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 A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
 
Location: Southern Oregon | I finally had to make a decision for my best friend that he couldn't make for himself. I was keeping him alive for ME and not for him. He taught me so much! We won so much together, and then he went on to teach my nieces and daughters. Such a HAPPY and fun horse.This morning he greeted as he does every day and night, with a soft whinny and perfect little perky ears. My love for him will never be replaced, but I know he is happy and comfortable now. He was at the ripe old age of 32 or 34, he had been with our family since he was 15 months old. My mom was there when he was born. My heart is in a million pieces and my eyes are swollen from crying all morning. RIP wheels!
With that all being said, my nieces would like some bracelets made out of his hair. Who is the best and how do I contact them?
Edited by cowgirl_3207 2015-09-29 3:48 PM
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Attachments
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 wheels1.jpg (79KB - 191 downloads)
wheels2.jpg (75KB - 147 downloads)
wheels5.jpg (71KB - 163 downloads)
wheels7.jpg (37KB - 159 downloads)
wheels9.jpg (48KB - 160 downloads)
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
   
Location: Gainesville, TX | So sorry for your loss.  |
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  Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | I am so very sorry, and just reading this I am in tears with you. He was, and always will be, a huge part of your family. My heart aches for you and all I can off is hugs. What a blessing to get to spend 30 years with a horse like him!!!!! I pray for comfort for you and your family! |
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Expert
Posts: 1343
Location: East Texas | So sorry for your loss! :(
Try alivewithmoney on here. I know she was making all kinds of horse hair jewelry.
Although I don't know that I have seen her on here in a while... I hope all is okay!
Edited by horsesinharleton 2015-09-29 4:03 PM
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 No Tune in a Bucket
Posts: 2935
Location: Texas | I am so sorry for your loss. We lost one that we raised at age 32 and I know that it is not easy. |
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Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | I am so sorry for your loss. Please forgive me, but can I ask what was different about today? We have a mare who is very much a part of the family like your guy. She is 31 now. Through the course of this summer is the first time she has actually looked and acted really old. Her weight is still good,even though she has no front teeth and her tongue hangs 24/7 and she has no pain what so ever but there is a disconnect there, she's very slowwwwwwwwwww mentally, and physically. |
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 Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | Such a pretty boy. And what a cool name. I know your heart is breaking and I am so sorry. Hugs to you. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25351
Location: Bastrop, Texas | So sorry to hear this. It's no different than losing a family member. They leave holes in our hearts. My heart goes out to you. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 679
Location: KS | Many hugs and prayers! It's never easy going through something like this.
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 Expert
Posts: 1304
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A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
Location: Southern Oregon | This has been a long time coming, he winters very hard. Always has, you can't stall him. I had his teeth done, on a strict worming schedule ect. Two months back we went though a SUPER hot spell, he went completely off his feed. Wouldn't eat or even graze much. We put him on extra salts and minerals, still wouldn't eat. He ended up losing a significant amount of weight. He had one eye, due to an accident when he was 2 and was slowly losing sight in his one good eye. He started losing all of his equilibrium when walking or trying stand up. He finally started eating again, but was going down hill still. I felt at that point in time I was doing it for me and not for him. It was a very hard decision. |
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Expert
Posts: 1586
Location: west of East Texas | So sorry for your loss. I had to make that decision for the first time in my 52 years for my daughter's old one. That was the best decision and my only regret was that I hadn't done it sooner. Peace be with you. |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Many prayers for comfort. My old guy is 36, and I dread the day I know is coming. I ask that he go peacefully in his sleep, because I'm scared I'll be selfish and try to make him hang on just for me. . . . Your boy was a beauty, and he's at peace now. |
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Regular
Posts: 79
| I am so sorry for your loss...I have a 33 year old who is in good shape but I dread the Winters...he will agree to be stalled at night during the cold weather but I still worry coming into this time of year .. again, sorry |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7264
| I am so very sorry for your loss, he sounded like a wonderful, VERY loved horse! |
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Location: Kentucky | I am so sorry  I am going to be in the same boat on Friday we are putting 2 down at one time. They sure do leave hoof prints on your heart!! You will be in my prayers |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
Location: Kansas | so sorry for your loss |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| Sorry for your loss... he looks like a very special boy. Cherish the memories |
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 Witty Enough
Posts: 2954
Location: CTX | So sorry for your loss.... They do become family....
I have a 26 year old who has arthritis in her knees, for now we can keep her comfortable, but I am dreading the moment we can't....
Edited by cranky B4 10am 2015-09-30 9:26 AM
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A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
Location: Southern Oregon | pinky pie - 2015-09-30 7:12 AM
I am so sorry I am going to be in the same boat on Friday we are putting 2 down at one time. They sure do leave hoof prints on your heart!! You will be in my prayers
We were actually planning on putting him and his sister down at the same time. She is 28 this year, she looks like she is 6 years old until you look at her hind legs. Poor girl has dropped back pasterns, due to poor conformation and age and now she has HUGE bog spavins on both hind hocks. I just couldn't stomach losing two yesterday so we are going to wait and see how she does as the cold is setting in. |
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | Sending prayers for your heavy heart. Such a beautiful boy. |
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 Roan Wonder
Location: SW MO | I so sorry Lots of hugs |
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 Toastest with the Mostest
Posts: 5712
Location: That part of Texas | cowgirl_3207 - 2015-09-29 10:22 PM This has been a long time coming, he winters very hard. Always has, you can't stall him. I had his teeth done, on a strict worming schedule ect. Two months back we went though a SUPER hot spell, he went completely off his feed. Wouldn't eat or even graze much. We put him on extra salts and minerals, still wouldn't eat. He ended up losing a significant amount of weight. He had one eye, due to an accident when he was 2 and was slowly losing sight in his one good eye. He started losing all of his equilibrium when walking or trying stand up. He finally started eating again, but was going down hill still. I felt at that point in time I was doing it for me and not for him. It was a very hard decision.
Letting them go now is such a hard decision -- it's much easier when they are really suffering and in a bad way -- but you did the right thing now instead of waiting until that horrible day came. I've fallen short of this mark on a few of my animals so anytime I see someone doing what I didn't/couldn't, my heart just goes out to them. Sending hugs and prayers to your family. |
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 Scorpions R Us
Posts: 9586
Location: So. Cali. | Many hugs to you, he looked like a kind soul. Very sorry for yours and your family's loss.
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 Texas Tenderheart
Posts: 6715
Location: Red Raiderland | What a beautiful boy.  |
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Location: Kentucky | cowgirl_3207 - 2015-09-30 10:32 AM
pinky pie - 2015-09-30 7:12 AM
I am so sorry I am going to be in the same boat on Friday we are putting 2 down at one time. They sure do leave hoof prints on your heart!! You will be in my prayers
We were actually planning on putting him and his sister down at the same time. She is 28 this year, she looks like she is 6 years old until you look at her hind legs. Poor girl has dropped back pasterns, due to poor conformation and age and now she has HUGE bog spavins on both hind hocks. I just couldn't stomach losing two yesterday so we are going to wait and see how she does as the cold is setting in.
It has been a very hard decision to make. Neither of them are going to winter well with both having a lot of age on them. The one very dear to our heart is at least 27+ was my husbands than mine then my daughters . He only has a few teeth and gets very thin in the winter and is getting to the point of getting down to rest or roll and not getting back up very well and scuffing him self all up in the process. He has been such a good boy to all of yes we want to do what is right by him. The other, lived a rough life before we got him and he is also up in his 20's with heaves and arthritis. We are thinking it is going to be a rough winter and he is not " OK " with being alone in the pasture and can not be on a round bale and when he is stalled his heaves really flare up. Treatments have stopped working. With him were danged if we do danged if we don't. I would have liked to wait it out a while but I don't think I could stomach making my daughter go through something like this twice or it have to be an emergency situation. I know its a fact of life, my grandma always says if you gotta em, you gotta loose them. (with people or animals) but she is my baby girl and she loves her ponies dearly so I have to protect her heart also. This will be a first for me and her with putting one down. |
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A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
Location: Southern Oregon | pinky pie - 2015-09-30 10:09 AM
cowgirl_3207 - 2015-09-30 10:32 AM
pinky pie - 2015-09-30 7:12 AM
I am so sorry I am going to be in the same boat on Friday we are putting 2 down at one time. They sure do leave hoof prints on your heart!! You will be in my prayers
We were actually planning on putting him and his sister down at the same time. She is 28 this year, she looks like she is 6 years old until you look at her hind legs. Poor girl has dropped back pasterns, due to poor conformation and age and now she has HUGE bog spavins on both hind hocks. I just couldn't stomach losing two yesterday so we are going to wait and see how she does as the cold is setting in.
It has been a very hard decision to make. Neither of them are going to winter well with both having a lot of age on them. The one very dear to our heart is at least 27+ was my husbands than mine then my daughters . He only has a few teeth and gets very thin in the winter and is getting to the point of getting down to rest or roll and not getting back up very well and scuffing him self all up in the process. He has been such a good boy to all of yes we want to do what is right by him. The other, lived a rough life before we got him and he is also up in his 20's with heaves and arthritis. We are thinking it is going to be a rough winter and he is not " OK " with being alone in the pasture and can not be on a round bale and when he is stalled his heaves really flare up. Treatments have stopped working. With him were danged if we do danged if we don't. I would have liked to wait it out a while but I don't think I could stomach making my daughter go through something like this twice or it have to be an emergency situation. I know its a fact of life, my grandma always says if you gotta em, you gotta loose them. (with people or animals ) but she is my baby girl and she loves her ponies dearly so I have to protect her heart also. This will be a first for me and her with putting one down.
It is even harder when kids are involved. My nieces have grown up with this old boy as their trusty MR. and my daughter is 8 and has a hard time understanding. I have been in a spot before that I never want to be in again. I had an mid 30's appy gelding that was my very first horse. I kept saying...just one more winter....well one day I went out to feed and he was down and I could not get him back up. He tried twice for me and then gave me that look. It was the most heart wrenching thing to see, a horse that had always been so full of life to give up and and be in so much pain. I knew then and there that I would NEVER put another one through that again. I love these guys to the end of world and back. |
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My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | cowgirl_3207 - 2015-09-30 12:16 PM
pinky pie - 2015-09-30 10:09 AM
cowgirl_3207 - 2015-09-30 10:32 AM
pinky pie - 2015-09-30 7:12 AM
I am so sorry I am going to be in the same boat on Friday we are putting 2 down at one time. They sure do leave hoof prints on your heart!! You will be in my prayers
We were actually planning on putting him and his sister down at the same time. She is 28 this year, she looks like she is 6 years old until you look at her hind legs. Poor girl has dropped back pasterns, due to poor conformation and age and now she has HUGE bog spavins on both hind hocks. I just couldn't stomach losing two yesterday so we are going to wait and see how she does as the cold is setting in.
It has been a very hard decision to make. Neither of them are going to winter well with both having a lot of age on them. The one very dear to our heart is at least 27+ was my husbands than mine then my daughters . He only has a few teeth and gets very thin in the winter and is getting to the point of getting down to rest or roll and not getting back up very well and scuffing him self all up in the process. He has been such a good boy to all of yes we want to do what is right by him. The other, lived a rough life before we got him and he is also up in his 20's with heaves and arthritis. We are thinking it is going to be a rough winter and he is not " OK " with being alone in the pasture and can not be on a round bale and when he is stalled his heaves really flare up. Treatments have stopped working. With him were danged if we do danged if we don't. I would have liked to wait it out a while but I don't think I could stomach making my daughter go through something like this twice or it have to be an emergency situation. I know its a fact of life, my grandma always says if you gotta em, you gotta loose them. (with people or animals ) but she is my baby girl and she loves her ponies dearly so I have to protect her heart also. This will be a first for me and her with putting one down.
It is even harder when kids are involved. My nieces have grown up with this old boy as their trusty MR. and my daughter is 8 and has a hard time understanding. I have been in a spot before that I never want to be in again. I had an mid 30's appy gelding that was my very first horse. I kept saying...just one more winter....well one day I went out to feed and he was down and I could not get him back up. He tried twice for me and then gave me that look. It was the most heart wrenching thing to see, a horse that had always been so full of life to give up and and be in so much pain. I knew then and there that I would NEVER put another one through that again. I love these guys to the end of world and back.
Oh you have made me cry twice in two days. . . . I so hope I can be the person you (and some other folks on here) are when that day comes. Hugs and prayers to you, your boy blessed with a good "momma" |
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 Love Me Some Robert Redford
Posts: 2335
Location: WV | So sorry |
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| so sorry |
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 Popped
Posts: 20421
Location: LuluLand~along I64 Indiana | |
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