I love my horse!

[PaddockWood]

You have a great spirit about it all - the gift of having her and the incredible moments together. I’m so sorry for your loss.

[onthebit]

I’m so sorry @BigMama1 . I’m glad you were able to treasure her for a year, but I’m so sorry your time with her was cut short so suddenly.

[brody]

@BigMama1

Felt like I needed to update this post - it’s over. Our barn owner found Caprice down in her stall with colic at 7am yesterday morning. Our vet arrived before 8 and got her vitals stabilized quickly, but she blew through the pain meds within 15 minutes. By 9 she was on a trailer to the university hospital and arrived at 10:30. At noon we said goodbye. Surgical prognosis was terrible, and it’s not something I would out a 23-year-old horse though, even with a better prognosis. She had a wonderful life and deserved a peaceful, comfortable end. The vet clinic waives their COVID restrictions for compassionate reasons and we were allowed inside to spend some time in the stall with her and say goodbye.

I never imagined I’d have the chance to own a high quality, highly-trained horse like her, and certainly not one as sweet and patient and tolerant as her. I know I will never have such an opportunity again. We were together for only a year - and it was a stupid year between my broken foot, months of Covid lockdowns, and so many other things. But even with all that it was a wonderful year. I learned so much from her, achieves my goal of riding at Third Level in front of an FEI judge, and rediscovered my joy in riding.

Much love. She was a lovely mare. I’m so glad you found each other even if not for nearly long enough ❤️

[Scribbler]

I’m so sorry to hear this.

[Speedy_Alice]

Oh no… how shattering. I am so, so sorry for your loss. She was clearly a well-loved girl and no doubt knew it. Stupid colic (lost my 24 year old Lipizzan to colic due to a strangulating lipoma). Surgery is tough at any age, and especially so in advanced years. It sounds like she shared her many gifts with you, and that hopefully you can at some point ride on with her love and memory in your heart. Big hugs to you.

[Tarlo_Farm]

Oh my goodness - I’m SO sorry! What a year!

[Mazou]

Je suis vraiment désolée. My heart goes out to you.

[outerbanks77]

I am so sorry. What a terrible loss.

[BigMama1]

@Bogey2

I am so sorry, glad you got to spend some time with her at the hospital. She knows she was loved and as hard a decision as it is you did the right thing for her.

It might sound terrible but it was an easy decision. Getting the phone call, seeing her in pain, and coming home without her were all terribly, brutally hard. But deciding to let her go was black and white.

Before buying a 22-year-old horse last year I discussed it with my trainer and we talked through game plan for retirement if she had a career-ending injury, and game plan for dealing with a life-threatening issue like colic. I raced to the barn yesterday already knowing in my head we wouldn’t pursue a surgical option given the prognosis, as much as my heart wanted to overrule my brain. It’s a lesson several of my dogs have taught me over the years and it served me well this week.

As many times as I have been the one there in crisis with other people’s horses, having blood sprayed on me as the vet tries to insert an NG tube, arm going numb from holding up a funnel of mineral oil, hand walking a horse around an arena in the middle of the night, lying in the mud and cradling a horse’s head as he died from a sudden aortic rupture, it’s never been my own horse before.

Both my previous horses I sold, and both of their subsequent owners had the good fortune of being able to plan and schedule a peaceful euthanasia when the time came.

This is a complete shock to the system. I thought I was prepared to ride her at this level for only a short time - a year or two at best, but envisioned a long and leisurely retirement for her, hopefully full of hacks and easy rides. Turns out I wasn’t really prepared for either, but glad I was prepared to give her the end she deserved.

[fanfayre]

[Kyrabee]

{{{{BigMama1}}}}

Susan

[BigMama1]

@Bogey2

I am so sorry, glad you got to spend some time with her at the hospital. She knows she was loved and as hard a decision as it is you did the right thing for her.

It might sound terrible but it was an easy decision. Getting the phone call, seeing her in pain, and coming home without her were all terribly, brutally hard. But deciding to let her go was black and white.

Before buying a 22-year-old horse last year I discussed it with my trainer and we talked through game plan for retirement if she had a career-ending injury, and game plan for dealing with a life-threatening issue like colic. I raced to the barn yesterday already knowing in my head we wouldn’t pursue a surgical option given the prognosis, as much as my heart wanted to overrule my brain. It’s a lesson several of my dogs have taught me over the years and it served me well this week.

As many times as I have been the one there in crisis with other people’s horses, having blood sprayed on me as the vet tries to insert an NG tube, arm going numb from holding up a funnel of mineral oil, hand walking a horse around an arena in the middle of the night, lying in the mud and cradling a horse’s head as he died from a sudden aortic rupture, it’s never been my own horse before.

Both my previous horses I sold, and both of their subsequent owners had the good fortune of being able to plan and schedule a peaceful euthanasia when the time came.

This is a complete shock to the system. I thought I was prepared to ride her at this level for only a short time - a year or two at best - but envisioned a long and leisurely retirement for her, hopefully full of hacks and easy rides. Turns out I wasn’t really prepared for either, but glad I was prepared to give her the end she deserved.

[CanteringCarrot]

I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. I’m glad that you were able to enjoy her with the time that you had.

[endlessclimb]

I’m sorry for your sudden loss, OP.

[Guyot]

I’m so very sorry.

[FitzE]

I am so sorry for your loss. I like to think that she found the person she needed at the end of her life and you found the horse of your heart at the right time in your life. Please take care of you and cherish your memories.

[DiamondJubilee]

So sorry to hear. Hugs to you. She sounded like the perfect match for you and always remember the amazing but short time you had together. My thoughts are with you <3

[bathsheba8542]

Peace to you in this difficult time … I am glad you choose to focus on the wonderful memories of the time you did have together.

[BigMama1]

@Bogey2

I am so sorry, glad you got to spend some time with her at the hospital. She knows she was loved and as hard a decision as it is you did the right thing for her.

It might sound terrible but it was an easy decision. Getting the phone call, seeing her in pain, and coming home without her were all terribly, brutally hard. But deciding to let her go was black and white.

Before buying a 22-year-old horse last year I discussed it with my trainer and we talked through game plan for retirement if she had a career-ending injury, and game plan for dealing with a life-threatening issue like colic. I raced to the barn yesterday already knowing in my head we wouldn’t pursue a surgical option given the prognosis, as much as my heart wanted to overrule my brain. It’s a lesson several of my dogs have taught me over the years and it served me well this week.

As many times as I have been the one there in crisis with other people’s horses, having blood sprayed on me as the vet tries to insert an NG tube, arm going numb from holding up a funnel of mineral oil, hand walking a horse around an arena in the middle of the night, lying in the mud and cradling a horse’s head as he died from a sudden aortic rupture, it’s never been my own horse before.

Both my previous horses I sold, and both of their subsequent owners had the good fortune of being able to plan and schedule a peaceful euthanasia when the time came.

This is a complete shock to the system. I thought I was prepared to ride her at this level for only a short time - a year or two at best - but envisioned a long and leisurely retirement for her, hopefully full of hacks and easy rides. Turns out I wasn’t really prepared for either, but glad I was prepared to give her the end she deserved

[AnastasiaBeaverhousen]

I condole with you on your loss.