It was a rainy day, and I had been helping to feed all of the horses in the fields. I was wet, tired, and miserable…on the verge of calling my dad to pick me up early. When I rounded the corner to go into the barn, I saw a little filly lying on the bed of lush straw, with her mother (Lacy) standing dejectedly in a corner. I went down to the little filly and stroked her soft hair, seemingly to soft, and quietly talked to her letting her suckle my finger. As I later found out, this little filly was a premi, a premature little filly. Lacy had no milk at the time, and someone was at the vet’s trying to get some formula of cholostrum. I envisioned names for the little filly, finally saying that it should have to do with hearts, since she had a perfectly shaped heart on her head. The final verdict-her name was Heart’s Desire, Desi to me. As I came across this quote on a website dedicated to horse quotes, I felt that it was perfect describing my bond to Desi, still alive to this day.

"Birth is a fierce, joyous miracle. Anyone who falls in love with a newborn foal is permanently touched, forever changed, forever grateful."

No one thought Desi would live through the night, she was just too weak, but then she defied the odds, and survived. The second day off her life, I went to the farm after school planning to spend the night and help watch her. Desi was not there, and I didn’t know where she was…trying not to cry in front of my parents (I thought she had died already…) I went and got out my horse Light. After working Light for an hour, I saw a horse trailer and car pull up! I was full of hope then, Desi was still alive. She had stopped breathing twice at the vets, but was alive. I spent the night with a couple of barn friends watching over the little filly and helping to give her medicine and nurse her. She was very weak, but alive and working hard to stay alive. My Desi survived that night, and five more days. Unknowingly to us, she was developing a bacterial infection (that has a high mortality rate among foals). The next days were wonderful though; I helped take care of her, and showed her off to all of the visitors to the farm. Desi seemed to be attracted to me…as I was to her. When she hurt her hoof one day, she was fazed, but kept struggling to stay alive. I had wonderful times with Desi…so I made a poem to commemorate her, and her precious life. Desi touched my life, and I will always remember her. I love you Desi.

My Desi
Mine from the start, when you opened your eyes,
mine when you pottyied on me
mine when you bleated, trying to get milk
mine still when you were down

mine when you kicked me for giving you medicine
mine when you nickered a greeting
mine when I showed you off, flaunting you to everyone
mine still when you stood the first time

mine when everyone gave up on you,
mine when you gave up on yourself
mine when you learned to get up on your own
mine still when you realized you had life

mine when you almost died in the vets, of course I wasn't there
mine when I protected you, long in the night
mine when I fed you through your tube
mine still when you wore Atari’s dog blanket (what a laugh my girl)

mine when you trotted,
mine when you slept
mine when I had to get you to the grass,
mine still when we thought you would make it

you will always be mine, my little Desi, and we will meet again in heaven, where you will romp and play, no pain anymore, and I will ride you off into the sunset