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 Branded for Life
Posts: 1924
     
| My mom and I once paid $800.00 for a sweet Appy gelding that was eat up with cancer, had strangles, had foundered to the point that he could barely walk and also had Cushing's. We took him home and he lived comfortably in a nice warm/clean stall, fresh water and food and all the love he wanted for 6 months and then we put him down.
My point is.... My mom and I knew that he was dying, but we also knew that we could never forgive ourselves if we didn't take him home. It was the best $800.00 we ever spent. That happened back in 2003 and I still to this day smile when I see his picture hanging on our wall. :)
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 Famous for Not Complaining
Posts: 8848
        Location: Broxton, Ga | You cannot make your friend do what is right...........so glad you were able to be there for him....... |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 907
     Location: a secret | You will be blessed for doing what is right for the horse sometimes our journey blesses us with burdens that we just don't understand . Thanks for caring for him. |
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 I Am Always Right
Posts: 4264
      Location: stray dump capital of the world | OklahomaCowgirl - 2014-01-29 4:56 PM My mom and I once paid $800.00 for a sweet Appy gelding that was eat up with cancer, had strangles, had foundered to the point that he could barely walk and also had Cushing's. We took him home and he lived comfortably in a nice warm/clean stall, fresh water and food and all the love he wanted for 6 months and then we put him down. My point is.... My mom and I knew that he was dying, but we also knew that we could never forgive ourselves if we didn't take him home. It was the best $800.00 we ever spent. That happened back in 2003 and I still to this day smile when I see his picture hanging on our wall. :)
Wow...what a beautiful story! What a lucky horse to have you take an interest in him and he knew love at the end. You and your mom are very special people.
That is what is important here. This boy knows love. My future daughter-in-law is about as city as city can get and she adores him. She comes out, brushes him, feeds him treats, and loves all over him. As soon as the horse sees her car, he comes to the gate to greet her. He follows her all over the place like a dog, and she is just so love struck. |
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 I Want a "MAN"
Posts: 3610
    Location: MD | He's so handsome for an old guy I would have loved to see him in his prime he looks like he was a nice horse. |
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 I Am Always Right
Posts: 4264
      Location: stray dump capital of the world | CE's wrapn3 - 2014-01-29 8:45 PM He's so handsome for an old guy I would have loved to see him in his prime he looks like he was a nice horse.
When I watch him or look in his eyes, I wish he could talk and tell me his life story. He looks like some old ranch horse with his big bones and thick legs. I bet he has some stories in that ole head of his. lol This is what I came home to today. He didn't get any feed last night because once he refused it and went down, we took it away. The vet said only 1/2 this morning, and our grass is limited. The vet said to pull him off the round bale today just to be sure he is ok, so I bet he was hungry!
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 304
   Location: Up and over to the right | What a handsome old man :)
He seems happy with you, I'd say let him live his life out with you if he's happy and pain free. Hoping he's feeling better! |
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 I Am Always Right
Posts: 4264
      Location: stray dump capital of the world | Here is another one with his entourage...
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 Veteran
Posts: 215
  Location: The money window | God bless you for your kind heart.
We spend our lives asking things from horses, and they give, give, give.
When they grow old and can no longer win us saddles or take us on thrill rides, it is our time to start giving back to them.
They might not give in the same way they used to, with earnings or fame, but what they can give is love, friendship, and peace of mind. Anyone who neglects an old horse doesn't deserve to work with any horses, regardless of age, ever. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2308
    Location: Viola, IL | I'm with everyone else, give him what he needs, and when it's over worth sue your friend.
About 9 years ago, I went to look at horse on our local classifieds page. She was a gorgeous black mare, and looked beautiful in her picture. I'd watched her for months and decided she deserved someone to love her. Her name was Lady. :)
When I got there to see Lady, with the lady I was working for, she was a bag of bones. I didn't even think she'd live to make it home. I gave the woman $50 and came back immediately for her. I felt so terrible.
I took her to the place I was boarding, and we turned her out in a small pasture, with a blanket and a couple horses. It was snowing and I felt terrible that she had to stand in it.
At some point in time, during the night, she wandered off, to what I think, was going to be her restig place. Somehow she rolled and got caught in the fence. I got a call from the barn manager in the morning to come help him. We helped her up with the tractor, and took her into the indoor.
For three days I called into work, and slept by her side with the heater. I had a cattle vet that wouldn't examine her and just gave her liquids. After three days I felt terrible and called our local expensive equine vet. Upon a long examination we found that she had punctured her lung, and she had to be put down.
That ol' gal cost me $1,000. But it was the best $1,000 I ever spent! I know in her last days she was as loved as she had ever been. |
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
          Location: Riding Crackhead. | sophiebelle - 2014-01-29 2:43 PM Exactly... Why put him down? He is fat and sassy. The only health problem he has displayed in the last 8 months was last night. I agree, he is in his 30s, and if the time arises that he is suffering (or we have another episode like last night) then certainly we will do the right thing by this guy.
So far so good for the day. The husband says the horse is doing well which is more than I can say for me. lol. I am soooo sleepy. It's almost time to go home.
Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughts.
As you can see I posted that before you came back on and said he was doing better. The 15 people that gave me a dislike, I'd hate to be an animal at the end of its life with you if you would rather watch them suffer than treated with respect.
If he's suffering I think they deserve to go out with respect instead of suffering. Call me stupid but when they get to a point they are having a hard time getting up, hard time keeping weight on, seem weak and lose the look in their eye, then yes I put them down. I don't do it lightly. A couple years ago I had an old timer that had been a member of my family for many years that I posted about on this board and got so many prayers and help with feeds on keeping her going. I appreciated it so much I can't find words to describe it. We got her through the winter and before the next winter set it I made the adult choice to put her down humanely so she didn't have to suffer. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1074
  
| God bless you and your husband. You have definitely given the horse a wonderful life. Many prayers that he continues to do well. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 602
 
| Even though vet bills are a pain to deal with, you are a great person and providing the best environment for this old guy is awesome. Not only have you helped him out but you also gave the city gal (daughter in law) a friend. To me..... thats a win-win. Its a blessing in disguise.  |
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  Rebel Without a Cause
Posts: 2758
      Location: Adopt a homeless pet - www.petfinder.com! | CYA Ranch - 2014-01-30 8:22 AM sophiebelle - 2014-01-29 2:43 PM Exactly... Why put him down? He is fat and sassy. The only health problem he has displayed in the last 8 months was last night. I agree, he is in his 30s, and if the time arises that he is suffering (or we have another episode like last night) then certainly we will do the right thing by this guy. So far so good for the day. The husband says the horse is doing well which is more than I can say for me. lol. I am soooo sleepy. It's almost time to go home. Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughts. As you can see I posted that before you came back on and said he was doing better. The 15 people that gave me a dislike, I'd hate to be an animal at the end of its life with you if you would rather watch them suffer than treated with respect.
If he's suffering I think they deserve to go out with respect instead of suffering. Call me stupid but when they get to a point they are having a hard time getting up, hard time keeping weight on, seem weak and lose the look in their eye, then yes I put them down. I don't do it lightly. A couple years ago I had an old timer that had been a member of my family for many years that I posted about on this board and got so many prayers and help with feeds on keeping her going. I appreciated it so much I can't find words to describe it. We got her through the winter and before the next winter set it I made the adult choice to put her down humanely so she didn't have to suffer. I think the dislikes were because of how you worded your post. It read like you would put him down because he is in his 30s, not because he was sick. I realized now that wasn't what you meant.
Edited by Calangelo 2014-01-30 10:11 AM
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 I Am Always Right
Posts: 4264
      Location: stray dump capital of the world | CYA Ranch - 2014-01-30 8:22 AM sophiebelle - 2014-01-29 2:43 PM Exactly... Why put him down? He is fat and sassy. The only health problem he has displayed in the last 8 months was last night. I agree, he is in his 30s, and if the time arises that he is suffering (or we have another episode like last night) then certainly we will do the right thing by this guy.
So far so good for the day. The husband says the horse is doing well which is more than I can say for me. lol. I am soooo sleepy. It's almost time to go home.
Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughts. As you can see I posted that before you came back on and said he was doing better. The 15 people that gave me a dislike, I'd hate to be an animal at the end of its life with you if you would rather watch them suffer than treated with respect.
If he's suffering I think they deserve to go out with respect instead of suffering. Call me stupid but when they get to a point they are having a hard time getting up, hard time keeping weight on, seem weak and lose the look in their eye, then yes I put them down. I don't do it lightly. A couple years ago I had an old timer that had been a member of my family for many years that I posted about on this board and got so many prayers and help with feeds on keeping her going. I appreciated it so much I can't find words to describe it. We got her through the winter and before the next winter set it I made the adult choice to put her down humanely so she didn't have to suffer.
Perhaps I didn't word my response correctly. I had been up for 32 hours straight so probably had no business around the keyboard. I wondered too about the putting him down comment, but then added that if he continued to deteriorate, we certainly would. I didn't intend to come back as harsh towards you, so if I did, I apologize. I also did not give you a dislike. Initially, when the vet was called out, it was to put him down. We still are unsure of what set off his episode, but when the decision was made to contact the vet, it was because of his eyes and the pain he appeared to be in. I wanted him to go without pain. The vet is the one who determined that he wasn't ready to go yet and asked us to give him a day. Naturally, by the time the vet was able to get to us, the banamine must have calmed whatever was ailing him. I promise, I would never let him suffer. The person who left him here apparently was going to, though. I'm not angry that I had to spend money on him or that I will likely continue to spend money. My anger is directed at the sloth who left him out here without any intention of caring for him. Her harshness, stupidity and lack of compassion angers me. Thankfully, he is back to normal today, and for that I am grateful. |
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
          Location: Riding Crackhead. | Calangelo - 2014-01-30 10:10 AM CYA Ranch - 2014-01-30 8:22 AM sophiebelle - 2014-01-29 2:43 PM Exactly... Why put him down? He is fat and sassy. The only health problem he has displayed in the last 8 months was last night. I agree, he is in his 30s, and if the time arises that he is suffering (or we have another episode like last night) then certainly we will do the right thing by this guy.
So far so good for the day. The husband says the horse is doing well which is more than I can say for me. lol. I am soooo sleepy. It's almost time to go home.
Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughts. As you can see I posted that before you came back on and said he was doing better. The 15 people that gave me a dislike, I'd hate to be an animal at the end of its life with you if you would rather watch them suffer than treated with respect.
If he's suffering I think they deserve to go out with respect instead of suffering. Call me stupid but when they get to a point they are having a hard time getting up, hard time keeping weight on, seem weak and lose the look in their eye, then yes I put them down. I don't do it lightly. A couple years ago I had an old timer that had been a member of my family for many years that I posted about on this board and got so many prayers and help with feeds on keeping her going. I appreciated it so much I can't find words to describe it. We got her through the winter and before the next winter set it I made the adult choice to put her down humanely so she didn't have to suffer. I think the dislikes were because of how you worded your post. It read like you would put him down because he is in his 30s, not because he was sick. I realized now that wasn't what you meant.
I have a way of having a conversation in my head that sometimes doesn't relay to the keyboard. My daughters favorite horse died on our place at the ripe old age of 38, she was a daughter of Poco Speedy. She led a very full, happy, healthy life that had a never give up attitude. Cripes she chased our dog across the yard the week before she passed on because the dog must have looked at her wrong. The following week she kept going down and always needed lots of help getting up so we made a very hard decision. As I posted before I DO NOT take putting them down lightly but when it needs to be done, I do it. |
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