The Death of a Horse

There is something about a death of a horse that is different than any other animal. Perhaps because the relationship with a horse is different. Venerable, age-old, there is a link between girl and horse that is eternal. I am not saying that my other animals’ passings have been easier, or harder, just different. My bond with my horses comes from a profound feeling of awe and respect. There is no better feeling than that which comes from hearing their welcome nicker, realizing their eagerness to please, or giving them comfort and care.

I have loved and lost three wonderful horses in the last 15 years. Two by colic, one by euthanasia. To watch their suffering and subsequent deaths is a helpless feeling that seems surreal. Dean died last Thursday, a horrible, painful death that shook Carla, Dane and me to our core. The vet couldn’t come in time, and none of us could do the impossible. We are dumfounded by what happened, and still reeling from it. Nothing could have prepared me for that, except the death of Gibbs and Joe. It can happen so fast, like Dean and Gibbs, or after years of decline as in Joe.

​I am not writing this to bring sadness, although at this point it is all I feel. I am so grateful for the joy and lessons learned I received from each horse. There will be more horses, because it is in Carla and my DNA to have a horse. Although elderly now, we still feel about horses the way we did as little girls, when we had 19 cents saved up for our horse farm. My dream of having a horse has come true, with much thanks to Dane and Carla. I know there is sorrow at the end of that dream. I was there with all three when they died, it’s not that I owed them that, it’s because  if they could, they would do the same for me. May they all Rest in Peace. 

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