King Of The Fields

To the Editor:

Last week you ran an article written by Lisa Peterson about the life and times of Thunder Bay – 16.3 hands of Thoroughbred bone, blood, sinew, and quickness. I would like to add a postscript, as one of those privileged to sit his back and feel the wind on my face.

I named him Thunder Bay because he was a beautiful deep Bay and when he moved Thunder was in your ears and electricity was in the air. When he carried you at a gallop you floated, suspended smoothly over ground rushing by at over 30 miles an hour. He was so much better a horse than I a rider that I turned him over to a gifted rider, my daughter Beth, who rode him, cared for him, and loved him until love said let him go to Lisa.

Until he left us last month he was the undeniable king of the fields. It is so hard to accept that a creature of such power and elegance must leave. It is so hard to be merciful and let them go. It is so hard to lose a king, yet at times love commands it.

Gary MacMillan

26 Shepard Hill Road, Newtown        October 1, 2001