How do you get through the loss of a horse?

[Countrygirl18]

Some background I started helping my neighbor with his horses in 2016, I moved to Florida in late 2018, but still visited every few months (cause my moms till lives there)
During that time I became very attached to a little palomino quarter horse mare named Blondie (the one in my picture) she was a shy horse with one eye but we bonded. For some unexplainable reason after he first got her she would kick everyone else but trusted me.

Over the years I taught her the basics of ground handling (she was a tamed but untaught 2 year old in 2016) and though she never got broke I didn’t care, I didn’t need to ride her I loved just hanging out with her.
She got me though my best friends passing, almost dying myself, life changing situations, my dogs passing, and depression.

To make a long story short I last saw her in January. Nothing out of the ordinary and the goodbye was a “see you later!”
When I came back in March, I found out the horrible news that she had a freak pasture accident and broke her leg and was put to sleep.

I spent the rest of the time with a yearling to get my mind off of it. But now I’m about to go back again and it hurts. It hurts so much. I want that little one eyed palomino waiting for me…

[frugalannie]

I’m so sorry that you lost your friend. It sounds like it was a very special relationship.

How to heal from it? Allow yourself to be sad and to feel grief. It honors her unique spirit when you do. Be glad for the small things: she didn’t die from neglect and her suffering was brief. Her final home gave her the opportunity to meet you, and that was clearly special to her.

And finally, think about and remember what your experience with her taught you about her, you and how it may have an impact on your relationships with other horses. All horses are teachers and we build on what the special relationships mean to us to learn even more. Use what she taught you with the yearling while opening up to that baby’s unique personality. The mare will always be with you and that will be her legacy.

[Countrygirl18]

Thank you for the help and kindness

[4Frogs_aLilypad]

Sounds corny but, try to remember that the love you two shared is equal to (or greater than) the pain you feel now. It’s gonna hurt. There’s no way around it, but through it. With time the sting will fade and the fond memories will be more at the forefront. Jingles for you, I know it’s hard.

[Foxglove]

When Charlie died after being our horse for all of his 22 years and helping me raise four kids, what helped me most was writing a letter——from Charlie to me, starting out with “Hi, Mom,” or whatever name ur horse called you. The letter continued with Charlie’s perception of what he enjoyed that we did together, appreciation of the care I had given him daily for all his 22 years. As the letter came to a close, he described his new place in horse heaven—meeting old barn mates and spending time with my mom who always adored him. Writing that letter and reading it now and then made me feel better .

[MunchingonHay]

Time. It takes time. Be kind to yourself. There is no set metric on how long it takes to grieve.

I have had horses my entire life, was a professional groom for my young adult years and some horses just never leave your heart, even the ones that you didn’t own.

You will heal, but give yourself time.

[eightpondfarm]

It’s sort of a mirror-darkly. The greater the love, the greater the pain. Pain will dissipate, but the longing, i’m afraid, will not. But! The heart is a muscle. The more you use it the stronger it gets. Love again, and again and again…as much as you can, wherever you can. Let Blondie’s lesson be that love gives to two so very much more than it takes from one.