May is National Pet Month and to begin this story I have to say I had an interesting time choosing a “pet” for this article.  You know, pets come in all colors, sizes, furs, skins, scales and definitions.  Growing up, my brother had a hamster, turtle and a boa constrictor.   I had a dachshund, parakeet and guppies.  I know people who have skunks, squirrels, pigs and pet rocks.  Then there is the ultimate “new” pet to me......... slugs.............you know I can't make this stuff up.  They're names are Terry and Todd, and they are very happy to dine on tomatoes and cucumbers in their little itty, bitty aquarium.....better there than my vegetable garden!

So after that newest “pet” experience, my mind shifted to the other end of the continuum.  How about  the largest pet, and I found that in Rhett Butler of the Vineyards Equestrian Center.  Rhett was a FHANA registered Friesian gelding, standing 17.1 hands high (5'9”) at the shoulders, jet black with a commanding head carriage and overflowing mane, tail and leg “feathers.”   Extremely formidable at first sight, but a total “love bug” and “Mister Congeniality” of the barn.

Rhett arrived at the barn in 1916 and was Peaches/Mimi Delaney's “tall, dark and handsome mid-life crisis.”  For those of you who don't know Peaches, take my word for it that she never does anything half way.  Sooooo, when her son went to college she ended up with “way too much time on her hands,” she decided she wanted a horse.  A HORSE?  She had only taken riding lessons in 6th grade for a year but had always taken any opportunity to ride through out her life.  At 58 she openly admitted that she  “had no idea what she was doing” when she started an internet search for a horse, driven by the “colors” of horses she liked.  By mistake she “hit a key” and up popped the Friesian Marketplace site.  One look at that magnificent breed of horses changed her mind to Friesian, but at that point it was only a dream.

Now, Peaches and her husband, Tim, had always had a “theory/rule of three” when it came to large purchases.  They used it on all of their home purchases and it came into play here.   It was “three days and three signs.”  After her search accidentally landed on the Friesian Marketplace, (sign number one) they made the trip to Greer to meet the available horses.  They met Rhett, an 8 year old who had come over from the Netherlands in 2016.  It was love at first sight.   Apparently it was for Rhett as well because he looked at Peaches, then turned to Tim, and gave him his signature smile as if to say, “I got you Sucker!” (sign number 2.)

On the third day Tim was going through a Greenville magazine and saw an ad for a “Bed and Barn.”  Peaches had often said if she owned a horse she would like to visit a bed and barn.  BINGO!  That was sign number THREE.  Peaches was going to buy a horse, and Rhett was destined to be a part of the family.

I first met Rhett and Peaches just after he moved into the Equestrian Center.  I walked into the barn and Rhett was cross tied in the center isle and he TOTALLY filled the space.  Peaches had her little dog Bella, a Cava Doodle, in a baby pouch strapped to the front of her, and she was trying to balance the dog while attempting to figure out how to properly use a curry comb, following directions from another barn member.   

Now, based on a great deal of personal experience, much of it learned the really hard way, I have a TREMENDOUS amount of respect for half a ton of horse flesh.  Rhett's hooves were the size of luncheon plates, his back was above Peaches's head when she was standing as tall as she could, and his head was a good 3 feet higher than that!  And here she was under his belly trying to contain a squirming dog in a pouch on her tummy and practicing the use of a curry comb “in a circle” like she was being told............and I feared the worst here. 

Little did I know Rhett or Peaches!!!  Rhett became the horse he was because of Peaches, and Peaches became the rider she is because of Rhett.  He was trained for his first 8 years in formal dressage, and Peaches didn't know a dressage leg cue from a pool cue.  On the other hand, Peaches is fearless and full of adventure, and Rhett was afraid of his own shadow.   He had grown up in the security of a barn and an arena.   She taught him to love the adventure of the wide open spaces, and he taught her which leg to use to tell him to canter on the correct lead.

Rhett was always “the friendly one” at the barn.  Peaches bragged that he knew more people in the Vineyards than she did!  She was forever running into someone that said, ”I met your horse at the barn.  He's so much fun!”  He had his signature smile, that he would offer anyone.  He would poke his head out of the stall if there was any chance that someone would come by and talk to him, and if they did he would be sure to check their pockets for treats.

He was kind.  Peaches tells the story of the time he was in his trailer and his best friend and pasture mate, Rio, was tied outside the trailer.  Rhett had hay but Rio didn't have any outside. So Rhett would repeatedly take a mouthful of hay, stick his head out the trailer window and drop it for Rio to eat. 

He was patient and even guarding of Peaches through her long learning curve of tacking up a horse.  He would stand patiently as she struggled to raise his heavy saddle above her head and get it properly on his back. He would lower his head so she could put on his bridle.  More than once he would suddenly stop on the trail for no apparent reason.  He'd turn his head back, look at Peaches and roll his eyes as if to say “Oh, there she goes again,“ while the saddle was slipping sideways and dumping Peaches off because she had not tightened the girth enough. 

For two seasons he and Peaches learned to follow fox hunts as “hill toppers.”  He learned to play soccer and did yoga stretches along with Peaches.  At age 10 he grew a mustache for her, and was always willing to give rides to young children around the barn. And whenever we were all tacking up for a ride, if you asked him “Rhett, is it going to rain?”  He would vehemently shake his head from side to side to say “NO.” 

He was a nuzzler and a gentleman.   A perfect first impression of a horse that small children could love and remember forever.  He was a willing student of anything he was taught and a true spokesman for the Equestrian Center.

Rhett passed away ironically, or perhaps poetically, on the 2025 American Heart Association Beach Ride in Charlotte.  During a ride along the shore he had an aortic rupture, a common, genetic issue with Friesian breeds.  He collapsed on the beach and died very quickly, peacefully and quietly with his head cradled in Peaches's lap.  

He gave his best until the very end, and gave Peaches the adventure of a lifetime.  Rhett was 18 years old.  Rest in Peace, Rhett Butler, our Chairman of the Board.  We miss you.