Wednesday, January 14, 2009

A Goodbye - To My Good Horse


Solitaire (Monty) 1995 - 2009

It is with such sadness that I share my bad news. I had to have Monty euthanized this morning.

While I was away on my business trip, I got a call from the vet at my barn telling me that my horse couldn't pass manure. As I have posted in the past, Monty suffered from melanomas, some of which have become very aggressive and in recent years there have been complications from them.

In this latest instance there was infection and he was in a lot of pain. My husband had gone there and he also told me it was pretty bad. My vet made him comfortable with mushy food and pain meds for the two days I still had to be in Las Vegas until I could see him again when I came home.

I went to see him at 9:00pm last night and I knew I had no other choice. The tumors had become so large both inside and out that there was nothing more to do to help him.

My sweet boy crossed the rainbow bridge this morning. I will miss him so much. I know he will be happy to meet Dandy and to have his good friend with him while he waits for me on the other side.

26 comments:

20 meter circle of life said...

I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you!!

Mrs. Mom said...

I am so sorry for your loss. Please know that we will be thinking of you all in the days to come. Keep him in your heart always!

Tammy Vasa said...

Where to Bury a Horse
Author Unknown

If you bury him in this spot,
the secret of which you must already have,
he will come when you call-
come to you over the far, dim pastures of death,
And down the remembered paths to your side again
And though you ride other living horses through life,
They shall not shy at him or resent him coming,
For he is yours and he belongs there.

People may scoff at you,
Who see no lightest blade of grass bent
By his footfall,
Who hear no nicker pitched too fine for insensitive ears
People who may never really love a horse;
smile at them, then
For you shall know something that is hidden from them,
and which is well worth knowing:

The one place to bury a horse is in the heart of his mistress.

Grey Horse Matters said...

Oh, that is so sad. Have peace in knowing that you did the right thing for him and he is in a better place now. Galloping with his friends through open meadows. He'll always live on in your memories and your heart.

OnTheBit said...

I am so sorry for you loss. You have me crying at work. I cannot even imagine how you feel right now. My heart is breaking for you. I am so glad you took those pictures of him last week, dirty and all they were great to see. I wish I could say or do something to make you feel better. I am just so sorry. I will be thinking about you and sending you lots of love. He sounded like a wonderful horse...I am just so sorry.

Melanie said...

I am so sorry that you lost your pal. I came over from Mrs. Mom's blog when I read about it.

Preston said...

I am so sorry that you had to put your beloved horse down. If though it was the right thing to do, it didn't make it any easier.

Callie said...

Oh, I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your Monty. That is one of the hardest things in life to endure. So so sorry..............

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Awwww. I'm so sorry for the loss of your handsome Monty. I'm glad you were able to say goodbye, even though I'm sure it was terribly difficult.

Yours is the second horse I've read from a blog, that has passed on so soon into the new year.
What a sad beginnning.

Be strong and know that Monty will forever be your horse and always be watching over you.

((HUGS))
~Lisa
aka~Rapunzle

~M. said...

My heart goes out to you!

kdwhorses said...

Came over from Mrs. Mom's blog. So sorry to hear about your loss. ((HUGS)) He will be greatly missed, he sounded like a awesome horse. He'll always be in your heart.

WarPony said...

(((hug))) I'm so sorry for your loss.


"Somewhere...somewhere in time's own space
There must be some sweet pastured place
Where creeks sing on and tall trees grow
Some Paradise where horses go.
For by the love that guides my pen
I know great horses live again."
-Stanley Harrison

Sherry Sikstrom said...

So Sorry for your loss , they take a little piece of your heart each time , but leave you truly enriched and better for the time spent.Hugs to you at this sad time.

Nuzzling Muzzles said...

Sniff. I'm all teary-eyed. I'm sorry for your loss. Melanomas really scare me. I've got two grays of my own.

wilsonc said...

I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. I can't begin to imagine how hard this must be for you. I will be thinking of you both in the coming weeks.

Ellie said...

I'm sorry for your loss. That is a beautiful picture of Monty, he had a very kind eye. I have a grey retiree, Wesley who has melanomas too, it is a really hard thing to deal with.

Ellie and Werther Blog

allhorsestuff said...

I am very sad to hear about Monty and that you are without him now. He was soo beautiful and well loved.
My Prayers~
KK

C-ingspots said...

Oh, I'm so very sorry about Monty. My heart goes out to you in your sorrow and your loss. He was beautiful. Please know in your heart that you have done a great kindness for him and have given him dignity in his death and ended his pain. God bless your heart and his.

gtyyup said...

Stopped by to give my condolences to you on the loss of a very beautiful friend...blessings to you~~

Stacey Kimmel-Smith said...

What a beautiful photo, a beautiful boy. You have lived through what I fear most, and what I suspect all of us dread. The chances are that we will all outlive our beloved equine companions.

It is good that you got to be with him, and that his passing was relatively peaceful and in familiar surroundings.

Tammy thanks for sharing the poem, I'm copying down now.

Carrie said...

Blessings to you during this difficult time. I too have a grey horse that I love very much. Monty will live on in your heart.

SolitaireMare said...

Wow, I don't know what to say other than thanks, to everyone.

This blog was created around Monty as he seemed such a good subject to demonstrate "a good horse" and all the fun things you can do when you find one. In some way I guess, it was also to hold onto whatever time we had left together and to share him with all who wanted to know more about us. It makes me happy to know our stories were enjoyed.

He deserves all your kind words and gentle thoughts. He was that good.

BTW, Tammy - that lovely writing on your post is one I have never seen before. It was perfect and I thank you for sharing.

Reddunappy said...

So sorry you lost Monty, I have had to put one pony down due to colic, it is never easy.

Katie said...

I am sorry.

Life can be so unfair but he is in a better place now.

My thoughts are with you.

Mikey said...

So very very sorry for your loss. That's so hard. I have a Monty too, also a grey. I'd be devastated to lose him.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Ice Pony Girl said...

What sadness. {{{HUGS}}}