Golden Valley is where this story begins. The town, in the heart of the plains of North Dakota, is home to a cowgirl named Charlee Lundquist.
Charlee had a spirit as free as the herds that grazed the pastures of her grandparent's NZ Quarter Horse Ranch. The rhythm of hoofbeats echoed through her childhood, and she grew up surrounded by the timeless bond between humans and horses.
From the moment she could walk, Charlee found herself drawn to horses. Captivated by these creatures, she developed a passion for horsemanship that would shape her life's journey. She will tell you that she dreamt of the day she would have one of her own from a very early age.
Her grandparents would not make her wait long. At the young age of nine, Charlee would
receive a gift that would likely top all gifts in her life. Born from the bloodlines
of the ranch, a little sorrel colt with a big white blaze and three round dots on
his nose entered Charlee’s world. The colt would be named Ace; the theme for foals
this year was playing cards, and the name seemed to fit. Ace was the spitting image
of his mother in looks and temperament.
An Ace, standing alone amidst a deck of cards, carries with it the feeling of luck and opportunity. Symbolizing the pinnacle of achievement, the Ace is a sign of good fortune, its presence signaling the possibility of victory for the person who holds it.
The lucky colt was officially Charlee’s on the day he was born. Many horse aficionados will share that it is a dream come true to own a horse and raise it from birth. Charlee did not take the time to bond with him from a young age for granted; this effort created an almost inseparable relationship between the pair.
Charlee visited Ace so often that he became a big puppy dog. While she was mastering some of the skills of horse training herself, a neighbor helped put on the first couple of rides. After that, Charlee took over, putting on what had to be thousands of miles through the years. “Ace was an honest horse that just wanted a good ride,” Charlee recalled.
Charlee remembered Ace as being a softy and a good listener. You could find her at the corral, leaning against him in a snuggle, telling him about her day for hours. There was nothing like a bit of Ace therapy to fix a hard day.
Ace was also a big goofball. He liked candy and toaster pastries, rejecting his horse treats if Charlee didn’t bring the “good stuff” after a ride. Like the puppy dog image he maintained, Ace loved his giant ball in the corral. If you weren’t paying attention, he might sneak to unzip your jacket between his teeth; one of his favorite quirky things to do.
When it came down to business, Ace was a good partner. Charlee recalled moving cattle with him and trusting him not to run off. “I stepped off to chase some cattle out of the brush one time. Ace started to push the cows up the trail, walking slowly behind them. He thought he was helping, so I wasn’t to upset I had to jog a bit after him.” A cowy ranch horse is an exceptional tool and something in high demand. Ace was a gem in this department.
After over nine years of working together, Charlee knew she could count on Ace to make her senior night at the rodeo memorable. On senior night, contestants carry in the flags, a sign of moving on to the next level in their careers. While Ace and Charlee had never completed this task together before, that did not matter. Ace had never been ridden in an arena with that many horses. Charlee could tell that he was amped and excited but still acted professionally. “It was so fun, and perhaps my favorite memory.” shared Charlee, “He didn’t miss a beat. We just clicked, and it was the best.”
Ace could get himself into tight spots on occasion, as Charlee felt he was a bit accident-prone. He would often try to hide any discomforts from his mishaps in exploration to avoid being left at the barn. If he had a cactus in his leg, he would gently let you know so it could be removed.
Ace’s luck eventually ran out due to his quirky trait and predisposition to getting into unusual predicaments. Unfortunate accidents are often the punctuation marks in the story of life. The kind and gentle soul was gone after just ten years on the earth, much too early for such a mount, leaving a mark on Charlee’s heart. As Charlee puts it fondly, “There will never be another Ace.”
Losing a horse can be like losing a part of one's soul. Yet, amidst grief, there exists a glimmer of hope. As time moves forward, memories of cherished moments spent together become not sources of pain, but rather, remembrance and gratitude. This is the place where Charlee is at today. Charlee’s grandparents are breeding a mare back to the stud line in hopes of producing a similar horse. With Ace looking down, luck is on Charlee’s side.
This story is posted as it appears in the Heart River Voice (May 2024 | Vol. 6, No. 5 | p. 18). To view this column online, please click here.
