Do you believe positives come out of negatives?

[dozzie]

I hadnt realised just how much it had taken out of me, looking after two oldies, one with cushings and the other just hard to keep weight on generally. Watching Ricky deteriorate this summer took so much out of me but I hadnt realised until now just how much. Watching my chunky monkey become a shadow of his former self was just heartbreaking. I havent slept or eaten properly for several months with the worry of it all. I have beaten myself up about the decision i took this week to pts but i know i stopped him from suffering.

But today I felt more positive. I slept till 7am as opposed to 5am and we went out to eat. I havent felt like going out for a long time and eating has been low on the agenda.

I feel i can now focus on my other oldie and try to find something he will eat before winter sets in. He is a tricky one to feed but with only one to worry about ( the younger ones are straightforward feeding wise) I think I can give it a try. Last winter was hard with both of them but this winter i will only need to worry about one oldie. I may still have to call it a day come Autumn of course and i have to accept that.

I may even take a trip down to Beaulieu Road in August to try to get another Ricky! It is where he came from 30 years ago. Probably wont find one but who knows?

So a positive has come out of a negative. I believe that is often the way.

 

[Holly Hocks]

Sorry for your loss. I think you're right, and I think the fact that you now feel more positive means that you definitely made the right decision. 30 years! You did an amazing job to keep him going for so long and made a very brave decision for not allowing him to suffer anymore.

 

[Chavhorse]

Yes very much.

When I bought Vardi as a three year old he was going to be my competitive Dressage horse, he had paces to die for and I couldn't wait to have him backed and start working up the levels with him.

Then when he was away being backed he got cast and badly injured and it became apparent that he would never be able to do the job he was bought for in fact one vet even said to me that if I wanted to do Dressage best thing I could do was have him PTS then use the insurance to buy another horse.

So I thought out of the box and went and spoke to a Western trainer who agreed to give it a go and re-start him as a western horse and see what we end up with. 6 months on he is now balanced in Walk, Jog, trot and lope and looking good. He is going to make a fabulous Trail horse.

I am getting a huge buzz out of learning a new discipline and it will be something that we can start at from scratch together and compete at.

As my American friend says "if Life hands you Lemons, make lemonade"