My Beautiful Boy Has Died

My beautiful, beloved Santa died on MLK day. He would have been 29 this year in April. It had been raining nonstop, and that Monday was the first day in weeks the sun came out. He loved to lay full out in the soft grass and soak up the rays, and that is where I found him-laying in his favorite spot. I thought maybe we could get him on his feet, and we tried, and he tried, for three hours to get back up. In all the years we have been together, this was the first time he ever let me down. Because he tried so hard for me and not for himself, it makes me love him even more. I have been privileged to know him and be his friend.

I know I won't ever find another like him. It would be hard to find another that was so constant and brave. He proved his mettle time and time again, from being the only horse in a pack that didn't spook on a trail and helping riders who fell, to walking through police and fire barricades in the smoke and chaos of a wildfire and loading in a trailer on a roadside in bumper to bumper traffic at night. Even a small thing (but probably a big thing for him!) holding perfectly still while I removed a tick that had lodged itself in his privates with the only tools I had available to me at the time: scissors and Raid aerosol bug spray.

To say I'm going to miss him is of course an understatement. I'm torn between not getting another horse to needing to find someone right away for the mare that was his pasture buddy who is now alone in the field without another horse around for miles. She is still moping and won't even eat her grain or hay at times. He was buried in his favorite sunny spot, and I've seen the mare's hoof prints in the dirt of the grave.

So, I've been looking, although my heart is not in it quite yet. I'd love to get another gelding, but I don't know if that would a good thing for the mare. At this point I don't know what to do. I remind myself that it's God's turn to have him for a while, and that Santa will be ready to go for a ride when I get there.

Heidi

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Comment by Dorothy McDonall on February 8, 2011 at 11:35am: A wise person once told me that when you don't know what to do, don't do anything.

In the meantime, grieve, heal and keep your mind and heart open to the possibilities that present themselves when the time is right to take action. You will know when that is.

You have my heartfelt sympathies.

Be well,

Dorothy

Comment by Lindsey Mats on February 7, 2011 at 6:44pm: This must be hard for you. I hated it when a horse I found one morning had to leave an hour latter, but this had been longer than an hour, so it would painful.

Comment by Lindsey Mats on February 7, 2011 at 6:41pm: I sorry for what happend. God will help you though times of sadness. Have I not commanded you be strong and coragis do not be tarrified do not be discuraged for the Lord is with you were ever you go. Jushua 1:9 I hope you do what is right when picking another horse. Santa will always be with you in spirit.

Comment by Vicki Holmes on February 6, 2011 at 2:06pm: I'm sorry for your loss. Another beautiful horse will come along and Santa will never be far away.

Comment by Bailey Vandorp on February 5, 2011 at 9:52am: Very sorry for your loss. :( Keep smiling. :)

Comment by Barnmice Admin on February 4, 2011 at 7:52pm: Oh no! I'm so sorry for your loss!

Comment by Heidi Jay on February 4, 2011 at 7:48pm: (Sigh) yeah. I would have really loved it if Santa would have lived just a few more years. You were fortunate to have him that long.

Comment by Jackie Cochran on February 4, 2011 at 7:13pm: I got Hat Tricks as a 5 year old just gelded (he still had the scabs) green broke Anglo-Arab gelding, and I was only a VERY elementary level rider. When he became convinced I was trying to ride well (around 4 months) he then turned around and started teaching me how to ride. This really helped me because I could not afford really good lessons. I could put anyone on him, so many people had their first ride on him, and he melted the hearts of anyone who was scared of horses.

I am still riding, though I no longer own any horses. With my MS I am very limited now and owning a horse is beyond my physical abilities right now. Hat Tricks was irreplaceable in the disposition department and though I've owned other horses, it never was the same. I just figure that I was very fortunate and got the ONE horse as my first one, the horse that no other horse can ever replace.

I still miss Hat Tricks, I had to put him down for colic at age 33, that was 13 years ago. I was truly blessed to have him in my life.

Comment by Heidi Jay on February 4, 2011 at 3:55pm: What was yours like? Are you riding again?

Comment by Jackie Cochran on February 4, 2011 at 3:25pm: I am sorry for your lost. It is so hard to loose such an angel, I know, I lost mine over a decade ago.

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