Goodbye my gorgeous boy

C

Christmas Crumpet

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I've just said goodbye to my darling boy. He is being PTS at 11 today.

I bought him out of training in May 2008 to hunt. He came looking like a hatrack...

HP1.jpg


and spent the summer getting fat, going on lovely hacks every day with the dog (we were the 3 Muskateers).

H1.jpg


HappySpons.jpg


He then started hunting which was interesting. He could do backwards leg yield across fields - an amazing talent he thought. I didn't!! On our last day's hunting I took him visiting to the Warwickshire and he was flying over hedges like he'd been doing it forever.

HappyWarksHedge.jpg


He went wrong the week after Warwickshire tearing the supraspinous ligament in his back and then when he wasn't in work anymore his whole body started to unravel and I think the years of racing and being in training did him a lot of harm.

He had every treatment possible (paid for by insurance - god bless the NFU!!) but never came right. We thought he would be ok and I started working him again but he didn't stay right even after weeks of walking. I took the decision to have his shoes taken off about 2 months ago and he has had a lovely summer in the apple orchard getting fat with the mares in the field opposite him and today seems like the right day for him to go.

Happy taught me so much about horses and made me believe in my abilities as I transformed him from racehorse to proper hunter. He came as a nervous wreck and is now the most confident, happy person - he's a proper one person horse.

I cried when I called him to bring him in and he came to find me in the field. He's had a huge breakfast and is happily tucked up in his box watching the racehorses come and go into the yard from being ridden out. I couldn't be there when the deed is done. I want to remember him as he was hanging over the stable door with hay hanging from his ears blinking as the morning sun blinded him.

Goodnight and god bless you darling, darling horse. There will never be another one like you.

H2.jpg
 
...and I'm crying.
You poor thing. I know there is nothing I can do or say to ease your pain. so here.
Have a hug.
He sounds like a fantastic horse, and you sound like a wonderful owner. Remember rainbowbride. You'll see him again.
He was very lucky to have you.
x
 
Thinking of you both. You have been so lucky to have each other. Hang onto the good memories.
Would love to hear more about him if you'd like to talk, sounds very much like my mare. We are in a similar situation (hence thread yesterday), maybe we could hold each other's hand.
(((((Hugs))))) xx
 
so sorry for you, it's a horrible thing to have to do. he looked like he enjoyed doing all the things with you. you gave him a good home these last couple of years.
 
Well that is a lovely post but obviously under very sad circumstances, what a lovely picture of you both flying over that hedge, sounds like he's had a good life after his racing and I know how it feels not wanting to be there when they leave us, I'd be exactly the same (((hugs))).
 
I'd managed to keep a lid on the tears until I read all your lovely replies and am now sitting here trying to swallow the huge lump in my throat and see through all the tears!! Thank you everyone.

I think what has made it so hard is that Happy is only 9 and should, in reality, have tons of years left but all he can be is a field companion at the moment and he's had 20 months trying to get better but nothing has worked. He looks almost fine in the field although it hurts him when he gets up from rolling, he doesn't lie down anymore and is incredibly stiff.

I could keep him in the field for years but I would rather he went now when he's happy, when the sun is shining and knowing he isn't going to suffer as I um and ah about what to do.

As I said yesterday - I wouldn't let him go anywhere else because I don't know what might happen to him. This way I know he has had a wonderful life since leaving racing and now knows no different. In a way, a good thing is that I have known this was the decision I was going to make all summer and so I have almost prepared myself for it. Can't say I won't be in hysterics in an hour and 5 mins!!
 
How lucky he was that you crossed his path and gave him a chance... and just look at the pair of you flying that enormous fence.

Thinking of you today.
 
He's a stunning looker, he was lucky to have found you and you him. Treasure those memories.
It's so hard, I had to have my 5 year old pts in January and am likely to be facing the same with my 8 year old ex-racer-:(

you made a very brave decision for your boy x
 
I am so sorry that you lost such a fantastic horse, and that you had to much such a touch decision. He is lucky that he had such a wonderful owner who is doing best by him. ((((((((((( hugs))))))))))) RIP
 
I've gone all teary reading this and seeing those amazing photos. You really turned him round and into a stunning hunter. A short life with you but a wonderful one.

Lots of hugs........ xxx
 
So so sorry for your loss. I have an ex racer and now just how much of a bond you develop with them through their re education. I think you have made a very brave decision and the right one for him.
Massive hugs for you.

RIP Happy
 
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