juliag
Well-Known Member
This is a difficult post, I cant really believe I am writing this but as it will help me to write it all down so I will. 25 yrs ago I went with a friend to the Kiltinan stud at Bruton somerset as she was looking to buy a show pony in the rough as it were. The ponies there were kept in a very natural environment which involved running in herds around a 150 acre farm. As we wandered around the fields with my friend looking for her next pony we were followed by a scrawny little yearling who literally took herself through hedges to follow us around. Upon going back to the farmhouse and having a cup of tea, my friend sorted out which pony she wanted. Mrs charlton looked at me and said ''can I not nterest you in any?''. how much is the little roan I asked. £250 was the reply. And Alice became mine. She has been a wonderful pony and a real friend. She is almost unbeaten showjumping although not competed very much as she was always seen as our 'spare' pony. but whatever we asked her to do she gave it her all. She went to one prince phillip rally and was immediatley put onto the senior team. She loved her hack and I guess it was good that she only really ever had one home in her lifetime and that she was truly truly loved.
Alice developed cushings about 18 months ago, and last jan was very ill with laminitis. Her health has deteriorated over the summer and I felt that the decision would have to be made to put her to sleep. In fact I posted on here only a week ago about having her cremated and could anyone help with a good company to do this. Sadly Alice had other thoughts. This morning I went out to the stables where she met me with her customary whinny and her little face over the stable door. She had her breakfast and I turned her out. She must have had a roll because I then saw her lying down (happily nothing unusual). I commented to my husband 'look Alice is having a lie down'. 10 mins later my 12 yr old daughter told me Alice didnt appear to be able to get up and indeed this was the case. She seemed to weak and her back legs just didnt have the strength to push her back up. I rang the vet whilst 3 of my children sat with her stroking her neck. Alice at this time appeared to be giving up. When the vet arrived (eventually!) Alice had been down for about an hour and a half and I asked the vet just to put her down. I feel the pony had had enough and it was all very quiet and peaceful. She had her family around her , all stroking her and telling her how much we loved her. She nibbled on a piece of carrot whilst she was being injected. (my 2 younger children had been sent into the house but my older daughter and 12 yr old were with me). She literally went off to sleep and that was it.
I am sorry if this is not the sort of post you want to read, I have owned alice for 25 yrs and feel very shocked. She is being buried on our land this afternoon.
RIP my darling darling Alice. You were a wonderful pony and this is an end of an era.
Alice developed cushings about 18 months ago, and last jan was very ill with laminitis. Her health has deteriorated over the summer and I felt that the decision would have to be made to put her to sleep. In fact I posted on here only a week ago about having her cremated and could anyone help with a good company to do this. Sadly Alice had other thoughts. This morning I went out to the stables where she met me with her customary whinny and her little face over the stable door. She had her breakfast and I turned her out. She must have had a roll because I then saw her lying down (happily nothing unusual). I commented to my husband 'look Alice is having a lie down'. 10 mins later my 12 yr old daughter told me Alice didnt appear to be able to get up and indeed this was the case. She seemed to weak and her back legs just didnt have the strength to push her back up. I rang the vet whilst 3 of my children sat with her stroking her neck. Alice at this time appeared to be giving up. When the vet arrived (eventually!) Alice had been down for about an hour and a half and I asked the vet just to put her down. I feel the pony had had enough and it was all very quiet and peaceful. She had her family around her , all stroking her and telling her how much we loved her. She nibbled on a piece of carrot whilst she was being injected. (my 2 younger children had been sent into the house but my older daughter and 12 yr old were with me). She literally went off to sleep and that was it.
I am sorry if this is not the sort of post you want to read, I have owned alice for 25 yrs and feel very shocked. She is being buried on our land this afternoon.
RIP my darling darling Alice. You were a wonderful pony and this is an end of an era.
She sounds like she was a very special, lucky pony.
