Traumatic night

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turkana

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Had my old mare put down last night due to a twisted gut, she was 30 & I'd had her for 27 years, I can't imagine what life will be like without her.

Fortunatley she was in the early stage of colic when I found her & looked ok just a bit tucked up but I just knew there was something seriously wrong, the vet arrived quickly but she had already started to deteriate. I'm shocked at how fast she went downhill, the vet told me he had a gut feeling it was a twisted gut & as she failed to respond to the drugs his feeling was confirmed so she was quickly put down. I know it could have been so much worse.

A very nice man from the Graffton hunt (I think it was the Graffton) came out at about 9pm to take her away, which I'm pleased about as I couldn't face having to deal with it this morning. Although unfortunately she'll have to be cremated as she's too full of drugs for the hounds.

Phillip from Nixon Equine vets was a total star.

I feel like getting rid of all the animals & never having another pet ever again!

I haven't told my work collegues as I can't talk about it & as I didn't go to bed last night but stayed up & cryed all night I'm looking lovely! I'm making out I've got a cold & have to keep pretending to cough.
 
I'm so sorry for the loss of your girl, you must be devastated! Your reaction about getting rid of all your animals is natural and will pass, it is a self protection 'thing'. I hope in a few days you will start to think more about the lovely times you had with her rather than focussing on the loss as that will help you to cope but do give yourself time to grieve, it is like losing a family member. Take care xx
 
I'm so so sorry for your loss :( I'm sure it hasn't really sunk in yet. Make sure you make plenty of time for yourself this weekend. Big hugs xxxx
 
Thanks for your kind words, a collegue is buying me some chocolate (for medicinal purposes)
which I'm sure will help the grieving process!
At times like this having animals really doesn't seem to be worth it, I've got another horse so I'll go up to the yard late tonight, after everybody has gone, as I really don't think I can cope with talking to anybody about her right now.
Although it feels good to talk to anonymous like minded horsey people
 
So very sorry. Hugs to you.

Obviously I don't know your work situation, but I'd be inclined to tell my work colleagues what had happened. And hopefully they'll help you to feel less alone - sounds to me like you've got no-one there to provide a shoulder to cry on, and right now I'm guessing you really, really need that shoulder. I'd offer you mine if you were nearer.

Run free Turkana's mare. God bless.
 
Faro
I work in a men's prison so I'm not keen on letting them know what has happened! Although my work mates are all nice & would be sympathic I feel I need to keep it together as I don't want to loss the plot in front of the prisoners, although the lads I work with are all decent enough. I also don't want to stay at home on my own.
My Mum & OH have both been very good & supportive, they both came up to the yard & were there at the end, so I'm lucky.
But thanks for your thoughts.
 
I am so so sorry. Your post has me in tears as I lost my old boy almost 2 weeks ago. He was 31 and we had had each other for 28 years. It really is hard but I know I gave him the best of lives and I am sure you did the same for your girl.It hurts like hell but believe me it starts to get easier.

For me sometimes it almost feels like relief as I knew it was coming, he was very fit and healthy right to the end but he was old. Now it's over I don't have to worry about it happening anymore. I'm not sure I'm making myself clear but I am sending hug hug to you. J X
 
Mattilda
I know exactly what you mean.
Luckily she was in robust health & had come through this hard winter, whilst living out, in rude health but I had been dreading having to deal with a decline in health, having to make a decision & worrying about making that decision either too late or too early.
This way that worry isn't something I'll have to deal with anymore, as the decision was taken out of my hands.
I've always done my best for her, which is all I can do, I think she'd had a nice life with me so there's no reason to be upset about living a long & happy life. I think I'm in a bit of a state as it has been such shock.
 
This thread has had me blinking away the tears. So so sorry for your loss. As the owner of a 29 yr old its something that it always at the back (or front ...)of my mind. And as you say, the worry is there, are they ok? Do they look better/worse/are they happy/ and the worse thought is will I have to see them gradually decline and then just have to put an end to a life that I love.

It doesn't make it any easier to bear but now you know you did the right thing, there was no other choice. It wasn't too early, or too late, it just was.

RIP to your mare and hugs to you. xx
 
Sending you HUGE (( hugs )) at such a sad time. Its hard, but given time to cope with the pain of loss you'll remember all the great and good times you shared and its for those we choose to have our beloved pets.

RIP lovely mare, you were well loved and will be very sadly missed.

It's a cliche, but it truly is better to have loved and lost rather than never loving at all XXXX
 
So so sad for you, what a lucky mare to have had you for all those years. Hope you start to feel better soon, try to take comfort in your other animals and the fact that they need you too xx
 
So sorry for you, it's always awful when it happens and no one can ever say anything that will help or make you feel any better, it gets easier in time, always takes me years to get over loosing a pet, wouldn't ever stop me having more though, too many happy years and memories that you are able to look back on and smile about in time
 
I am so sorry to hear of your sad news. You have done realy well to keep your horse going to such an old age and you should be very proud of yourself for having given him such a long and wonderful life where he was treated with compassion and love.
You will have many happy memories to remember him by. One forms such a nice and loving bond with ones horses which other people find difficult to understand but at least we have relationship with them which others will never have. Allow yourself plenty of time to grieve over your lost horse and always enjoy your fond memories of him.
 
So sorry for your loss. Having never had to deal with it, I don't know how I would cope - but with two older boys, I know that one day I will have to.

I hope that I have your strength and dignity at that time.

Please look after yourself.
 
You need to focus on the positives, you had her for most of her life, and a good long life it was too and you did what you had to do for her at the end. Well done you xx Hugs xx
 
(((Hugs))), I'm so sorry.



“We who choose to surround ourselves with lives more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan. The life of a horse, often half our own, seems endless until one day. That day has come and gone for me, and I am once again within a somewhat smaller circle."
-Irving Townsend "The Once Again Prince"
 
I am so sorry for your loss.

The man from the Grafton was probably Mick Wills. He is lovely.
 
R2R

I think it was Mick Wills, he was very nice & he dealt with the situation with real compassion, he also had a very cute terrier puppy with him. Both he & the vet were kind & caring but without being patronizing.
 
So so sorry this has happened, imagine having her all those years that is incredible. What a lucky girl to have had a full life of being so well looked after, how many horses have had that. So many have had a really hard time until hopefully they land on their feet with people like us. Yours had a lifetime of love.
i am really sorry, you must be in a really fragile state. Don't shut yourself away from the others on your yard though, you will find support there too i am sure. And think of all the nice hugs from all those hunky prison officers.
Big hugs to you (and Mattilda) I lost my old boy a few weeks ago.
 
Oh I so very sorry to hear this (((hugs)))

However its lovely to hear you had your horse for all that time.

I think in time your other animals will help and keep you busy through this tough time.

Take it easy and enjoy your chocolates and remember the good times.
 
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