The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Pets & Working Animals => Horses, ponies, donkeys & mules => Topic started by: Roxy on April 07, 2010, 11:48:46 pm
-
My old coloured Arab x Marti seemed to be walking stiffly on a front leg the other day. Improved after a few days, so I thought she was on the mend. Then Easter Monday, she lay down in the field, as it was a nice day. Unfortunately she could not get up. We did our best, but her front leg kept giving way and would not hold her weight. Had to make the sad decision to let her go. She was 31. Just 14 months since her lifetime companion died. Her new field mate is really upset and keeps going to the gate to look for her.
As always seems the case, Marti went down in the worst part of the field, and we had to drag her down with the Range Rover. Thankfully no one was walking on the public footpath through the field, while this was going on.
Very strange not seeing her in the field, she was born here, so hard to remember a time without her.
-
Sorry to hear about your sad news Roxy, it is never easy. It's not only us that miss them as you say her pal is looking for her. Keep your chin up.
-
Sorry to hear your news Roxy. My thoughts are with you
-
At Grass by Philip Larkin
The eye can hardly pick them out
From the cold shade they shelter in,
Till wind distresses tail and main;
Then one crops grass, and moves about
- The other seeming to look on -
And stands anonymous again
Yet fifteen years ago, perhaps
Two dozen distances surficed
To fable them: faint afternoons
Of Cups and Stakes and Handicaps,
Whereby their names were artificed
To inlay faded, classic Junes -
Silks at the start: against the sky
Numbers and parasols: outside,
Squadrons of empty cars, and heat,
And littered grass : then the long cry
Hanging unhushed till it subside
To stop-press columns on the street.
Do memories plague their ears like flies?
They shake their heads. Dusk brims the shadows.
Summer by summer all stole away,
The starting-gates, the crowd and cries -
All but the unmolesting meadows.
Almanacked, their names live; they
Have slipped their names, and stand at ease,
Or gallop for what must be joy,
And not a fieldglass sees them home,
Or curious stop-watch prophesies:
Only the grooms, and the grooms boy,
With bridles in the evening come.
I studied this poem at school and (according to the teacher ;)) it's all about reaching a certain age and accepting that death is inevitable. But I hope you like it Roxy - I'm sorry to hear of your loss :-* :-* :-*
-
What a beautiful poem.
-
Sorry to hear about your pony. Thinking about you.
Funny how they get through the winter, then as the weather improves, it's over.
-
Ahh, thank you HappyHippy, thats lovely. I keep seeing the Rainbow Bridge poem, and it sets me off howling, even when I have not lost an animal, so am avoiding any remembrance boards or anything just now, in case I see it!!
Yes, Rosemary, both my old horses have lasted through the winter, and then gone. And this winter has been bad, with -15 temps, and heavy snow for 5 weeks. Both my old ponies have lived out all their lives, with just natural shelter in the fields (gorse, dry stone walls etc.) and they coped well enough. The only concession was once in their twenties, they had winter rugs on. I have never added up how much winter feed I used on them - but I know its a lot!! I don't regret it though - you would not starve your granny would you :D
-
xx Tears in my eyes, there are no words xx
-
so sorry about your old girl, what a great life she must have had to reach 31 with you
-
So sorry for you :'(
-
Yes, Rosemary, both my old horses have lasted through the winter, and then gone.
I wonder if they wait for the sun.
-
Sad for your loss Roxy, how is the other pony going?
-
Sorry to hear.....wish you all the strength you need :bouquet:
-
Sorry to hear of your loss, 31 long happy years, think of all the good times xxx :love:
-
Been there, done that, so many times. Howling with you. God bless xx.