Rainbow Bridge

This page is dedicated to the horses who are no longer with us, but gave all of their heart and soul to compete in UPHA.
By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
when their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where beloved creatures find rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Til The Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed.
Their bodies have healed with strength imbued.
They trot through the grass without even a care, 
Til one day they whinny and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes sharp and alert.

Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the herd.
For just at that second, there's no room for remorse.
As they see each other...one person...one horse.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past
The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart
Has turned to joy once more in each heart.
They nuzzle with a love that will last forever.
And then, side-by-side, they cross over...together.

© 1998 Steve and Diane Bodofsky. All Rights Reserved. Reposted by Permission.www.NewRainbowBridge.com

Freckle Britches
Submitted by Abby Woodaz
1993-2014

Freckles came into my life in 2007, in 13 years together he taught me more than any horse or pony ever could. He took me from my last year in lead line to winning 6 grand champions at the state fair the year I retired him. We did everything from showmanship, english, western, western riding, speed and any pattern class. He has at least one point in every single class that UPHA offers. Together we won countless awards and prizes, from the show ring to team penning. He truly was an all around pony and my life will never be the same without him but I am thankful for the time we did have together and the lessons he taught me.
KT Flashy Lady (Barn Name: Da BAY)
Submitted by Jesse Willour of Gladstone, MI
Bay came from my parents Tim and Kelly Devooght. She was born and raised on their farm in Skandia. Bay came into my life the summer of 2009. I wanted to get back into showing as I had taken 10 years off to go to college and start my career, my parents leased Bay to me so I could get in the swing of showing again. The summer of 2009 I was pregnant with JR and not knowing how far I wanted to get back into showing, I started showing UPHA. Bay and I competed in Halter, Showmanship, English and Western. I soon found out that Bay wanted to do it all, as did I. My husband bought Bay for me at the end 2009. Before I knew It we were competing in everything including Team Penning, Barrel Racing and Jumping. There was nothing Bay wouldn’t do with me or for me. She was the 2013 UPHA Versatility and high Point Champion, 2013 Marquette County Fair Team Penning Champion and the 2013 Michigan Open Horse Show Championships Reserve 19-39 age division Overall Champion. Bay was my best friend and my teammate. Her heart was into competing. She loved every moment of being in the ring. I would not be the horsewomen I am today without her. With a heavy heart, I had to humanely euthanize her on June 14, 2014 due to a fractured Navicular bone and a torn Flexor Tendon. She was a part of my family and always holds a piece of my heart.
FF Tenders Buckaroo Toy (Buck)
Owned by Janece
2001 AQHA sorrel gelding, Zippos Do Win (barn name:  Teddy)
Submitted by Lisa Anderson of Chassell, MI
Teddy was given to me in December 2008 by some folks from another barn who no longer wanted horse ownership.  He was bred and initially trained for western pleasure, but was never "good enough" for the AQHA circuit. So, he sat and was used now and again for lessons. 
In his new home with me, he learned there was more to life than just western pleasure. Five months later, he started a new open show career in the all-around events.  He learned halter, showmanship, English Pleasure, equitation, dressage, jumping, western horsemanship, reining, trail, and the speed events. There wasn't much Teddy wouldn't do for me.....he could jump 3'6" with ease, run a smokin' barrel pattern, and have the brains to enter into western pleasure a moment later. He was the 2009 U.P. Equifest Super Horse Champion and 2009 UPHA Versatility Champion. 
He was humanely euthanized on May 23, 2010 due to arthritis that caused spinal cord compression in his neck which caused Wobbler's. Even though he was with me for a short period of time, he lived the best part of his life with me and is deeply missed.   
Lucky Stars Gina (Gina)
 Owned by Janece
KH Reba Red (Reba)
Submitted by Karena Bublitz of Perkins, MI
Many year end grands and reserves with all my kids and myself. English, western, leadline, walk trot, and halter.