4-Her suffers loss of horse before the fair, friends provide a substitute
Bodie and Cara. Most folks in Hillsboro and Marion knew the pair either from the parades or 4-H horse shows.
This year, something won't be the same. Bodie died just two weeks before the Marion County Fair at the age of 30 after he became ill and heroic efforts to save his life failed.
Cara Martin-Zieammerman, a determined, energetic, 10-year-old with a charismatic smile, met Bodie, a huge buckskin quarter horse with feet the size of a draft horse, when she was four years old.
Bodie was owned by several 4-H families in several counties after being retired from Rock Springs 4-H Ranch. He spent much of his life in 4-H, training beginners to ride.
Due to an injury when he was a young ranch horse, his ability to gallop was limited, but he made a great "baby sitter."
Most said he was too big for a preschooler, but looking into his eyes, Cara's grandmother saw a gentle giant and bought him for her, promising Bodie he had a home for life.
Bodie took Cara to her first 4-H fair, first fun show, and first parade. She rode him every year after that, but two weeks before this year's Marion County Fair, he suddenly became ill.
He had the best of care from veterinarians Jessica Lauren, Brendan Kraus, and Dr. Otto, not to mention the veterinarian assistants who spent hours trying to help him. Most of them were current or former 4-Hers with horses of their own.
But a week later he died, probably from a virus he caught at the Tri-County Fair combined with age and triple digit temperatures.
Cara, her grandmother, and Larry, Cara's 4-year-old brother, cried buckets of tears. Bodie also had been Larry's first horse to ride.
The memories are plentiful, however, and they are glad he no longer suffers.
Bodie's death left Cara brokenhearted at the loss of an old friend and without a horse to ride in the fair.
The story has a silver lining. Deanna and Larry Olsen, owners of Cottonwood Miniature Horse Farm at Marion, stepped up to help.
Deanna has been a friend of 4-Hers for years, selflessly giving time and use of her horses. She offered Cara the use of her mare, Babe.
Since time was limited for the two to bond, Deanna worked with Cara every day when possible to help her get accustomed to Babe.
Deanna's husband had surgery this past week, but she came back daily to be sure Cara was doing OK with Babe. She even loaned tack, trailer, and truck.
So, although Bodie was absent from the parade and the horse show, thanks to a caring friend of 4-Hers and a wonderful community spirit, Cara still was there with that ear-to-ear smile, a memory of Bodie in her heart, and hope for the future.
