MEMORIAL FOR THOSE WE HAVE LOST

[Sinny]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I think it maybe a good idea to open a place for our memories for those horses who we have lost dearly to our hearts.  I think sharing and remembering the goods days and story's help the healing process.  What do you guys think?#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Dream_Merchant]

<font face='garamond' size=3 color=#006699>
I think that's a great idea Sinny -- guess I'll be the first to go then...

Well, my recent loss was Jimmy aka Jimeion -- he came to me as a problem horse who was B Grade, he was shaken really bad mentally when it came to jumping; he would rush jumps, slam to a halt in front of them, and worse of all, he would rear whenever you went to touch his mouth, or even when you went to pick up the reins. Bascially, he had mis treated. I had him for 18 months, and in 2004 he turned back B Grade and turned out to be a super clever horse with a huge heart -- man could he jump!!! The day I found him was devestating. He was in the paddock with my other horse Sandhurst during the summer having time off from a great season, I seen them both go for a run out the window of my house, and had a laugh to myself -- an hour later, I went out to feed them dinner and only Sandy was waiting at the gate. Very unsual for Jimmy not to be there, so I went looking for him -- I found him on the opposite side of a brand new fence, dead. I had to ask my Dad to burry him for as I couldn't do it myself, Dad came back and said he had broken his neck -- he said it looked like they had both been playing next to the fence, and Jimmy had obviously flipped himself over, and snapped his neck, killing him instantly. He said that there was no thrashing around marks or anything, he hadn't even kicked out once with his legs -- it makes me a little happier that he wasn't thrashing around down there for an hour before I found him, and at least it was a quick way to go. All this, two days before my 21st b'day on the 22nd December 2004.



This is him -- I ended up riding him in a hackamore because I had so many problems with bits in his mouth, if I went soft, he would bolt and I couldn't hold him... if I went harsh, he would rear and spin around to throw me off. Put him in a hackamore (no bit), and for a bit he didn't knwo what to do, but soon learnt that I wasn't going to hurt him, and something just clicked -- he jumped like a trouper, and as you can see, he was a very tidy jumper. With Sandy out at the start of the season, oh dear lord I missed my little buddy. He had become quite attached to me, and would even let me cuddle him -- he became quite a sook in the stables, pushing against you for cuddles, and resting his head on your chest with puppy dog eyes. He was only 15.3hh, and me been 5'11 feet, he had a heart which could have belonged to a 18hh monster horse.

RIP Jimmy -- I loved you sweety, and I'm glad I have you a chance to trust again, and I am forever grateful that I was the one you had learnt to trust again. And everytime something rattles in the forest to scare one of my hores, I know its you playing tricks on me and my horse, because I know you hated it out there! Love you Jim, we'll meet up soon, and we'll go for a gallop on those never ending meadows together! *wipes her cheek*</font>

[babytigger]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#awww...DM....i almost had a tear in my eye (but i'm at work, so can't let that happen!!). i'm sorry about your little jimmy!! he sounded like he was such a good soul. and good on you for taking him on - you gave him new life when he may not have gotten another chance!#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Pretty_Pony72]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#DM that is such a sad/ happy story. Happy as in he began to trust again and you could bring the real horse out of him. Sad for ovious reasons. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#My horsey that i lost was Ship, he was off the track and when i think about it he was the best first horse ever, he got me great scores in the show ring, and he never seemed to get upset about anything. Except for ice sliding off of the arena. I don't have a story were i saved this horse or anything. All i know is he taught me everything i know, and he changed my life around. I&nbsp; only had about 3 months will him, but i'll miss him for my whole life. I relize that when he left it was his time to. I think it was too early but, i don't make those decisions. No horse i think will ever take his place, or be as rewarding as he was.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#RIP Shipy, I'll miss you forever, and i wish you could come back to me. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Sodapoppers]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I wonder if Kerri would make another forum to post it in? Or maybe we should make like a homepage from a free site or something for it?#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[goldendryad]

Kahlua - Black appendix mare with a heart of gold. She was badly
mistreated too, so hard to catch. But under saddle she was a dream come
true for a little girl. So kind and relaxed and well mannered. She
taught me how to ride the trails. She also took me over a jump (little
ditch) and instilled in my heart the urge to jump from that moment on.
I will always remember her for her being my first intro to horses. My
aunt sold her, so we did not see her last days, but I'm sure she's over
the rainbow bridge now.#ed_op#br#ed_cl#
#ed_op#br#ed_cl#
&nbsp;Pokey - You weren't pokey at all. Little 14.3hh TB mare school
horse. We connected, I was one of the very few riders you liked. And I
loved you so very much. Too bad the circumstances for us were less than
steller. I remember how mean some of the other girls were to you, and
how I tried to protect you. I'm sorry you were sent to slaughter in the
end. Not my choice. But I know I will see you again someday when I join
you on the other side. Know that you were loved.#ed_op#br#ed_cl#
#ed_op#br#ed_cl#
#ed_op#br#ed_cl#

[graciespook]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#This is to two special girls who taught me so much. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#The first was a beautiful TB/Percheron cross mare who took me to the Trillium ring, would jump from any spot and taught me, as a kid without a horse, that it doesn't matter to them. You can still have a wonderful bond. She was sadly lost to colic when she was 6 months pregnant. Her then owner was devastated. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#The next is to a mare I had for quite some time who taught me when you think you can trust a green horse, she'd toss you in the ditch. After the training process she packed me around the show rings, bringing in the ribbons, taking me miles and miles from home on the backroads and jumping neighbours fences to sneak a gallop, and one magical moonlight bareback ride through the woods I'll never forget. When I was too scared to go Cross Country, she'd pull me to the bottom of the jumps, when I asked her to jump she said 'how high?' and was a companion and friend. Sadly too, she was lost to colic that was so quick and so terrible, she could not be saved. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Here's to you girls! #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[chenders01]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Is this just for horses who have died, or can we include horses that we've moved onto new owners??#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#For those who have heard my story of Leo, my first horse, you can stop reading now #ed_op#IMG src="http://forums.equestrianconnection.com/richedit/smileys//cheeky.gif"#ed_cl#&nbsp; For those who haven't, here's my saga:#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Leo was my first horse.&nbsp; I bought him when he was 14.&nbsp; He was a schoolhorse and was the first horse I rode when I got back into lessons after taking about 10 years off.&nbsp; I fell in love with him from Day 1...dreamed of owning him but never thought the day would come when I could actually afford to have my own horse.&nbsp; His owner eventually put him up for sale and my husband, in a moment of weakness which I'm sure that he still regrets to this day, said that we could afford to buy him.&nbsp; I did *everything* with that horse...things that I never would've dreamed of doing with Dali, and am not yet ready to do with Tequila.&nbsp;&nbsp; #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Being a schoolie for so many years, it took him a long time to bond to me, and even then, he had been abused too much in his life to really trust me 100%.&nbsp; He wasn't one of those "in your lap" horses.&nbsp; I think that he merely tolerated humans...but I loved him anyway!&nbsp; I owned him for about 6 years when he developed breathing problems.&nbsp; He was also getting older and ready to slow down...but I wasn't!&nbsp; I had "discovered" dressage and wanted to focus on that, and Leo had had enough of arena work.&nbsp; Out on the trails he was fantastic but it was always a huge fight to get him to "go" in the arena.&nbsp; If I could've afforded two horses, I would've kept him, but I wanted more than he was able to give.&nbsp;&nbsp;I debated for about 6 months, about what to do with him.&nbsp; I cried a lot of tears but finally decided to&nbsp;donate him to a therapeutic riding school in my area.&nbsp; I had volunteered there one winter so I knew the level of care Leo would get, as well as the workload.&nbsp; It was a perfect solution!&nbsp; #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I went out to visit him about a month ago and he's doing great.&nbsp; His breathing issues are manageable and he gets lightly worked each day (mostly walking).&nbsp; I still miss him like crazy though, and if I could, I'd take him back in a heartbeat.&nbsp; My non-horsey husband, however, cannot appreciate the feelings I have for this horse, or my need to have Leo back, to let him live out the rest of his years with me (Leo is 22&nbsp;now).&nbsp; So, even though Leo is still very much alive, he will never be mine again, because I can't afford to have two horses.&nbsp; If&nbsp;*all* I wanted to do is trail ride, then Leo would&nbsp;still be useful for that, but I want to be able to do arena work and&nbsp;dressage as well...and I can't bear to part with Tequila, just so that I can afford to have Leo back.&nbsp; #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I *know* that Leo is in a good place and he is doing a very important and useful job, but when I went to see him, he just looked "sad".&nbsp; I know that he gets loved to death but I don't think that he ever wanted to be a schoolhorse.&nbsp; I took him away from that life and then put him right back into it.&nbsp; The friend who&nbsp;came with me when I visited him told me that Leo was "p*ssed off" at me for abandoning him.&nbsp; She was only joking but I kinda wonder if maybe she was right!&nbsp; #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Oh well...I'm rambling and there's nothing I can do to get Leo back, but it breaks my heart all over again, every time I think of him.&nbsp; I don't think that I'll be able to go and visit him again...it just hurts too much&nbsp;#ed_op#IMG src="http://forums.equestrianconnection.com/richedit/smileys/Sad/9.gif"#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Dream_Merchant]

<font face='garamond' size=3 color=#006699>
No, I don't like this thread anymore *continuously wipes eyes* haha -- thanks guys, he was special to me.

Reading other peoples stories too always makes me a little sad, because you know what they've been through. *hugs to all*

[*Giddy Up*]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#This post is sad! Everyone's stories are sad...#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Luckily, I haven't really lost a horse that was my own. There was one horse though that I rode back at my old barn who was a schoolie- her and I weren't even really bonded, but she was that kind of mare (a QH named Lady, although a very tall, lean one) that could make any rider look good and she was fun. It was her who I learned how to comfortably canter on and she was fun to jump. She died from complications with colic. Lady was sent to Guelph and although her surgery was successful, they couldn't keep the blood flowing through her intestines without support, so she died. It was sad. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Cheryl]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#May 19/94 my world changed drastically for a bit.&nbsp; My first horse Miss Twinkle Toes died from complications almost 4 days after delivering her foal.&nbsp; I bought Twinkie Feb 1/90 &amp; while I didn't always like her I always loved her.&nbsp; #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#The winter of 92/93 she was off &amp; on lame.&nbsp; Waited for a lame spell &amp; had the vet up.&nbsp; Turned out she had a very old break in her sesamoid bone that never healed properly and now had bad arthritis too.&nbsp;My vet didn't know what to tell me what I could do &amp; not do with her.&nbsp; The xrays showed she should not be able to walk out of her stall yet I had been jumping her 3'6 the week before.&nbsp; #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Did&nbsp;my research &amp; bred her.&nbsp; She had been a broodmare in her youth so this was not going to be her first foal.&nbsp; About a month before she foaled she fell walking into her stall and badly hurt herself.&nbsp; The vet was unable to even get near her in her stall.&nbsp; Only I could touch her.&nbsp; I had to hand walk her where as a 10 month prego horse I needed to put the chain over her nose as she was rearing up.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I got a call one Sunday saying she was colicing.&nbsp; Turned out she wasn't just trying to deliver early but a front leg was getting stuck.&nbsp; Had to get the vet out to pull out the foal with chains.&nbsp; Emergency call back to him a couple of hours later as she continued in labour and prolapsed her uterus.&nbsp; The vet came up and got it in.&nbsp; She managed to hold on for 3 &amp; 1/2 days like that.&nbsp; She was so sick that she could barely stand so the foal nursed with her lying down and she would hold up a leg so he would have access.&nbsp; The vet came up on Day 3 to give her IV fluids etc.&nbsp; Day 4 when he &amp; I got there in the morning her gums were blue and she collapsed.&nbsp; We put her down then.&nbsp; So then I am left with an almost 4 day old foal but that is his story and not Twinkie's story#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Kobau]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#wow... i've now been teary in almost every post...#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I had Bulletproof, my 16 hh black tb gelding. He came of the track injury free at age 6 so that is how he gained his show name. he did eventing and dressage. He is the one that made me love dressage, he loved to show and the more ppl watching the happier he was. He had an extended trot that could make the big boys drool!. He taught me to jump again, took me back up to 3'6 and 4 ' fences. I lost him to a broken leg. We were at a stable in Winnipeg, they turned him out in an icy paddock with two other horses. he slipped and spiral broke his upper foreleg. I found him laying down with his WB buddy desperately trying to pick him up onto his feet, while his tb buddy nickered and tried to encourage him to stand by nuzzling him. I know i screamed for help and at least 7 ppl came running. He stood for me, we splinted his leg and he limped to the barn for me so that i could have him warm and inside. He played the tough guy for me until the vet got there. when she walked in he gave a big sigh and a "mom i hurt and she's here to end the pain" look. I knew it was time, but damn i wanted to hear that vet say that we could cast and sling him, and he could be apasture ornament.. that would have been heavenly. But he had to be put down.&nbsp; He was my guardian Angel, that showed me the fun side of showing again, he'll never be replaced as he touched many ppl. He showed someone with a bad back that he was silky smooth and gave her the drive to try riding again. he showed ppl how mellow a tb really is ( he had a long nap at every show, stretched out flat in his stall) he loved to be bathed, cuddled and clipped, cause hey that meant it was show time! and when i brought out his black and white bridle you could just see him light up cause it was "Showtime!" and he loved that ring.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Then of course, Scarlet, you were another angel. She was kicked in the head as a 3 mnth old and it fractured her skull. We nursed her back to health but it was tough you couldn't change her routine or she would worry. she was partly blind in her left eye. but she would stand with me for the farrier, if worried she buried her head tween my arm and body and cuddled. she was bred thru the fence, it wasn't suppossed to happen, but by the time we found out it had happened it was to late to safely abort the foal. she gave birth at 5:15 am on April 14th. I went to check on her, in my white scrubs, on my way to work, and her water broke, i called my parents farm and told them to come asap. I helped her deliver a gorgeous lil bay filly. she was great, pushed when asked, stopped and rested when asked, the delivery from water break to baby out was a total of 10 minutes... she was a great momma until she had to be put down when Miss was 3 mnths.. Scarlet had somhow sliced her tongue off and couldn't drink properly or eat.. and was going to waste away. She was laid to rest that day. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#And Miss, born April 14th 2004 passed away Aug 20th 2005... you all know her story, and i will miss her. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Bullet, Scar, Miss, enough your green pastures, you are missed and lovingly remembered here on the farm and in my heart.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[EatMyDust]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I was just looking through a bunch of posts and I found this one. I know its from August, but hey, why not open it again.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I have lost 2 major horses in my life.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Andy- Andy was my neighbors horse. He taught me so much. I remember when she first got him, and he was the crankiest thing you'll ever meet. Hed pin his ears back, turn his back end. He was horrible, and since I was new to the horse scene I was scared of him. As I continued to help clean his stall, or learn to pick his feet, he became a great horse. His attitude changed, and he became the horse that would knicker when you walked by him, or moved out of the way when you were cleaning his stall. He was the first horse I ever trail rode with, and he was the first horse I ever jumped. Andy was the love of my life, and although he wasnt mine, deep down I loved him more then I could ever love any other. Last August, he got an infection in his leg, he was so upset and sad looking it brought tears to my eyes, eventually, as my neighbor(WillieWonka) took care of him, that life came back. He became a free range horse, and when you came home, youd find him naping in the garden, or doing some "Weeding". Finally the day came, Andy had to be put down. I came home to find the message on the machine, and cryed...I ran to the neighbours and we stood there crying for what seemed like eterinity. I have never loved a horse so much, not even as much Dusty. He even taught me barrel racing, my new passion. Without him, I highly doubt, Id be where I am today with horses. RIP ANDY, Gone but never forgotten.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#In march, my riding horse(instructors horse, I rode her) became stiff in her back end was unable to be ridden. They scheduled for her to have surgery. I didnt know what had happened, and the next week I waited unpatientially while we drove to the barn. I walked in the door and looked in her stall...she wasnt there, I walked to the arena, she wasnt there, I looked in the paddock she wasnt there, I knew she was gone. I remember the first day I saw that cute little bay, I didnt like her, she to, pinned her ears back, turned her butt to me. But one day,&nbsp;I asked my instructor if I could ride her, she agreed. She taught me so much, how to jump properly, how to canter, how fall off. lol...she was great. She was my dream horse. The day she died, I couldnt cry...I couldnt think, I got on my new assigned horse and rode around the arena, my mind in a blank...as we passed the corner, I had a flash back, of switching into canter, as I flew over the jump, I flashed back jumping with no stirrups, but realizing that Sav was going to teach me. As I lost my balance, I remembered all the funny "ungracful" falls I had on her. She brought me closer to my dreams. I miss her more and more each day, and her death is the reason, Im werry of jumping. I could jump like an angel on her. And since the day she died I have lost confidence in myself, my riding, and horses all together. I find it hard to deal with situations where I have to get close to a horse, because Im scared&nbsp; they are going to be taken from me. I find it diffucult to find that perfect horse, that I dream of riding, because I dont want to be let down again. Dusty is teaching me to have faith in myself again. Im sure this is cheezy, lossing faith in myself because a horse died. But to me its not.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; '#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#RIP Savanna and Andy, I miss you more then you'll ever know...Gone but never forgotten.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Pretty_Pony72]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#AHHH i didn't post that!!! what the heck is going on on this website!!!!#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[EatMyDust]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Its from August...I reopened it...to lazy to start a new one.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Pretty_Pony72]

#ed_op#P#ed_cl#Yes i understand now #ed_op#IMG src="http://forums.equestrianconnection.com/richedit/smileys//smiley9.gif"#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl#

#ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;I find it hard to deal with situations where I have to get close to a horse, because Im scared&nbsp; they are going to be taken from me. I find it diffucult to find that perfect horse, that I dream of riding, because I dont want to be let down again. Dusty is teaching me to have faith in myself again. Im sure this is cheezy, lossing faith in myself because a horse died. But to me its not.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; '#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#We are too much alike.. that how i feel with GT don't want to get close to him but i ovioulsy am! But the rule is "Nothing Is Aloud(Sp?) To Happen To Him" once he fell i though i was going to have a heart attack, i just saw Ship falling and ahh i don't want to get into it but ever when hes walking up i tell him "step" and tell him to walk when theres cement when hes trying to stop, maybe he understands bc he will walk, maybe hes just humoring me. He got in a 'dispute' with a crazy cowboy lunging him.. and i started to cry&nbsp;lol yah im a loser.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Anyway Dusty &amp; Andy(my Andy) have the same job! Oh and that rule goes for Andy too!#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Hope03]

Little Odin-He was bought from a meat sale and was sold to me to help him regain his strenght, however he lived his last days here. I remember the first night he was brought here, he could barely make it off the trailer and to the barn, his hair was three inches long, he was skin and bones and he had a large under bite. His muscles in his legs were none existent and had very little control. The light had left his eyes and the eyes of his buddy that was bought with him. The minute they stepped onto the shavings in the stall they both laid down exhausted from the trailering ride. Maybe he should have been sold for meat, but the look in his eyes when he saw the field of grass was priceless. He had gained quite a bit of weight before he went, the light had come back into his eyes and he neighed when he saw people coming, he was so forgiving. However, from the malnurishment and bad conditions he was kept in the worms in his stomach had become so bad that when he was wormed, very carefully I might add, he still went down ill. The vet was called and he died five hours later of impaction colic due to a mass of worms. He was happy, warm and eating almost right to the end. That day was hard, but he had lived out his last days in a nice field, with great hay and a nice bed to sleep in. His buddy stopped eating and I was afraid I would lose him as well, but each day my mares would get closer and Hope actually started to push hay towards him and encourage him to eat. They brought him back. I know no one can bring Odin back but now he is somewhere where he will never be neglected again. I will always love him even though our time together was short.

[*Giddy Up*]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Hope- Although sad, that was a nice story. Good to hear that he atleast had a happy home to live out his days in.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Piaffing]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Cariba "Northern Wildfire"was my first horse and&nbsp;I bought him from the riding school at Redstone Farm in 1982. He was a 15.3 hh bay Morgan/TB cross. In my opinion he was a great horse and taught me a lot. I did so much with him from Hunter, Eventing, Pony Club and then Dressage. I retired him in the summer of 1991 to a friend's farm near Barrie. In September of 1992&nbsp;I decided to put him down. He was having a hard time getting up and down. His back and hindend were sore and weak. I just couldn't bare the thought of him not being able to get up any more when it would be cold and snowy. He was 23 years old and had a very good life. I have such fond memories of him.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Rufus "Canterbury" was my rescue horse and I bought him in&nbsp;March of 1999. He was a 11 year old 17hh Rheinlander/TB cross. His 2 previous owners treated him very badly. One of them would ride him for hours on end. The last time he did ride Rufus ended up breaking his splint bone in two because he rode&nbsp;for 2 hours. So because the leg was swollen and he would not get better in two weeks he sold him for meat. The next owner was the BM who bought him from the horse dealer and gave him three months off and said that she would not ever let him be jumped. Well that didn't last long because she started to use him in jumping lessons. Rufus then started to be lame on and off. I just could not bare for this sweet horse to be abused for the want of money so&nbsp;I bought him. He was so nice to ride and bonded very quickly to me. Not once while I owned him did he ever go lame. He would nicker to me as soon as he seen me walk into the barn. Then on November 29th 1999 I got the dreaded call Rufus was colicing. I raced up to the barn and spent the day walking and looking after him. The vet came twice that day and tubed him, but after the third call to the vet we decided to ship him to Guelph. While at Guelph they found he had a severe twist of the large left colon and he was just far gone to survive surgey so I had to put him down. It just broke my heart. I took the next day off work and cried my eyes out for most of the day. Thinking about him&nbsp;still brings tears to my eyes. I miss him alot but at least the last months of his life were filled with someone who loved him very much.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[EatMyDust]

I cant believe, how people treat their horses...its unbelievable. It really breaks my heart.