After arriving home on March 21st, right after the 1st OJRA Rodeo of the 2009 season at Marchants Arena, Our little buddy Trace Armbrister lost one of his best friends in the whole world... "Redman". Trace and Redman have been best buds for the last 3 1/2 years. Redman would have been 20 years old in June. So he was no spring chicken, But you could not ask for a better friend.
Trace was 4 years old when they purchased Redman from Chris & Jennifer Piazza.
Trace has always been teased about riding such a tall horse, But he loved slinging his leg over and sliding off him during the goat undecorating. Remember last summer at the Siloam Springs OJRA Rodeo? Remember the rain? Well I do, And I know Trace remembers, He remembers using his coat to try and cover Redman, while he waited to compete in the rain. He wanted to keep Redman dry for as long as possible.
During a trail ride once, Trace rode Redman up a hill into some trees with large branches hanging down low. Redman continued to go forward like Trace wanted, one of the branches pushed Trace out of the saddle and down Redman's rear end. At which point Redman stopped and waited for his little buddy to get back in the saddle.
I personally remember how, during the goat untying the other night at Marchants, that when Trace come off Redman and hit the ground running after the goat, that, as Trace's hand went into the air with the ribbon in it, Redman was not more than 3 feet away... Just waiting for his little buddy to get back in the saddle.
I know that as this chapter ends for Trace, He will surely continue to keep getting back in the saddle again and again...
