Thank You to COTH - A Fine Romance Obituary

[Fred]

It is now three months since we lost my precious Fred/A Fine Romance.

He enriched my life in ways I can’t begin to describe, and I was happy and blessed to have had him in my life for 25 years, from his first breath to his last.
Every day I could see him in his pasture, or spend time with him in his stall was the best of days.

I am heartbroken and grieving for him with every heartbeat.

But I am touched and honoured by the kindness of The Chronicle of the Horse, for marking his passing and honouring his life with an obituary.
Thank you, COTH and Haley Weiss, I am very grateful.

http://www.slideshare.net/HaleyWeiss/gone-away-a-fine-romance

[stb]

What a lovely tribute. He was obviously an exceptional horse. Exceptionally lucky, too. To spend his entire life being loved and cared for by one person is pretty special. I’m sorry for your loss.

[Bluey]

I am sorry for your loss, didn’t know about it or what the name Fred represented.
Wonderful obituary of an awesome horse.

A whole life of memories of Fred is a wonderful gift to have left.

[cutter99]

So sorry for your loss Fred!

[Foxtrot_s]

I’d like to hear from AFR owners - I know Fanfare has one.

[Polydor]

I read it when you posted it on FB . Lovely piece. He will be dearly missed.

hugs

P.

[JanM]

A lovely tribute for a truly special horse. I loved reading about the relationship between the two of you, and hope that the good times give you solace in your grief.

[tucktaway]

A beautiful and well deserved tribute! Wishing you peace as you remember him every day. xo

[Bristol_Bay]

What a great story, Fred. I’m so sorry for your loss and if there is such a thing as a second horse of a lifetime, no one would be more deserving.

[Astraled]

I was just wondering about Fred. Sorry to read that you lost him

[csaper58]

Pssst… Original post needs to be updated with a photo of the magnificent Fred.

So very sorry he passed, but glad he left so many wonderful babies to fill so many dreams and hearts.

[Laurierace]

I wish I had known about him being at Hilltop at the time, he was so close to me. Godspeed Fred, your job here was well done. Mama Fred, your job was well done too.

[Cat_Tap]

What a great tribute for a great horse. Sometimes I wonder why we are here. There is no doubt that your purpose was to be Fred’s keeper. The hole in your heart will always remain but be thankful for those 25 years.

[Fred]

Thank you to everyone for your kind words and thoughts.
When I was first contacted by COTH, I couldn’t speak, and couldn’t bring myself to type the words, to think of him in the past tense.
I was very touched by Peter Gray’s words about him, “he was almost human”.
I think if I had said it I would have sounded nutty, but it was true.
He looked at you when you spoke, I know he understood many things, he never in his life spooked, because he looked, thought about it, and decided it was not scary, whatever it was.
He had a sense of humour, and did things to amuse himself, and to amuse me. We had rituals, little games together.
When we bought this farm, we bought it for him. I looked at the pastures, and said that will be Fred’s pasture, that will be Fred’s stall.
And they are, this is his farm, his trailer, he is everywhere here, his name is on blankets (because every new fancy blanket was for him) on brushes, on tack boxes, on halters.
I see his eyes, his topline, on the babies, and grandbabies, their willingness to work, their desire to please, their athleticism and kindness.
I know in this way he will live on, through them, for generations to come.
I have been lucky and blessed, but I am very, very sad.

[beowulf]

a wonderful tribute for an incredible horse. thank you so much for breeding him. i cannot wait to see what other extraordinary things his get accomplish. wishing you peace and solace, Fred xx

[fanfayre]

I don’t read very many of the most recent tributes, because it makes me so sad for our Fred, her husband and all the Fred family, but I do wish them peace and the knowledge that the good memories WILL replace the sorrow in time. :sadsmile:
Since I often show sans entourage I don’t have many photos of myself and Vida to send to Gayle, or post, but I will try to upload a photo or two of us taken this summer at a friendly low-level derby-cross ‘competition’ if it won’t make Fred too sad

[poltroon]

Your love for him has shined through over all these years, and I’ve enjoyed knowing him through your posts. Take care, Fred, and thank you for sharing him with all of us and with equestrian sport as a whole.

[Sport]

Your love for Fred has shown through over the years that I have read your posts here. He was the once in a life time horse that can’t be replaced.

[Bluey]

I wonder if, after some time has passed, maybe Fred would start a memorial type thread, with some pictures, so those of us that didn’t know him could see who he was and what some of the offspring are doing?

That could be one more sweet way to remember him by that everyone could appreciate.

[Fred]

[QUOTE=poltroon;8847713]
Your love for him has shined through over all these years, and I’ve enjoyed knowing him through your posts. Take care, Fred, and thank you for sharing him with all of us and with equestrian sport as a whole.[/QUOTE]

Thank you, poltroon, and everyone for your kindness.
Thank you to COTH too, and the members here for allowing me to brag on and on about Fred over the years. I know I must have annoyed some people. But I have always loved him so much, and will miss him to my dying day.