To my Mom who taught me everything I know and who has made me who I am today. She is greatly missed every single day!
To my first pony–who died a few months after my mom. What a year! He was the cutest POA you could ever see. He made me the rider I am today! He is greatly missed by my whole family including the horse I have today. They used to be turn out buddies. 
To Sophie, my dog who passed away 2 years ago after a battle with cancer. She died during the holidays and I remember heading out to ride while my parents took her for her last car ride. It was the only ride I didn’t enjoy.
To a very special lesson pony who I had the honour of teaching on. Her name was Misty, she was a 13.2hh grulla mare who gave us a huge and wild colt (now standing stud).
I remember how she was always fat no matter how much she was ridden, how she always treated her beginner riders like they were precious cargo and never took a wrong step. How during a lesson she would drag her kid into the middle of the ring just to snuggle with me. I remember her running across the field with a big neigh when she saw me, just to get her pre-lesson bribe (a baby carrot). How on the cross ties she would stand patiently with her nose raised as high as the ropes would let her and nicker softly and continuously until I kissed her velvet soft nose.
More clearly I remember the e-mail I got from her new owners (friend of mine) about 6 months after my coach moved and couldn’t take her; we had lost her to colic at 17 years old and I never got to say Thank you, I love you.
<Day 21 of 3 months stall rest, 3 months of not neighing and 6 weeks until he can be hand walked >
Ugghhh, I can’t stop crying and I’m sitting in my office so I hope nobody walks in.
Well, where do I start. To my Nana who died 4 years ago. I know you’re in a better place and I don’t worry about you anymore. Is he up there with you?
To my friends Scott and Jody. Too young, too soon. I guess you had other work to do up there that was more important.
And finally, to my pony Punky. I’m still looking for you but I have a feeling you are gone to the great green pastures in the sky. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I let you go and didn’t run away with you. I wanted to but I was scared and too young. If I could do it over again, we would have been galloping down the road instead of loading you on that trailer. If only I could get that moment in time back. . . we would have never been apart. If you are gone to the big field in the sky, I miss you everyday and talk about how amazing you were all the time. Every horse show I do, every lesson I take, my thoughts drift to you. Thank you for all the memories. I will keep looking for you though, hoping to find you and bring you home one last time. One Love Baby Girl.
#%*Kalifornia$%&
Anyplace Farm, I also think mostly of my mother, and she died in 1987! I remember she had this Christmas apron that she always used to wear. She always worked so hard to make everything perfect for every one of us.
Although the gratest joy to my life yet this year has been my sisters baby boy the holidays don’t seam as happy as they should. I guess the hard part is knowing that there won’t be jons mother to say merry christmass to and even though she is gone i can still smell that candle she burned exry holiday Instead this year my holiday cheer will be held back for a moment. its realy hitting me right now on the 14th will be 3 months since we laid her to rest and although it seams like a long time in the way I have been so preocupied its still not that long when you look at it JOn has been hainging in well and threw this has brought 2 broters together. Things won’t be the same again but I can smile and feal elived cause I know Irene isn’'t suffering. She is looking down on all of us and smileing case she can now be there when ever we need her. It seams crazy I know but I seriously can sense her when I need a shoulder to lean on. I haaven’t cried in over a mounth mabey its because I ty not to think about it But I can’t see the keys ight now cause I miss her so much
Ok well here goes, (don’t ask alot of people die in my family it seems) to my Grandfather, I never knew you I wish I had, to my Grandmother I know nothing about you except you were 4’11" with a huge heart and a great sense of humor, both of these died of heart attacks due to high blood pressure, to my other Grandfather dying shortly after I was born I met him once if you smoke read my lips losing someone to lung cancer is the hardest thing my mother went through and my grandfather being a smoker did die from this fatal dieseise, my father’s best friend dying this year of a bout with Fungal Nomiana due to a loss of his immune system due to Hogkins dieseise, a simple bout with a cold could of taken his life several times and to Smokey,Chester and Star, Swift Creek will never be the same without you, ever. Finally to those horses ready to check into horsie heaven possibly Flint, we’re going to miss you and Victor you just won your last big class maybe it is your time to leave. Everyone that posted here no matter how short someone’s life is they will live forever in your heart
Here’s to my teacher and friend Doctor John LaVia who passed away this fall while bird watching in Alaska. May you know how missed you are, by the students are your school, and by me as well. I only wish I’d gotten to say goodbye. Doc was there for me at a time in my life when everything was falling apart. I remeber how at lunch periods my friends and I would sit on the sofas in his room and read Shakespeare aloud together and at night he’d take us to plays in the city. Doc, I still read Shakespeare in your memory, and I cannot set foot in the Arden theater without crying. In my yearbook which he signed he wrote for me to 'have fun riding my pony" - he was the only of my teacher who took my riding seriously - I hope he can see how happy I am he believed in me. I hope he knows I care and then I meant to come back but I never had time - but there is no excuse. May he live on in our hearts.
For my grandfather who has been gone for 5 years now, may he rest in peace and smile down at our family over the holidays. I miss and I wish I had told you how much I loved you.
For my beloved childhood pony, gone one and a half years now thank you for everything - I’d like to believe a little peace of your spirit lives on in Regal somehow. I will never forgive myself for not finding you again - you live on in my heart.
For Omni, Susan, and my friend Jessica’s friend - rest in peace - know you were loved.
Sarah
Sigh. I have a feeling this is going to be long…I still miss them all so much.
To my Mom…This will the 25th Christmas without my Mom, who died suddenly from a heart attack on a Saturday at the stables after my riding lesson…You were the ultimate horseshow mom, and just all around Mom. It hasn’t been the same without you and Dad misses you too.
To my infant brother Robbie, although you were born before me and I never knew you, you have always been a missing part of my life.
To my uncles, who lived such interesting and full lives.
To Donna, whose joy with Christmas and small children and animals wasn’t enough. If only we had known.
To Bart, Je ne sais pas, mon cher, je ne sais pas…would it have turned out differently if I had gone with you? (Please, everyone, wear your seat belts.)
To all four of my grandparents…I wish I had known you.
To Penny…my first horse and teenage crisis counselor, thank you for putting up with me. And Sami, her beautiful filly that was tragically lost. To all the school horses I loved that are long since gone.
To Sam, Kitty, Superstitious, Callie, Socrates…my chilhood pets. To Smokey, the best iceberg loving husky/malamute mix that ever lived. To Pumpkin, I’m sorry I had to leave you with “HIM”. To Howler, who defied the vet and lived, but was felled by “kitty aids”. To Dragon, the “Zen Kitty”, whose life was cut short by a rare cancer…your bro is taking good care of me.
To the gorgeous boys on motorcylces that I counted among my friends, your lives were too short.
Still, we persevere, and attempt to find joy in what is supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year”. Personally, I will take a moment to myself to reflect on those gone, and raise a toast in their memory, they are never far from mind, and remain, as always, well loved.
To Echo ~ the greatest horse/pony/person I have ever known. A dear friend and support, and one I still cry for. He deserved so much more than he recieved in death, and I said too many “one days” to him, and “one day” never came. But I will always feel he was the horse of a lifetime.
To Barbara Silverman, who I watched some videos of my lessons with her just recently and cried over losing her. Knowing that I will never again have her able to educate me…knowing that no one else either. Seeing how lost and hurt Sergio is without her by his side…knowing the horse world lost a great friend of horses and people.
To Mike, my best friend’s best friend, who I was bonded to only by a mutual love of one person. Yet his leaving strongly impacted me, and there is no doubt that the world is not as good a place without him.
To my mother’s parents, her mother who left me her name long before I was born, and her father who left us all two years ago when life seemed crueler the barrel of a shotgun…
to all those who have left and lost, loved and grieved…and continue to love.
To My Brother…
Although I never truly knew you (I was only 2 after all) I know you watch over me every day of my life. I’m sorry that you had to leave this world so early in life, but I promise I have tried to be a good daughter to our parents. Afterall I am the only one left. My sorrow for your loss has never left me…even though I did not know there was sorrow to be had until much after your death. I miss you dearly, and hope to meet you one day.
Anna
Seven Down Four to go...it doesn't seem like that many, but geez an eternity to me. What do you guys think of the name Traveling Light??KH: Yea We are doin the whole not gettin together for holidays too, but the sad thing is we all live about and hour if not less from my grandmother. My Grandmother and I are kinda close but I don’t know. The sad thing is everyone I talk to tells me my grandpa was coldhearted and wasn’t as good as I thought, but you know to me he was the best man alive!
Catherine
“Love is when your horsey cuddles with you even after you left him alone all day.”
~Unapproved Princess Clique~
This is my little pony, Penny, that died I think 5 years ago. She had cancer, It was my descion weather to put her down or not. I was only ten, I didn’t know, but I made the right choice.
Catherine
“Love is when your horsey cuddles with you even after you left him alone all day.”
~Unapproved Princess Clique~
Bringing up my Dad on another thread brought him right to the front of my mind (he is always there at the edge of my thoughts). I miss him very much, and Anyplace, it has been 10 years for me too, but am so glad that I was priviledged to have had such a wonderful parent!
This is a little off subject, but, I just had to put my Mom in a nursing home, due to ever increasing senile demetia. It’s almost like I’ve lost her too. This is going to be a hard Xmas. But, with the help of my friends, I’ll be fine!!!
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Catwoman:
Anyplace Farm, I also think mostly of my mother, and she died in 1987! I remember she had this Christmas apron that she always used to wear. She always worked so hard to make everything perfect for every one of us.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
See, that’s how my mom was. Same thing. I have been very thankful for generous offers from good friends to spend holidays at their homes and it’s just not the same. My mom was at it, getting ready for Xmas for DAYS. She did the silver, china, crystal deal and baked like nobody’s business!
Cactus, there’s never “just” a dog, never. Here’s to my Ludwig, our first christmas without you in 13 yrs… You were my bestest friend. Tears have started just thinking of you. Rest peacefully my friend and wait for me at the Rainbow Bridge.
And here’s to two wonderful human beings. Drew, you were the quintessential vet always positive no matter what. Stephen, your beautiful smile, loving thoughts and caring ways to all of us who happened upon you. You both leave us better people. Our glasses raised, we toast your lives. My wish for 2001, that we find a cure for this horrible disease that has taken so many from all of us.
I keep adding on…
To my friend Jessica Lee Siwek, who died earlier this year, only a freshman in college, in a car accident. She was so loved by everyone who was lucky enough to know her.
To all of you. I feel I am in such great company for my own loss, and feel all of yours.
I wish all of you peace, comfort and the time to heal.
Jackie
Moving to Off Course, as per RF’s request… please continue to add replies to that copy of the thread. 
As years go, it was not a stellar one…
I started out the year losing my favorite semi-retired hunter, Raven and finished up the year with the loss of Princess, my younger sister’s dear treasured family pony (27 years of wonderful memories in an adorable 10 hand package).
My sister sent this to me a few days after we had to put her down (Princess lived with me), and it reminded me how many wonderful memories that loved ones leave us with, regardless of whether they are human or animal.
[I]I Remember…
When and where we bought you. I saved my birthday money to help pay. I was 7. Your first bridle and saddle. An ugly affair with silver rivets all over it with a bit that you hated. The first time I cantered. My sister drug you at a 900-mph trot until you cantered. It was just like she said, easier than trotting. You swimming across the canal (to escape me, I think). You laying down behind the shed when it was cold (the first time I ever saw you do that). You going on the lam with Jodie, the neighbor’s pony like “Thelma and Louise” for days on end. You kicking me in the stomach and knocking me out cold (I deserved it). Leading you into the house on the new white carpet (still don’t knew how my Mom found out). Tying you out in the orange grove to eat grass. The first time I showed you. It was against Huck Lyle’s “Midnight Impala” in a driving class. The first class I won with you (western pleasure!). I still have that trophy. Asking you to side pass across a bale of hay without eating it in a trail class. Riding to L Lake every day during the summer. You getting loose at the lake and running for home (which was like 4 miles away). Going to McDonald’s with my wet $2 to eat lunch while you waited in the corral (only McD’s in the world with a corral). How you floated instead of swam and I always fell off of the side. Playing hide-and-go-seek at “the Malealuca’s.” The time you turned around in an inline horse trailer and got stuck (for just a moment, luckily). The time Ranger beat the heck out of you in the pasture. The time you beat the heck times three out of Ranger (LOL). Being disqualified for lifting your mane to see if the dollar was still there in “Ride-A-Buck.” The time you gave birth to Sean (and ate the placenta, yuck)! You kicked me and your leg got stuck between mine and I wouldn’t let go. Soaping your forelock into a unicorn horn. How you let Austin sit on your back while you ate hay in the pasture. How Troubles used to shove hay under the fence to share with you. Giving part ownership of you to my son. Teaching my son how to ride (and not torture you). How you tortured him by cantering when he thought walking was plenty fast enough. How you escaped under every stall guard. Teaching you how to rear and stand on a chair. How you broke the vet’s foot when you stood on it. Riding you when I was way too tall and way too old to be riding a pony and enjoying it like I was 7 again. How much you love apples…"[/I]
Thanks for starting this thread, RumoursFollow.
There are many family members friends and animals whose absence is difficult during the holidays. This year will be especially hard because I will be missing two very special friends lost in the World Trade Center. They were two of my favorite people in the world and I still can’t believe I won’t see them again. When we were initially unable to find them on September 11th, we thought they might be at a bar, drinking and laughing about their good luck in making it out safely. Wherever they are now, I’m glad they’re together. I miss you guys, I’ll never forget you.
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