OT... My Horse Passed Tonight

[Hillbilly]

I found my bay gending , Papas, tangled up in a cattle guard tonight. He broke both left legs. Needless to say .... and it was about the hardest thing I've done in a long time.

Wait for me on the green, Pappy.

[Duff L Bagg]

I am very sorry to hear about your horse. I wish I knew the words to ease your pain. Please accept my condolences.

[Rusty]

Dang it man, I really feel for you. We'll keep you in our prayers.

[Cowboy1]

Your message breaks my heart. How old was he?
Cowboy1

[Hillbilly]

Pappy was 14 this year.... and pretty savvy about gates and guards... I cant figure out how he got into the darned thing parallel like he was. He must have spooked and sidstepped into the thing.

I called the neighbor for help... I knew he broke the forleg and the rear didnt look good. Pat said hold on...he would bring a gun. That darned horse tried to get up for me... he was laboring and pretty well played out. He let me pet him a little ....

My rifle was closer... they were across the road getting a cutting torch and a tractor together to help.

Funny thing was I could shoot him... but I just could not bear to watch the boys get him out. We got things cleaned up...it's the main drive to the house.

I asked Pat if I made a good shot... I was numb when I did it.... He told me it was quick at the end... and confirmed that both legs were broke.

this will be a long night. Thanks for the prayers and thoughts.

[Griff]

That's a shame. But on the other side there are no fences and catttle guards. Ya done the hardest job a man hasta do. My old mare is 26, she won me two State championship buckles when she was 16 & 17. Every time I drive up, she's there for her treat. But is always the last up when she see's me carrying a saddle, then always tries to nudge the younger horses outta the way when I catch one of them up.

Someone once said you only get one great horse to care for, maybe yours is still in the future.

[Bill in Oregon]

Oh, hell. Very sorry for your loss. A friend had to put his horse down. He led up him into some aspens and gave him some oats first. He still tears up when he thinks about it.

[Tycer]

I'm sorry man. Heal well friend.

[GANJIRO]

Condolences from Hawaii, don't know what else to say to help.

[gamekeeper]

Condolences, I had to stand with one old mare while she was put down, I fed her a few pop corn and as she was shot it was just like switching off the lights. She didn't suffer any more pain.

[20cows]

I've been there a time or two. It is hard.

[Borregos]

Sorry to read about this, heartbreaking I'm sure.

[BenT]

Sorry to hear that. I can put down other peoples animals , but not my own.

[2ndovc]

That hurts.

Very sorry,

jb

[Ysabel Kid]

Dang. Sorry to hear that. You have my condolences...

[AJMD429]

That's rough, but you did the right thing. Heartbreaking stuff.

[J Miller]

You have my sincerest condolences. I know the pain.

Joe

[KirkD]

My sincere condolences. I know that something like this really sets a fellow back ..... I lost my Quarter Horse, King, in a similar way. Again, my heartfelt condolences.

[gunslinger598]

I've owned hundreds of horses.

Only a very few were what I'd call mine. The ones that are part of our soul and we part of theirs.

Sure am sorry to hear about such an ending. Take care

[rangerider7]

Sorry to here about your horse. My condolences.

[Modoc ED]

So very sorry to hear about your horse. Terrible.

I have a grave site for my departed pets on a hill next to the house. I'll go out there today and tell them to keep a look out for Papas on the other side. I guess that sounds -- errrrrrrrrrrrrrrr reads kind of stupid but that's what I believe.

[ohwin94_61]

sorry to here

[Hobie]

Our condolences.

[Birdman]

I don't have horses. I have had a few good dogs. A faithful companion is something to treasure. Ya come home at the end of ther day and the first one to greet you is that pet. Hourse, dog, cat, whatever trips yur trigger. My condolenses.

[SmokeEater2]

My condolences on the loss of your friend.

[rjohns94]

I am very sorry for your loss you have my prayers and hopes that the memories of a great horse and friend will replace the emptiness.

[Nath]

Thats a tough one, sorry.
I been there with dogs, two labs within a year of each other, I don't think I could do it again. I sobbed for a while.
Feelin for you pard.

Nath.

[airedaleman]

My heart-felt condolences. No horses, but 35 years of dog ownership have produced similar situations. I know exactly how you feel.

[don Tomás]

He was good to you and at the end, you were good to him. You have our sympathy...
Tom & Family

"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

[C. Cash]

Sorry to hear this also.

[iceman]

Sorry to hear this. As someone else said I can put down someone elses animal but mine is another story. they are always there for you and don't judge. You did the right thing, heal well.

[Sixgun]

Hillbilly,
Man, that about tore me up. My sincere condolences as I have more feeling for animals than I do most people. We too, have lots of our four footed friends here and its bad enough when one dies naturally, let alone a tragic one like yours. We once lost a pony who got his leg caught in an abandoned car wheel. Its tough, we feel for 'ya.------------------Sixgun

[BigSky56]

Hillbilly, Putting down an animal that is in pain is compassion when you care for them its a act of love and its never easy on your heart. Ive never asked anyone else to do that for me as I felt that owning and careing for horses & mules included ending their life. Ive put down my own and others each one took something from my soul. Theres horses in heaven the Bible says so. Good luck my freind. danny

[1886]

Hey man real sorry about your pard. I had a great horse when I was a kid. When Dad had to put him down I cried for days. Best Wishes. 1886.

[Hillbilly]

[quote][/quote]Ive never asked anyone else to do that for me as I felt that owning and careing for horses & mules included ending their life. Ive put down my own and others each one took something from my soul. Thaveheres horses in heaven the Bible says so

there was a moment ...after Pat offered to do this for me..well - I knew it was my place to do this.

The fact that a horse , who sees man as his predator, will let us touch him causes us to have a stewardship with him that is different than any other animal we partner with. I guess what I mean is you can own a dog... but you partner with a horse. Non horse people never understand how this works.

IF horses and dogs go to heaven I hope I do to. None have let me down...people do often. I should have a pretty good pack of dogs and will be well-mounted.

Thanks to all of you for your thoughts... one day we will all be together instead of in cyberspace... Brothers.

Jeff

[junkbug]

You and your family are in my prayers.

Sean

[Cowboy1]

Thought I would add something here a second time - the Bible says there are horses in heaven - Christ rides a white horse in the Second Coming. But there is something special abvout a horse that I think is beyond that of dogs or cats. And that is, that when you mount your horse, you and your horse become one in body and mind, and soul, too. To function as nature means it to be, the rider and horse become one - through riding their bodies, their thinking and their thinking merge until oneness is achieved as the horse teaches the rider to use his body to signal what is to be done next, and the rider comes to understand his horse as a sensitive, intelligent and gentle being. So it is rightly said that while you can own a dog, your horse is your partner.

Cowboy1

[blueroan]

My old Appaloosa gelding was 31 when he had a massive heart attack and had to be put down. The Appaloosa mare was 32 and had just "wore out her body," blind and "poor" despite an excellent vet and grain twice a day. The last one left is her half arab son...he'll be 32 next April.

There's been others come and go, but it isn't easy. Too many miles on the trails to forget. Too many times when the horses were the only friendly faces you knew you'd see that day. Too many times when life was "going to h---" around me and I went out to smoke and think and the horses came up.

We'll see them again in Heaven....