One of Woodside’s most well-beloved horses, Roy, has sadly passed on to greener pastures.
The sweet natured palomino ridden by dozens of local residents over the years, died on April 15, weakened by old age and too much winter.
Roy’s origins remain a mystery. He first came into our life more than 15 years ago, when a horse broker sold him with only a few kernels of information: his formal name was “Royal,” he was originally from Woodside, and his rider outgrew him.
A vet-check confirmed that he was “upwards of 15,” probably a quarter horse, and suitable to become a backyard trail horse.
Funny how every year for the next three years, a different vet would check his teeth and say he was about 12. For a while, we wished we had doctors like his who could stop the clock. Then the next year, a vet pronounced him closer to 20.
So, no one really knows how old Roy was, but for the last couple of years we’ve been saying he was “flirting with 30.”
All six of us in our family rode him, as well as many other people. He matured into an enviable “bomb proof” mount, perfect for teaching beginners.
His last rider was an 8-year-old who took him to Woodside Pony Club on Saturdays for a little walking and trotting around the ring on Tripp Road.
Roy knew that ring well. He debuted there in the costume class of Woodside Junior Riders’ summer progam 10 years ago, entering with one of our daughters as “Roy Rogers and Daly Evans.”
In all, Roy launched five riders at Woodside Pony Club, including two of our own children. In addition, he provided occasional trail rides for a dozen or so Woodside moms, some San Franciscans who wanted to experience the “country” for the day, and a few out-of-town relatives.
Roy also packed around more than a dozen of our children’s friends, at formal birthday parties and trails on lazy summer days.
He was one of those rare horses who had few vices, and a great willingness to please his rider, no matter who it was.
Roy sure has left behind memories of happy trails for a lot of people. He was so easygoing, he would go English or Western, and calmly participated in the May Day Parade a few years back. We miss him dearly and appreciate all the friends he helped us make on his long ride through life.
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