Curly has a special place in the hearts of her owners.

A 27-year-old Bashkir Curly, Appaloosa horse, Kayla Bendickson purchased him in 2015 to use as her high school rodeo horse. She said he was great at roping, goat tying, pole bending and barrel racing.

香蕉视频直播淚 won a lot of events on him, and won my first buckle with him,香蕉视频直播� said Kayla, a Grade 12 student at Lake City Secondary School in Williams Lake.

香蕉视频直播淏ut I started noticing down at a barrel race in 100 Mile House he ran me into a barrel the first day, then the second day he ran me into two barrels 香蕉视频直播� both on his right side.香蕉视频直播�

Kayla and her mom, Twyla, took Curly to see a veterinarian in 2016 where it was confirmed their suspicion that Curly was, in fact, going blind.

Despite advice to retire Curly, Kayla continued to barrel race with him.

香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檇 been doing it his whole life, and he knew what he was supposed to do,香蕉视频直播� Kayla said.

After taking a spill on a different horse, and being knocked unconscious, receiving a concussion and subsequent seizure, Kayla said it was Curly who helped nurse her back to health and give her the confidence to compete again.

香蕉视频直播淗e did so much for me,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淗e really boosted my confidence back up. I香蕉视频直播檇 been out for six weeks but he helped me out a lot. I just got on him and started riding a lot again, and then I was able to ride a faster horse from there. I香蕉视频直播檓 just really grateful for having him.香蕉视频直播�

Twyla said it was amazing to watch the bond shared between the two while Kayla was recovering from her concussion.

香蕉视频直播淚f she was off balance he would scoop her up, things like that. They just both love each other.香蕉视频直播�

READ MORE: Stampede Warm Up action hits lakecity

Later, in 2017, when Twyla was competing at the Stampede Warm Up Barrel Racing event in Williams Lake, her horse came up lame.

香蕉视频直播淚 needed a horse,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淜ayla said: 香蕉视频直播榃hy not take Curly?香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

That was in June 0f 2017.

香蕉视频直播淚 just thought he香蕉视频直播檚 done it his whole life, he香蕉视频直播檚 27, why not?香蕉视频直播� Twyla said.

Twyla went on to successfully barrel race Curly that weekend.

香蕉视频直播淚t was just a really cool feeling to know he could do it,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淭o see he could do it, and to know that he trusts you that much to race was amazing. A lot of people, before this, were telling us to put him down, but we couldn香蕉视频直播檛 do that. He香蕉视频直播檚 healthy, and he took care of Kayla when she had her concussion, so he deserves a good life.香蕉视频直播�

READ MORE:

Curly still lives happily at Kayla and Twyla香蕉视频直播檚 home in Miocene, east of Williams Lake, alongside his best pal, Fritz 香蕉视频直播� another horse the family owns 香蕉视频直播� and doesn香蕉视频直播檛 have much of a hard time getting around the property.

香蕉视频直播淗e doesn香蕉视频直播檛 really run into anything,香蕉视频直播� Kayla said.

香蕉视频直播淗e uses his whiskers to feel around before he gets to a fence or around a tree. We put his hay in the same spot. We have a feeder with big hay bales around it, and he香蕉视频直播檚 been in the same field since we got him, so he knows where to go.香蕉视频直播�

Twyla said Curly still gets out on regular trail rides, and is just an amazing horse to have around.

香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 just a really cool guy,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淛ust to see his willingness to adapt, and how he still runs out in the field, is pretty incredible.香蕉视频直播�

sports@wltribune.com
Like us on and follow us on