses even though she grew up a city girl.  Holly was the horse she learned to ride on.  Sarah fell in love with her instantly and ended up buying her. She wasn’t a typical mare although she did have a few “mareish” moments over the years.  She was steady and true to her heart, trustworthy around little ones or non-horse people.  Holly loved to be brushed and given treats.  If she wasn’t in the mood to work, she was the queen of evasion although she always ended up giving in…eventually. 

She had many people on her back that had never been on a horse before, and she was always very forgiving.  Holly was great with everyone except Dave…not that she didn’t like him, but she always managed to end the ride quickly.  One time they were riding down the road and she didn’t want to leave the barn, so she went down an embankment, threw Dave off, and took off for the barn.  She could have thrown him in the road, but she did it in the gentlest way possible. 

In her later years after arthritis made her unable to be ridden, she enjoyed a life of leisure.  Two years ago, she lost and wore down all of her teeth due to age and had to be fed a diet of mash which she thoroughly enjoyed.  She could have been anywhere in the pasture but when she saw them walk out of the house with her bucket of warm mash, she came running!  Her family worked hard to make sure the last two years were the best they could be for her. Holly gave them so much in her 17 years she spent with them that giving her the best life was the least they could do for her.  It is never any easy decision to have a beloved pet put down, but she was ready, it would have been cruel to make her go through a winter that her body was not prepared for. 

Holly spent more than 17 years with Clyde, her “husband”.  The two had an unbreakable bond and you could see the heartbreak in Clyde’s eyes when she was gone.  It’s always been Holly and Clyde, never spending a day apart since the day they came together.  Her herd consisted of many different animals, and they often moved from pasture to pasture together.  Everyone always commented on how calm everyone was when they were together.

Holly’s herd and family will miss her dearly.  She is survived by horses, Clyde, Whiskey, Blossom; donkey, Cookie; pony, Peggy; pig, Hampton; goats, Willie and William; sheep, Ewa and Novie; farm dogs, Wilbur, Monroe, and Lincoln; human family, Dave, Sarah, Wyatt, Adeline, & Ellie.

The best horses don’t last forever but they sure do last forever in our heart.  Always cherish your heart horse.

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