Grieving Shetland what can I do to help?

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moon_drop

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As some of you might know I lost willie on Tuesday. Not only did I lose my best friend our Shetland Ewan lost his best friend they've been together for 13yrs. He was in the next door stable to willie till the very end, our vet said it would help him to stay in his own stable over night with willies body next door our vet said it would help him understand.

But yesterday when the lorry came to take willie away Mum says (who was with Ewan) Ewan panicked and started screaming after willie. he did calm down once the lorry left and mum says he was alot happy once he seen me later in day.

What do I do to help Ewan cope?
At the moment am just coping and last night I had to face willies stable empty which wasn't as bad as I thought it would be it made me sort of closer to him. But am really worried about Ewan.

any ideas ?
 
Do you have any other horses? If not, Id definately get him a new friend ASAP, ideally another shetland if possible so then they could properly be together (ie. stabled together etc.).

Im really sorry about Willie, how terribly sad. And it is made worse when another pony pines for him as well. Just try to give him loads of attention, lots of hay etc. but Id definately try to get him a new friend asap.
 
As MM said another friend will help him. Was Ewan actually allowed to go near Willie's body after?

I know when our donkey died the vet told us to leave him in the field so the ponies could go up and touch him and 'work it out' that he wasn't getting up. We had to make up a big sign for the gate as a dead donkey in a field next to a main road does get some attention! To start with the ponies would go up to his body and paw at it and stand over it - after a few hours they seemed to understand and walked away.

Time is a great healer and as you say you both lost your best friends and it is hard.

Big hugs to both you and Ewan x
 
well We have 2 other horses maddie and sandy but they are in a different stable block and now ewan is in his stable block on his own he can see the other 2 and will be in same field as them for a few hrs a day.

I did wonder about getting a wee friend for him for the winter. He will soon have cows for company when the Spent calves and then calving cows came in but that a few weeks off I think
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Am going to buy some stable toys for him because he will be in a lot in the winter as our field floods and its not safe for him and his wee legs to go out. We're going to put him in willies old stable which is 10ft by 18ft so he will have lots of room and 3 windows to look out (we'll have to make him a step)
 
Oh you poor, poor thing. How awful for you. If it was me I think I would get another companion for him, maybe another Shetland??? And I'm sure if he's happier it will make you a little happier also.
 
I'd definately get him another little friend he can share a stable with asap, I also agree with them being able to touch the body, I have seen it help lots of times.
 
He could see willie and I think when willie was taken out by lorry driver he did stop and let ewan look and sniff and thats when he panicked.

Do you think a Bach flower remedy would help?

If I can get him a Shetland friend its going to take a few weeks to sort out and find one.
 
Do you know someone who could loan you a companion for over the winter?? That may happen faster than having to buy one.
Anyone on here local to moon-drop and maybe have a Shetland or similar companion they are willing to lend??
 
My mare was in the same filed when my friend had to have her cob PTS but my mare just watched from the other side of the field, as soon as it was over her body was taken away by trailer. to this day if a horse trailer comes down the lane or in to the field she neighs & runs along to catch up with it, no mean feat for a 32 year old! & Buffy died 15 years ago!

She was also in the same field as a pony I had, who died in the field over night, but like the others have said, she was stood next to her when I found her, so I think she just knew, but with Buffy I don't think she realised what had happened.

Just shows that they never forget.
 
So true about actually being with the body. It helps them deal with it. Not much use to learn this if it didn't happen with Willie (RIP sweet fellow) and Ewan. He needs time and company now and it sounds like you are doing as much as you can for him already. Good luck with everything and so sorry about your loss. I have a friend in Craigellachie if that's any help - she might have something - just PM me.
 
Either Star of Bethlehem and Rescue Remerdy are good bach flower remerdies to try.

Are there any rescue stables local to you? Perhaps they would be able to help with finding a suitable companion for Ewan.
 
Sorry about your horse.
When my old mare died in the field many years ago it wasnt so bad as i had already bought a youngster so our other horse had company and they were with her (just wish i had got to say goobye to her) so they seemed to accept it. I do think it helps if the body of their friend is left with them for a while, but thats no good to you now.
What about horsemart (they do a loan section as well) or project horses for a companion? Or do you have a rescue centre not a million miles away to loan a pony from?
 
Thank you so much everyone,
He much happier tonight, think we're going to take each day as it comes at the moment.

You've all given me some ideas for him if we need it, if we need a wee friend i think i know few people we could ask to help.
 
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