Bint Maru
(Abu Maru X Bint Dokhailan)
(AHRA # 0106666)
2/19/1974 - 6/28/2004
IN MEMORIAM
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bint Maru passed away in the early, pre-dawn hours of June 28, 2004. She was only three hundred feet from us in the house and she was 15 ft from the other horses and her beloved daughter, Dolcezza. She was 30 in years, but as I alway said, I would never admit to more than 20. I didn't discover her till I went to feed breakfast. She apparently suffered very little at the last. I was grateful for that and for her being sound and basically healthy all her life. The day before, she went out to the pasture as usual with the other horses Dolcezza (purebred Arabian), Guy Doc (Quarterhorse) and Baby ( Andalusian cross). At night, she came in with the others and seemed to be enjoying her evening meal and her customary Sunday night bran mash. When I put on her summer sheet for the evening and gave her her half bute tab (for minor arthritis), she did her usual routine of spitting out whatever was in her mouth first. I gave her the customary kiss on her silky nose.
I bought Bint Maru in October, 1986, when she was twelve years old, so I had the joy of owning her for 18 years, which was not nearly long enough. She came from Anderson's Arabians in Colton, California. Mr. Anderson had recently died, and Merrie, his wife, who trained and showed the horses, thought Bint and I would be right for each other.
In the last year or so, I would often stand in the evening with my arms around Bint's neck with my check pressed against hers and talk to her about the first time I ever saw her. She came to me in Hawaii on a plane with about 100 or so other horses. I had sent halters and leg wraps and a head protector all marked with her name and mine. She was wearing all her gear and a canvas blanket that Merrie had put on her. When the plane drew up to the terminal, there was a crowd waiting with horse trailers for the arriving horses. The transport crew made a steep ramp up to the cargo door of the plane and then one by one, they led each horse down. I had seen photos of Bint Maru, so I knew her the instant I saw her. When I saw her close up, I was awed. She was exotic and her features and coat were so fine and had a delicate and rare quality. When she moved, she seemed to float. She was very muscular for a mare but in a beautiful, feminine way.
There were many adventures ahead of us, some of them difficult and painful, some of them gloriously joyous, but through all of them I came to love this mare with all my heart and know her as my mother, my sister and my daughter. I felt blessed and honored that I had won the trust, respect and love of this proud, strong-spirited animal.
The photo above is very special because it is a photo of Bint as a new mother. She was bred in California before she was sent to me. Her son, Mea Grazioso (later known as Grazi in the Hawaii horse show circuit - Hawaii All-round Horse of the year - exhibition performer in reinless jumping) is lying at her feet in this photo. Bint would stand for hours with Grazi sleeping at her feet. She would gaze around with a madonna-like air, basking in the glory of her motherhood. Then she would give a little gasp of concern that something might be wrong with the baby. She would look down in consternation, see him sleeping peacefully and return to her maternal reverie.
We always knew we would miss her terribly, but didn't know how losing Bint would really feel until today,--- we are realizing the extent of her presence and how much and in how many ways we miss her. She was not just a horse hanging out in the barn and the pasture. She was always the watcher for the herd. She interacted with everyone who came into the horse area. Sometimes it was to tell them that she didn't particularly care for them, or maybe to let them know that they would be tolerated if they met her standards, or as long as they had carrots and didn't have bad manners. She always let me know that I held a unique position in her heart.
For some time now, my definition of a good day has started with, that Bint Maru is still with us. Thank God I still have her daughter, Dolcezza.
Return to Olomana Gardens Home Page