Comet the lesson horse streaks into retirement at 40

There was no horsing around for 30 people who attended a retirement party Saturday afternoon. Comet, a 40-year-old quarterhorse, and those who know him gathered at the Horses' Honor Senior Horse Sanctuary in Lincoln for an open house and retirement party. Some of those friends included other four-legged creatures such as dogs. Horses Honor also has a tack store in Auburn. "It was a very good turnout," said Niña Thompson, the founder of Horses' Honor Senior Horse Sanctuary, which has 27 horses on the property. "It was a lovely celebration of Comet's life of service." Comet's service was being a lesson horse for people who wanted to learn how to ride one. Joyce Foster attended the celebration that featured Comet's favorite foods of carrot cake and various treats. One of Foster's horses, Jack, who is also a quarterhorse, shared a stall with Comet for 17 years. "They were both outside together," Foster said. "They were best friends." Now Comet can roam on the sanctuary's pasture. "He was always yelling because he wanted out (of the stall)," Foster said. "To put him outside where he's got all of this beauty. He's got freedom now. This place is so awesome. He's a really good boy. I'm glad he's in a good home." Sara Kristen, who also attended the party, worked with Comet at TLC Stables in Roseville. Kristen started as a volunteer, then became an instructor. She's known the horse for a year. "I've always loved horses," Kristen said. "It was always really nice to go in and take care of him. It was just a really good time. Brushed him out and stuff like that." Davina Moore of Marysville also attended Comet's retirement party. She donated two horses, Jenny and Snowfire, to the Horses' Honor Senior Horse Sanctuary last September because her significant other died. The horses were grazing on the south side of the fence where Comet and other horses mingled. Jenny and Snowfire, who are 29 and 27 years old, are known as paint horses, quarterhorses with spots of color on their bodies. "They are just big, gentle babies," Moore said. Moore said she also donated equipment to use for her two horses to help fund the sanctuary. Thompson said Comet gets along well with dogs that are on her property and the ones that showed up for the retirement party. "He's just fine with them," Thompson said. "No problem with the dogs whatsoever. He's a very good citizen. He's been absolutely no trouble. He's nice with the other horses." Thompson noted Comet requires special feeding because of his age. "His teeth are basically at gum level," Thompson said. "He doesn't have the proper dentition to be able to chew hay. In the old days, that use to be a death sentence for a horse." Today, horses can live longer thanks to foods that are easier to eat and digest. "Today, we have the products available that will allow us to provide optimal nutrition up to this age, even if they don't have teeth," Thompson said. Thompson added millions of dollars have been invested into feeding elder horses that doesn't require hay. Most of the 27 horses on the property require senior feed. "You just pour it out and they can eat it," Thompson said. "They eat about 100 pounds of feed a day between all of these horses." The horses still feed on the grass on the property, Thompson added. There are two sheltered areas the horses can use when it rains. But Thompson said there are times when horses will remain in the pasture and opt to get wet. "They also have the trees and the lay of the land to be able to get out of the weather," Thompson said. "You can build the fanciest barn in the world, and horses, just as often, stand outside in the rain." The new shelters, Thompson said, came through grants the sanctuary was able to build the barns.