09/01/2026
Allie, aka Allie Girl, Allie Gator, Red, Mare, Red Dragon, Fire Breathing Demon from Hell and probably a few other names I won’t put on social media, turned 25 this year.
This past year, my typically easy keeper became difficult to keep and her condition started to slip. I knew something wasn’t right when all the usual fixes just weren’t fixin’. I called our beloved vet out, and she diagnosed Allie with Cushing’s disease after a few blood tests. It’s super common in older horses and, thankfully, manageable.
Allie is my heart horse. She’s smarter than the rest of them, opens gates on her own and is all whoa and no go (unless it’s time to eat), but make no mistake, there’s still fire running through her veins.
Sometimes she’ll stop and gaze off toward the horizon, staring at absolutely nothing I can see. I always wonder what she’s looking at out there… or what she knows that I don’t.
She’s stubborn. She’s fiery. She’s too smart for her own good. I’d put an infant on her back and confidently walk away knowing she’d stand there like a statue. She’s carried me, let me cry on her shoulder, tolerated me, challenged me and made me laugh more times than I could ever count. She’s one hell of a horse.
So I need these meds to work. I need some weight back on those old bones and lots more years with my Allie Girl.
For now, here she is, gazing off at who knows what while enjoying one of her twice daily special mashes, which will hopefully help put a little extra weight back on her. Cross your fingers for my old girl. I’m not done keeping her forever yet.
