That's what life is all about.... joys & sorrows. For me, it's children and horses (at least now)
So -- I've always loved horses, and since the time I was 14 have owned them. Finding and buying them is a lot more fun than going to the mall. It's been rewarding to help students or others find the perfect horse or pony.... but the greatest is to find an equine who becomes a 'family member' for life. 15 yrs ago, I was looking for a show horse for a student of mine -- and ventured out to a quarter horse trainer in Dacula Ga. The gelding I was going to look at really was not a match ... and then the trainer showed me a 5 yr old red roan mare (who is also a dun) -- and she was just stunning. Her registered name was one of the silly ones that get put together when people are trying to include a foals parents and maybe a farm name... but this mares "barn" name was Reba. I took video of her // and I rode her. Before I knew it, I arranged to have her delivered to my small barn. She was the first very fancy horse I'd purchased, and ended up being my (then 15 yr old) daughter's show horse. Reba's personality was bold, and somewhat difficult in her youthful years... and she was always the high ranking horse in our herd. That is... until recently. She has suffered from joint pain --- now in almost every majoy joint... her hip, her hock, pasterns, and her knees. In one knee the synovial fluid is leaking out, and there is really nothing for us to do, even if money was not a factor.
My dauhter and I just had a discussion about having the vet out, and just thinking about what we must soon do is making me so sad. We love this mare so much, but do not want her to be in constant pain. It's clear that we will have to put her 'down' and even though I know that's the humane thing - I can't stop the tears right now.
Of course, she will be buried on our farm, my guess is next to our beloved shetland pony that last year was suffering dreadfully from Cushings. I still can cry over her.
So -- here it is, my first attempt at a blog, and such a sad topic. It's something that no long time owner of a horse wants to do, but it's a fact we have to face when it's time to end the suffering.
I can't write anymore for the moment. But, I wanted to express to Reba how much we have loved her, and I can't imagine the loss right now.
