Her name was Judy

This precious, 80 year old, horse hide blanket has a deep, heart felt history for me.  Judy was my Uncle Walter Cartwright's saddle horse.  To Judy, Uncle Walter was her one and only master.

Like the time she stumbled in a badger hole on the vast southern Alberta prairie. Uncle was thrown to the ground.  Seriously injured, he lay still.  Judy standing guard over him. She did not wander away or head for home with reins trailing.  Silently she stood guard over her fallen master.

A neighbour spotted the lone saddle horse standing far off in the distance and went to investigate.  Savagely Judy protected her fallen rider.  With bared teeth and striking hooves she would not let the man anywhere near Uncle.  The neighbour had no choice but to trek the long distance to my Uncle's and Grandfathers jointly owned  farm/ranch to summon Granddad.  Granddad was able to approach Judy, calm her and then help his fallen brother.

Like many saddle horses back in the early 1900's, they were also harness trained to buggies and sleighs.  When Uncle was working with his big, draft teams in the fields, Judy was put to such tasks as taking my Grandmother, Rose Cartwright, to town for much needed supplies.  Judy did not settle into such tasks gently.

Grandmother, with her young son in tow, headed out to the town of Loverna, Sask. for much needed supplies in her buggy.  On the way, she stopped and picked up a neighbour lady with two children.  It was 17 miles to the town.  You would think after 17 miles, Judy would have settled down a wee bit?

While in town, Judy was stabled for some rest and water. Judy took offence to the Livery Stable man's sharp voice and decided to spook when Grandmother went to fetch her for the trip home.  Grandmother drove the nervous mare around town, only able to slow her for a split second as one at a time, a child scrambled into the buggy.  Then around town again as they threw the much needed groceries/supplies into the buggy. Finally with the neighbour lady also in the buggy, Mom turned Judy towards home.

17 more miles to home.  About a mile from home after having already covered 33 miles pulling the weight of a buggy with two women, 3 children and a heavy weight of supplies, Judy had enough of being held in. 

She simply took the bit in her teeth and ran............................  My Grandfather was terribly upset with Grandmother when they reached the farm yard as Judy was lathered up, soaked with sweat. That was no way to treat a horse, he said.  Grandmother simply shook her head as the horse was "JUDY" and not her fault.............................. 

My Uncle loved all horses, especially his Judy.  It was a small rock, the size of an "Egg".  He picked it up and threw it at Judy to get her to quit being fractious when her and other horses were being asked to enter the barn.  A small rock........................... the size of an "Egg".........................that tiny rock hit wrong and shattered her leg. 

Uncle had no choice. Full of Grief, sickened with Grief, Uncle went and got his gun. 

He skinned his beloved mare and made a blanket from her hide.  Uncle slept with that blanket at the foot of his bed for the rest of his life.  Uncle passed away in the 1960's.  Judy's blanket then came to me........................ And HER NAME WAS JUDY.........................