Oh Coreene! 
I’m so very sorry for your loss. My husband and I will miss Willem’s wonderful witty posts on this board.
COTH BB will never be the same…
Rest in Peace big guy - you were greatly loffed.
“God have mercy on the man who doubts what he’s sure of.” Bruce Springsteen
Coreene,
I am so sorry for your loss. I read this earlier but couldn’t reply because it brought back all the memories of the time I had to decide to let my best friend cross the reainbow bridge.
You are a very brave woman for recognizing that it was time for Willem to go and how better to thank him for all the years you spent together than by letting him go without suffering. I had my guy for 7 years (his name was Rufus 
) At first of course it was just an overwhelming sadness. Pretty soon I didn’t really feel sad but I just felt so lucky that I was the one that got to be his mom and how honored I was to have had such a gift in my life. I am sure this is how you feel about Willem.
I thank both of you for the love and humour you both brought to the boards with Willems posts. He was by far my favorite poster and even when I was so busy working in NZ I would log onto the BB whenever I could and scan the board to see if Willem had been inspired to write anything that day.
Big hugs to you Coreene and a big sloppy karoteen kiss to Willem
Big hugs to you Coreene. You are in my thoughts. What a touching post and outlook on his sendoff to new pastures-
“Lighten up, Francis.” -Stripes
This is by far the hardest, but also the most selfless thing we can do, when it is time.
Bumpkin is right. Willem is there in time for Dee Dee’s birthday.
My grandmother always loved horses, but was always a bit scared of them. She always had apples or carrots for the drays, and she always saved old bread and peelings for the rag man’s horse, and the other work horses who came by her house.
I took great solace in knowing that Willem would be her horse now, wildly spoiled, stuffed full of cookies and carrots and apples and every other treat she can think of.
Merry and I talked last night and I said “Well, I can just see it now. Dee Dee looks up and says ‘There’s Willem!’ Introduces him to Kate and Victor. Babs is hanging out with them as well. And Victor will say ‘Well, he’s not a hunter, good dressage horse though, doesn’t have enough extension but…’,” and we laughed and laughed because, dang it, I could really just see it happening.
I went back to the stables today to give the meds I no longer needed to the horses who were using them. Copper has the Thyro-L. My friend Annette had her dear horse Jake tested for Cushings last week, because of Willem. And I gave Marie the left over Pergolide to give to Annette because, damn it, she found out this morning that he has it. Jake was one of the horses - along with Seymour and Bolero - who would stop by every morning after Willem got his syringe full of meds, so that Willem could shout at them and then swallow. I find it very fitting that Jakey has Willem’s meds now.
Of course, being Willem, we had to stop turning him out with Jake because we couldn’t stop him from mounting him, but that’s another story.
His stall was filled with bouquets, plants and wildflowers that people had brought. While I sat in his stall reading the cards, I could feel him watching down over me with a big smile.
Oh, Coreene, I’m bawling again. This kind of love hurts so much, I know what you’re feeling. Finding a new horse to love and care for is the finest tribute you could make to Willem and the years you shared together. How wonderful that your family and friends are so understanding and supportive. Willem was NOT, most certainly “just a horse.” He was much, much more and will not be forgotten.
I will miss you, Willem, and am glad you are not in pain any longer.
They do say that good horses can come back. Perhaps you will again speak through another body to your mudder(whom you loff) ? If so, we would loff to hear you again.
Coreene – I am so sorry about Willem. Please find some comfort in the fact that you did right by him, and I’m not just talking about calling the vet to put him down. You did right by him when you bought him 11 years ago and resuced him from a bad situation. You did right by him letting him be retired when he didn’t want to show anymore. You did right by him by managing his Cushing’s so well. He could not have had a better owner or been loved any more than he was.
Thank you for sharing him with us. He made our lives better and richer and we all have memories of Willem that we can enjoy for many years to come. He will always be in our hearts.
“The power of acute observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.” - George Bernard Shaw
aaahh, the end of an era. So sorry Coreene
Oh Coreene – I don’t know what to say. You made a brave and selfless decision. All I can do is send a virtual hug to you and an equally virtual bouquet of karroten to go with the other offerings in Willem’s stall.
you gave willem the best new life, coreene, and the best anyone can give any living creature, you gave yourself. god bless you and godspeed, willem, your feet won’t hurt any more. you can run all you like now.
I am so sorry for your terrible loss. Wishing you the strength you’ll need to carry on with your best friend always in your heart.
I love this country!!
www.foxlairponies.com
I went to bed early last night after reading the other thread that he was doing well… So this is not what I was expecting to see this morning.
Corinne, you did what was right and we all loff you for it. My beloved April (sinking founder victim in 2000) is a happy girl in heaven with her new handsome boyfriend. She will take good care of him, I promise.
…such are the horses on which gods and heros ride.
Just signed on. Coreene, I am so very sorry. But as everyone else has said, you did the right thing. Willem will be missed by every single one of us.
I had to make that choice for my cat last year, and I never once regretted making that choice. When they are ready to go, they let you know.
God Bless You for your lack of selfishness.
(((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))
“May the horse be with you.”
Coreene, I know that I’ve has been touched by you and Willem both. We will miss Willem greatly, but we continue to love and appreciate you. Willem is truly happy now, and you helped him get there. We’re jingling for you.
Coreene, I am very sorry for your loss. You did the right thing.
And we will all miss the big red guy, and those wonderful posts. Willem–and you–brought a lot of laughter to the world.
Stay strong,
s.
Under carefully controlled conditions of breeding, training, and care, a horse will do whatever it damn well pleases.
So very, very sorry to hear that.
GA Clique/Drafties Clique
Help control the pet population- Spay and Neuter your pets!
Willem’s observations on life, wonderful humor, and German accent will be sorely missed here on the COTH board. Coreene, I will always hold fond memories of this horse with such an incredible personality. You were blessed to have him in your life. Memories last forever.
Okay, I can write now. I’ve stopped crying.
Ah shoot. No I haven’t.
Coreene, you are one beautiful human being.
“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning to sail my ship.”
-Louisa May Alcott
