My friend's horse, Herbie, was laid to rest today. He was a 25 year old STB cross (cannot remember for the life of me what the cross was), that was one of the very few that they bred and raised themselves, and they have had him his whole life.
This is such a strange thing, as we were at his house yesterday, hanging out in the barn. They told lots of Herbie stories, including how he likes beer so much that he would try to get into other people's saddlebags to help himself. He had a handful of Miller Lite from Head yesterday, and he sure was happy to get it. Linda said he does not get much beer anymore, since he has Cushings, and I teased her that if a man cannot have a beer at age 25 when he is not long for this world, when in the hell can he have one? Herbie had a good day yesterday.
We had plans to go ride in the Shawnee today and my alarm was set for 7 am to get ready. At 6:15, Head called and told me to go back to bed, as Herbie was down and we could not go. Three hours later, I got a text that he had passed.
You could have knocked me over, I was so shocked. I have since talked to Linda, and he was obviously colicing bad or he had some other organ failure-he had no gut sounds, his gums were white, and the inside of his nose was cold as ice. Fortunately for them, their good friend Adriana the vet was available to come tend to his misery, and end it for him.
Poor Herbie, and poor Headleys. They rescue a lot of horses and other animals, and the running joke is that nothing ever dies there. That is obviously not true, but when you have a 33 year old horse that is still sassy and an assorted collection of other horses that never would have made it anywhere else, it seems like it sometimes. While we were there yesterday, we talked about where they bury their animals, and how much room there may or may not be left.
We changed our plans for the day, and they still want to ride--they think it will make for an easier afternoon than staying home. I wish that Rock had on shoes, as this makes me want to enjoy her while I still can, but she does not and is way too tenderfooted to ride without them, so I will take Slygirl for her first far away trailride. I suspect it will be a melancholy afternoon
Sunday, September 16, 2007
RIP Herbie
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4 comments:
Hugs now for those two. I am sitting here crying as I know, all too well, how they are feeling today, as my own loss is still really fresh.
Horses become like family, no matter how long you have had them, and it is hard and sad for them to leave us even after such a long and great life.
Well that is just pitiful. I'm so sorry for their loss. I can't imagine losing a family member who has been with them for 25 years. But I'm absolutely thrilled that he had a couple of sips of Miller Lite yesterday. That's the way to go out!
I'm so sorry Paige, even though Head loves to bust your chops it's very evident that you and he are great freinds. It is so difficult when a family member passes as Carrie said so eloquantly. Even the 4 legged variety.
Hugs to you and the Headleys.
It is terribly sad, but they are handling it remarkably well. There was only one really rough moment during our Herbie Memorial ride yesterday afternoon, and we talked about him a lot. And of coruse, hoisted a few MLs to his memory. Linda was right, going out to ride was the right thing to do---we had a good time despite it all.
I know you know how rough it is Carrie--I did not post about Semi and Copy as I was waiting for you to do it--which by the way, you still have not, sister!
This scares me as I know it is not in the too distant future for me and I do not like being reminded of it
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