Super Senior Still Going Strong

By Pam Wilson

The early morning sun in Courtenay, BC penetrates the chestnut coat, warming the 33-year-old Quarter Horse as he waits quietly for his run. He appears calm with his head lowered, but his ears are pricked and his eyes as glassy as black ice are fixed on the herd of cows in front of him.

As he enters the sorting pen, the adrenalin begins to flow, creating energy difficult to rein back. He knows he has a job to do. The propulsion of 1,400 pounds of pure force ready to hunt that numbered cow is exhilarating. The flag is up, the announcer calls the number, and 6:25:10 seconds later the first cow is sorted into the holding pen. A club record is set for the day!

And that’s how it’s done by Easy Moon Delight (aka “Mr. Easy”), a Quarter Horse gelding stocked with Doc Bar lineage from Water Valley, Alberta. Mr. Easy has had many adventures through his life. One was being a working pack horse relocating a herd of cows up to the Plateau of Potato Mountain at 6,500 feet and Jamison Mountain at 9,000 feet. Where the days of packing were as long as 18 hours of climbing and navigating through the bush and rocky terrain, Mr. Easy was by far the most sure-footed of all the pack horses, gingerly weaving through the forest without shifting the contents of each pack box. There was never time wasted repacking his load as he never cracked an egg! A compliment to Mr. Easy’s athletic ability was playing polo for a few seasons at the Victoria Polo Club where his agility and speed captured spectators’ attention.

It is on the ride of a thousand trails with river crossings and creek beds where he spent countless hours with riders of all levels – that’s how he earned the title of Mr. Easy.

Brent Patriquin with his senior superstar, Easy Moon Delight.

Easy Moon Delight’s active lifestyle and the good care he receives keep him healthy and happy at 33 years young.

Easy Moon Delight sorts cattle with owner Brent Patriquin on May 20, 2018.

Photos by Christine Steneker.