Tomorrow is the Big Goodbye

[RooTheDay]

I euthanized my 10 yo mare last year around this time. She had an incurable neurologic disease and a rapidly diminishing quality of life.

I made the appointment about a month in advance. Going out daily to feed her that month was both deeply meaningful and deeply heartbreaking.

Shipping her to the vet hospital that day, letting her graze in the sun and stuffing her full of carrots, and cradling her head in my lap as she went, is a rusty box of tragedy that I have, still, almost a year later, not yet begun to open to process… beyond my unshakeable surety that I did the right thing and gave her the last best gift I could.

If I ever forget that, I have videos on my phone to remind me of why… but I haven’t needed to look at them yet. We take away their pain and replace it with our own.

I’m so, so sorry.

[rubygirl1968]

I’m so sorry. No matter how right it still hurts us to lose them.

Jingles that she has a good night tonight with the banamine and that tomorrow is peaceful.

(((hugs)))

[Angel_Undercover]

I am so very sorry, sending you big hugs. Will be thinking of you and your girl tomorrow.

[quietann]

I’m very sad for you, but thank you for doing right by your wonderful mare. Remember that she will be at peace.

[Rosewatt]

Oh, I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine the pain you are in

[Pico_Banana]

I never know what to say …. So just sending you empathy. Thank you for loving your mare so much.

[Arcadien]

She is gone. It couldn’t have been more peaceful and kind. Love to our wonderful vets and all the wonderful people who love and care for these precious creatures.

[clanter]

afterwards we always remove their halters, then hang in their normal place, they are gone but not forgotten …over the years we have a considerable collection of former horses’ tack that was their’s that reminds us of their greatness

[PaddockWood]

I’m so sorry. It hurts so bad but does get easier. In fact, with my new horse - who I adore to the moon, I keep saying, “Nami, are you in there?” I so want to believe he’s back with me. So many magic carpet rides and I always said I thought I knew how to ride until I got an Arab. You learn to ride a 180 in a second and then as long as you laugh and have no reaction - the whole event is over. Keep calm and carry on for sure!

Anyways I hope you are able to let out your emotion and grieve. To me, it’s an important part of healing. And be thankful too you didn’t wait until a horrible day when the death is traumatic. That’s what happened to my old guy. Horrible suffering for 45 min. Ugh. He didn’t deserve that.

Do post a picture when you are able ok? We’d love to see your precious mare.

[JBCool]

That’s as good an update as could be. Most of us on this board have been there too many times ourselves. We’ll do our best to help you shoulder the load. Sending love, hugs and jingles from here. Godspeed, Mare Mare.

[Paint_Party]

I’m sorry for the grief you feel, yet admire you for being a good horse person and doing the right thing.

Honestly, I think it gets harder on us as we get older. It weighs more on our heart. Maybe it’s because as we grow older the realization of our own mortality is more apparent. At least that’s how it felt with my last horse I had PTS.

((( hugs ))) .

[endlessclimb]

Godspeed pretty girl. Wishing you peace in grieving, OP.

[Arcadien]

Here is Mocha a month or two ago.

[OverandOnward]

Never was there a more perfect name for a special horse than your “Mocha”.

I like to look up at the night sky and think of the stars being the horses that have gone from us.

[rubygirl1968]

Beautiful girl!! And a very kind eye.

[sophie]

I am so sorry, Arcadien, for the loss of your Mocha. It doesn’t get easier as we age, I can tell you that. And grief hits you at random moments and you can’t breathe.
She is gone, but not forgotten. You did right by her.
((hugs))

[2DogsFarm]

Godspeed, Mocha.
Such a sweet eye

Like @clanter I’ve kept halters.
But they’ve been passed on to others.
Shipping halters - Walsh leather w/brass - are used for that only.
Grooming halters & nylon ones (20+yo!) hang by their stalls.
Except for my TB’s.
He was my 1st VeryOwn, had him 20yrs
No special sentiment, it just didn’t fit any others.
So it hangs on what was his stall.
DH’s horse’s are in use by the 3rd heir

[clanter]

@2DogsFarm

I’ve kept halters.

we have kept their special leather halters that were used showing or displaying the horse, these are kept in their earned space with all the others

their field halters have been reused with each’s matching lead, it is always referred to as such and such’s halter… as the new horse gains respect then it has Its personal field/common use halter added to collection