Worried1
Well-Known Member
Thank you to everyone for all your kind words, we have been overwhelmed by messages, texts and phone calls from people and it is very touching to know just how many people care both for us and for him.
Hillock or Hils as we called him was a very special horse, one that you feel very blessed to have known. He was all the more special because he had a massive heart and tried his best in everything, even if his confirmation meant he should not always have been able to do the things he did.
Hillock was originally owned by Lucinda Darling who very sadly died and following her death he was given to the TTT. At the time Mark did not have a horse and as one their trainers he was offered the chance to loan Hils and continue his training.
At that time Mark and I had just got together and he came to our yard where he blossomed into the horse he was. I think losing Lucinda had quite an affect on him and it took him a while to settle in and show us his true character and massive personality. At first he never rolled in the field and stayed very close to the gate, you only had to growl at him and he retreated into his shell. He soon found his feet, food was his greatest love and he was permanently on a diet. He was naughty to turn out for anyone except Mark, turned into a real hippo who loved to wallow and generally took the mick out of everyone in the nicest possible way (except Mark)!!!
He arrived with flying changes which were always late behind and was still in elementary points, in their first year Mark and Hils won every Elementary class they entered and over the next four years Mark trained him, under the guidance of the TTT and his trainer Andrew Murphy, and competed him very successfully up to PSG.
As well as being a dressage star, Hils was also a brilliant nanny to Blitz and Diva, regularly escorting them out on hacks, proving to be rock steady 99.9% of the time
It is thanks to him that I was confident to hack Diva out in his calming presence, as he was happy to be cannoned into and never reacted or put his ears back.
Mark and I both really glad that we took him to Merrist Wood a few weeks ago where he was centre of attention for the day. While he thoroughly enjoyed the day we both felt that the pressure of being in the arena was too much and had already made the decision not to renew his BD membership. He had more than fulfilled his role and we had only last week spoken to the TTT and said that we were happy to have him for ever.
It is bitter sweet that Mark and I were at a competition with Blitz where he won both classes when we got a call to say he was really lame and the yard had called the vet. He had a history of pus in the foot and we were not that concerned. We arrived back just as the feet arrived and so I briefed him on the fact that it was not uncommon for him to go very lame and wave his leg around. I even said that the very first time it happened we all thought he had broken his leg.
Our vet was fantastic and spent a long time checking the foot and then removed the shoe, which is when we first realised that something was not right and this was not just pus in the foot. He then tried to tap the joint and couldn't. the area was just filled with thick blood he then told us he thought this was a fracture and I actually have to confess I didn't believe it and he was just being cautious. We splinted the leg and somehow got him on the lorry and I think this is when we realised there was a strong possibility he wouldn't be coming home.
I am so glad that I asked Mark's mum to collect some apples and carrots which we were able to give him. We unloaded him and they x-rayed him and then asked us to come through. I said I would stay with him and have a look in a minute and when the specialist surgeon said no you need to come too I think we all just knew.
The x-rays showed his pastern was completely split with multiple fractures. We all broke down and when the vet explained the options we knew that surgery was not viable for him as he would have had to spend 6 months on box rest and a large reason for Hils staying sound was the fact he was turned out everyday and kept in regular work. There was no guarantee it would work and he would need an MRI scan to check that an operation was possible.
Mark telephoned the TTT who were in total agreement that the best thing for him was to put him to sleep.
He was clearly very uncomfortable and despite huge amounts of pain killers it was clear that he was distressed. They splinted his leg and we said our goodbyes as he gobbled all the apples and carrots.
My sister went with him and we waited until it was over and I went back to see him and say goodbye. He looked very peaceful and I told him he would never have to have a bath in the freezing cold again and that he was our brave, brave boy.
He is being cremated and we are having his ashes back to bury under the oak tree in his field where he was happiest
It would have been Lucinda's birthday last Saturday and I like to think that she wanted him back and that they are together again.
As we drove into the yard yesterday it was ironic that there was a single magpie sitting in the oak tree.
Goodbye Hillock - We miss you
xxx
Hillock or Hils as we called him was a very special horse, one that you feel very blessed to have known. He was all the more special because he had a massive heart and tried his best in everything, even if his confirmation meant he should not always have been able to do the things he did.
Hillock was originally owned by Lucinda Darling who very sadly died and following her death he was given to the TTT. At the time Mark did not have a horse and as one their trainers he was offered the chance to loan Hils and continue his training.
At that time Mark and I had just got together and he came to our yard where he blossomed into the horse he was. I think losing Lucinda had quite an affect on him and it took him a while to settle in and show us his true character and massive personality. At first he never rolled in the field and stayed very close to the gate, you only had to growl at him and he retreated into his shell. He soon found his feet, food was his greatest love and he was permanently on a diet. He was naughty to turn out for anyone except Mark, turned into a real hippo who loved to wallow and generally took the mick out of everyone in the nicest possible way (except Mark)!!!
He arrived with flying changes which were always late behind and was still in elementary points, in their first year Mark and Hils won every Elementary class they entered and over the next four years Mark trained him, under the guidance of the TTT and his trainer Andrew Murphy, and competed him very successfully up to PSG.
As well as being a dressage star, Hils was also a brilliant nanny to Blitz and Diva, regularly escorting them out on hacks, proving to be rock steady 99.9% of the time
Mark and I both really glad that we took him to Merrist Wood a few weeks ago where he was centre of attention for the day. While he thoroughly enjoyed the day we both felt that the pressure of being in the arena was too much and had already made the decision not to renew his BD membership. He had more than fulfilled his role and we had only last week spoken to the TTT and said that we were happy to have him for ever.
It is bitter sweet that Mark and I were at a competition with Blitz where he won both classes when we got a call to say he was really lame and the yard had called the vet. He had a history of pus in the foot and we were not that concerned. We arrived back just as the feet arrived and so I briefed him on the fact that it was not uncommon for him to go very lame and wave his leg around. I even said that the very first time it happened we all thought he had broken his leg.
Our vet was fantastic and spent a long time checking the foot and then removed the shoe, which is when we first realised that something was not right and this was not just pus in the foot. He then tried to tap the joint and couldn't. the area was just filled with thick blood he then told us he thought this was a fracture and I actually have to confess I didn't believe it and he was just being cautious. We splinted the leg and somehow got him on the lorry and I think this is when we realised there was a strong possibility he wouldn't be coming home.
I am so glad that I asked Mark's mum to collect some apples and carrots which we were able to give him. We unloaded him and they x-rayed him and then asked us to come through. I said I would stay with him and have a look in a minute and when the specialist surgeon said no you need to come too I think we all just knew.
The x-rays showed his pastern was completely split with multiple fractures. We all broke down and when the vet explained the options we knew that surgery was not viable for him as he would have had to spend 6 months on box rest and a large reason for Hils staying sound was the fact he was turned out everyday and kept in regular work. There was no guarantee it would work and he would need an MRI scan to check that an operation was possible.
Mark telephoned the TTT who were in total agreement that the best thing for him was to put him to sleep.
He was clearly very uncomfortable and despite huge amounts of pain killers it was clear that he was distressed. They splinted his leg and we said our goodbyes as he gobbled all the apples and carrots.
My sister went with him and we waited until it was over and I went back to see him and say goodbye. He looked very peaceful and I told him he would never have to have a bath in the freezing cold again and that he was our brave, brave boy.
He is being cremated and we are having his ashes back to bury under the oak tree in his field where he was happiest
It would have been Lucinda's birthday last Saturday and I like to think that she wanted him back and that they are together again.
As we drove into the yard yesterday it was ironic that there was a single magpie sitting in the oak tree.
Goodbye Hillock - We miss you
xxx
