Goodbye to the Girlfriend Mare

[spookypony]

Last Monday, we said goodbye to the Spooky Pony's Girlfriend Mare, who had been on loan to me from a local riding school as a companion pony for the past 6 years. As people who saw my thread in the vet issues forum know, she had had some hind limb ataxia and bladder incontinence for several months, which we guessed was due to spreading of her melanomas. She was still able to canter around a hilly field, roll, and generally have a good time, and appeared stable in terms of mobility for quite a while. However, last weekend, her ataxia was worse, and the main concern was that she would not be able to cope much longer. So after a vet exam on Monday, she was put to sleep. A friend distracted the Spooky Pony and the Ballerina Mare around the other side of the building with some treats. We then gave them some time to come back onto the yard to find out and understand that their friend is gone. She was a sweet, wise, cheeky pony, and we will miss her.

RIP Hayfield's Lucy.

 

[SEL]

Ah - she's lovely. I remember your thread about her problems and I'm sorry to hear they got worse. RIP little pony xx

 

[splashgirl45]

bless her she looked really sweet. hope you are ok..

 

[Fiona]

So sorry for your loss x x

Fiona

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I' sorry to see this but what a lucky girl Lucy was that every-one involved in her care put her interests first.

 

[millikins]

RIP Lucy, she looked a sweetie.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Sorry for your loss x

 

[ElleSkywalker]

What a lovely and lucky girl she was, much love xx

 

[spookypony]

Thank you, everyone. I am ok. I know I had to make the decision, although it also felt as though I didn't have the right. The Ballerina Mare was upset and scared, at first; she ran off and then came back to hide behind the Spooky Pony. He was more philosophical. He stopped and looked when he saw the Girlfriend Mare lying there, and then he followed me onto the yard and ate the grass nuts in the bucket I was bribing him with, before going over to her and checking her over very carefully. I think both of them knew as soon as they saw her.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

I'm so sorry for your loss. She looks very charming, and it sounds like she had a lovely time living with you. {{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}

R.I.P. Hayfield's Lucy.

 

[DabDab]

Aww, sorry you've had to say goodbye to an old friend.

RIP Lucy xx

 

[milliepops]

awww sorry you had to let her go. She was lucky to have her last years with you though, it sounds like she had a lovely set up and someone kind to look after her best interests at the end.

 

[LaurenBay]

I'm so sorry xxx

 

[Spottyappy]

So sorry for your loss.
Thinking of you, at this sad time.

 

[silv]

Sorry to read this she looks like a lovely old lady. It sounds as if she had a wonderful retirement with you.

 

[Reacher]

RIP Girlfriend Mare.
Sorry I missed your previous post about her but I’m so glad that after (presuming) working hard as a RS pony she was lucky enough to enjoy a good retirement with you xx

 

[spookypony]

Thank you, everyone. She was supposedly only about 20 (a bit unsure). She was retired at about 14 due to the melanomas, although they didn't seem to be affecting her until right before the end. I think she wasn't at the school for very long before she retired. She still did occasional lead-rein duties for my friend's children on holiday visits until this past summer.