What gift suits a horse for her 30th birthday party?
A bale of hay? Too pedestrian.
A fly mask? All function, no fun.
A box of sugar cubes? Neigh!
Guests mostly brought fermented grapes for the hostess and owner, Georgi Tomisato. I ran with the herd — carried a bottle of red to the shindig.
“Jiggs” (officially: Hoosier Annie Dee, a pure bred Morgan) never made an appearance at the party. She spent that Saturday evening below the barn’s floor, just stalling around. Not that the mare minded the exclusion. Or that’s what I gathered while sipping a glass of white in her quiet company.
Later, over head, three bands (duo, trio, quintet) played throughout the evening as guests wined and dined. (Shivered, too, even well before the 10 p.m lightening and thunder show sent us packing.) Family members charmed us with a Hawaiian dance shortly before we sliced into Giancarlo’s fine European-style cakes.
Aloha delizioso under a cool tin roof.
Tomisato, at her place along Moffett Branch Road, was celebrating the steed’s anniversary, while also showing off barn remodeling. She’s been at it after making the move from urban life to country living a couple of years ago.
“We’ve been together for 24 years,” she noted, “dreaming of being on a farm instead of separated, with Jiggs being boarded. Miracles can happen!”
Historically speaking, horses rarely lived to Jigg’s age. Many do in this era.
The average equine longevity is 28, that’s a plus-or-minus five-year figure, so 23 to 33 is the norm. Better veterinary medicine, nutrition, and knowledge of equine care have contributed to their life span.
Even well into their golden years, some horses can be ridden or lightly driven. Ponies often make up the senior staff at riding schools. Bigger breeds tend to pass on faster.
A cultural history on the bedside table, Farewell to the Horse, has been schooling me about the Age of the Horse — from domestication of the species to the Industrial Revolution. We’re well beyond those days, for richer and poorer, when the animals’ power and presence was harnessed for revolutions: in transportation, agriculture and industry, and warfare, as well as central to art, literature, philosophy and ethics.
With a caution or two, I recommend Ulrich Raulff’s “farewell.” Even well-translated German sentences can tie English readers in knots. t’s not a tale that most horse lovers will enjoy.
Humans have been beastly to the horse, especially those no longer useful for man’s economic or military purposes. Our companions are fewer in number now but better off since the species has moved to pet status. Then as now, we tend to abuse our primary sources of power.
These days, old timers put out to pasture give us the pleasure of their company and personalities, not to mention purpose in giving them care. They also lend reassurance in the herd, and teach youngsters manners.
Fittingly, the last tune of the party for Jiggs and company was played by The Old Favorites, a traditional Appalachian/Celtic group. No animals were harmed in their hoof-tapping performance of Shove the Pigs Foot a Little Further in the Fire.