Molly was a gentle soul and she touched my life. I was blessed.

Molly was a beautiful gentle grey giant. A Clydesdale who had lived god-knows what life. She had some age about her and I have no idea what she had done or not done prior to landing at my door.

She was lovely. Sweet and kind.

She was initially bought by a friend of mine as a riding horse for “beginners”. She had been on a property in north Victoria in the dust and heat. Completely out of place.

The friend rode her once and declared that she was too dangerous to ride.

It turned out that if she was kicked in the sides to move on she would give a little ‘pig root’ or jump into the air. I worked out after one ride that if I tapped her on the side with a stick or a crop she was much happier and would just move off into a trot. No pig root. No danger. Problem solved.

The friend was not convinced and said that she would sell her. She had only been with the friend for a couple of weeks. Virtually no time at all. Barely even settled in. Given no chance. Just pack her off to who-knows where?

To me this attitude was really atrocious. Selfish and unkind. Unbelievable.

I couldn’t let that happen and so I bought her.

She stayed with me for many years, living her best life and dying on my property as an ‘old girl’.

She was loved. And she responded with what I interpreted as great love. And maybe gratitude as well.

If I was sad or upset I would curl my face into her side and cry and she would just stand there for as long as I needed, never moving. I loved her horsey smell and the softness of her neck. It was pure comfort to me.

She was like a grandmother to the young horses when they arrived on the property. They would hang with her until they got their confidence up. She was never mean to them.

And, regardless of what the earlier mentioned friend had assessed, she was a wonderful horse for the junior riders. Molly would just plod along, never faster than a slow trot. Just up the road and back. Let them feel what it is like to sit on a big sweet giant.

For me I learnt that a little understanding and patience…and kindness…can lead to a beautiful relationship.

I am very grateful for Molly and I miss her.