Another one gone

[diamonddogs]

Another sad day - another old timer left us yesterday. That's four this year, with question marks over another three as to whether they'll cope with a bad winter.

This lovely lady has been on the yard forever and she was with her current owner for many years before she came to our yard.

She was going downhill, struggling to get up off the ground, and her owner was thinking about letting her have another summer, then she had a serious eye infection. The attending vet ran some unrelated tests, diagnosed Cushings and put her on Prascend. Within days she was back to her old self, her coat started to shine again, and she was a lot more mobile, so things were looking up for her.

She relapsed about a week ago, so the vet was called to assess her, and it was agreed it was time. She slipped away quietly with grass still hanging out of her mouth.

RIP Omega.

 

[merrymeasure]

How sad. She sounded a grand old lady. Thoughts with all who knew and loved her.Always very hard. RIP Omega, run free xx

 

[diamonddogs]

Thank you - when you've lost one yourself, as I did nearly three years ago now, it brings it back.

We're very close-knit on our yard and it's almost like losing one of your own.

We're just hoping her best friend, who's getting on for 38, will be OK, as they were inseparable. She seems OK at the moment, so fingers crossed.

 

[TheoryX1]

How sad, and lots of hugs going your way. I do agree with the close knit thing. About 3 years ago a fellow livery lost her gorgeous 14 year old piebald cob, who was stabled next to my horse, I can still remember our last hack out together - it was a lovely autumn day and our two teenaged cobs behaved more like a pair of 4 year old just backed babies rather than the bombproof boys they actually were - I was was hilarious, so to lose him so suddenly was a terrible shock to us all. It was unexpected and quick and we all felt the shock of it for a very long time. At least she did not suffer another winter, and as went a week to soon so to speak.

 

[merrymeasure]

Thank you - when you've lost one yourself, as I did nearly three years ago now, it brings it back.

We're very close-knit on our yard and it's almost like losing one of your own.

We're just hoping her best friend, who's getting on for 38, will be OK, as they were inseparable. She seems OK at the moment, so fingers crossed.

Yes, that is so true. I lost two within 18 months of each other to colic, one was 29 yrs old. I always feel for people going through these raw emotions I went through. But you never forget them. Omega sounds like she was well loved . Hope the 38 yr old ( what a wonderful age) keeps well for a bit yet. We have a 30 yr old mare on our little yard that I am very close to. Dreading that day too xx

 

[LynH]

Sad but nice to be able to give them a happy retirement first. I walked across the field with my 23yr old TB this morning and could hear her joints creaking. She's still field sound with no drugs but her spine has started to really show and in the last few weeks she looks older. Today I watched her for a while to make sure she was comfortable walking around then remembered seeing her gallop around like an idiot yesterday. Hopefully she's just a little sore but it's hard with an oldie constantly looking out for signs that it may soon be time to do the right thing.
I hope Omega's friend isn't too lonely without her and can continue to enjoy her retirement.

 

[TheoryX1]

I;ve come back to this thread as I do fine it poignant. I own an older horse at 21, and I am now starting to look for the signs of getting older. Hes gone grey around his eyes, and as a black horse it really shows, but bodily he looks fantastic. Hes got arthritis so I am being pretty precious about his care now, with winter coming along, and I hope to god that he still has a few more years of semi retirement left - he is still rideable thank goodness,and we do both enjoy our hacking.

Its a hard one with oldies around, and there is another oldie on our yard who may or may not make the winter. You do start to look for things, that are probably not there, and its hard. When my old boy was diagnosed with arthritis earlier this summer, he was in such discomfort that the vet felt he may not make the winter, but he has surprised us all after a lot of treatment and has come back better then ever. I have even had 'that' chat with our YO, and the thought of losing him tears me to pieces as he is my horse of a lifetime, but as with all my animals I will do him the final kindness for him when the time is right and I Know he will tell me, and I just hope I listen to him!

Omega did sound like a grand old girl, and she had a great old innings, and it sounds like its hit you hard which is to be expected. However, at least she is now without pain and is enjoying herself at the rainbow bridge.

 

[diamonddogs]

We have a lovely old boy (ex-Army) who lives next door to my mare, and he's a Cushings sufferer too. He idolises my mare, and will spend hours on cold winter evenings gazing through the bars at my girl, but when he's feeling under the weather he's vile to her, and will pin his ears and squeal if she gets too close to the partition. We use his attitude to my girl as a barometer to how he's feeling!

When he gets down, he's really down, and his owners have prepared themselves for the worse so many times now we've lost count, but he always rallies.

Omega (aged 26) was a proper character, and such was the success of her treatment, her owner was able to hack out a couple of times, which she absolutely loved, and even rode her in the Handy Pony class at our yard show in August, demonstrating her trademark half-pass-in-canter across the field. I'm sure her owner will look back at that show with pride one day.