Saying Goodbye

We talk a lot at U Rock â€˜n Ride about keepin' it real and that's about being there for the fun stuff and during the tougher times. I was reading Live4Horses Blog where she talks about having to put down her love, Lucky. She fought for him, did what she could for more than four months, but ultimately had to make the toughest of decisions. Another horse, Nikko, has found his way into her heart, but we know Lucky will never be forgotten.

So, we thought it would be cool to have a place on U Rock â€˜n Ride where you can share your stories whether it's to pay tribute to those that have passed, talk about the horses you've lost based on sale, or ask for comfort and support. Maybe you had horses in your life at one point, but can't any longer. That's still saying goodbye â€¦ even if just for awhile. So, comment below or go to the forum Saying Goodbye . Let's be there for each other.

Most know I'm always up for a great inspirational quote.

Â Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of solitaire.
It is a grand passion. It seizes a person whole and, once it has done so,
he will have to accept that his life will be radically changed.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Saying Goodbye

See It â€“ Do It!

ChristiÂ

Comments

# tattooed_reiner 2008-08-11 04:19

I think this is a great addition to the site!

# Fury_From _Missouri 2008-08-12 07:46

All I can say is I lost my beloved Johnny on May 10, 2002, I had that horse almost 20 years and I found him down in the pasture having a heart attack. I immedately called the vet, then my husband. Dr Dean is a wonderful man and when he looked at my tear streak face I knew he couldnt save him. Please make him no hurt I asked untill Chris gets here. He did what I asked. Johnny was a big QH for the most part 16.2 1350 lbs, that old style QH bulldoggy is what the old timers always told me. Big whit blaze and a liverchestnut color. I had been accused of loving him more than some men that was in my life. The truth was I did. He helped me recover from both of my parents death and a nasty divorce. I told him things that not another living person knew about me.

As a respondible horse owner I had to give him my final and most heart felt act. I had to release him from the pain. I stayed right there until the light in his eyes where gone. I know I was the last thing he was and heard. Johnny was my first one, he taught me of his kind and that something that big was a gentle as a kitten.

I cried everyday for 2 years after I burried him. I also went and got him a human size head stone. I figured he deserved that much. There still isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of him for just a fleeting moment. I love my other 3 horses but , well I think you get the idea. I found this poem in some magazine and Johnny has it on his headstone. I hope whom ever you are you find the comfort I did in theses words.

Somewhere in times own space
There must be some sweet pastured place
Where creeks sings on
and tall oaks grown,

Some paradise where horses go

For by the love that moves this pen
I know great horse live again.

# Christi 2008-08-13 15:53

Hey Fury from Missouri ... I'm so sorry. It's horrible to be so helpless to "fix" things ... you did the right, humane thing. It's funny you talk about Johnny helping you recover from your parents' death. I lost my dad seven years ago ... we shared a love for horses. I see him in the eyes of my own boys that ride ... and those "special" horses that carry them. You just don't forget. Horses keep me close to my dad ... close to my boys ... closest with my friends that also share horses with me. It's a different deal for those of us here that respect, love, are driven to have horses in our lives.

Thanks for telling us about Johnny and for being a part of this site!

# tattooed_reiner 2008-08-15 04:31

Fury, thanks for sharing your story and the poem - they were quite moving.

Christi, your dad was a great guy & I also see him in the boys when they're riding!

# erinlewin18 2008-08-30 12:49

I lost my horse Zypher my grandparents got for me. I loved that horse. Yes he was an older horse but my Grandpa thought it would be a good starter horse for me I got him when I was 4 and I had him till I was 17 he was my best friend and I mean my best friend. I loved that horse and to this day I still miss him. I havn't been able to have a horse since him but I would love to get a new one someday. He died because he had knots in his stomache. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with. I've been riding horses since I was 2 and like I said when I got him at the age of 4 it was the best day of my life and when I lost him it toped the worst day of my life too.

# Christi 2008-09-01 07:52

Hey Erwinlewin18 -- Thanks for sharing your story and for being here. I hope another horse finds you to love. When you're ready maybe visit a barn, or volunteer at a horse camp, or therapeutic riding program. Be good for you and your heart! Another horse won't replace Zypher, but maybe you can find room for another special horse. Hopefully being around other horse people here on the site will be fun for you too!

# dingyell 2008-09-08 04:19

I just wanted to comment on something different...I have seen horses have to be put down because of injury or illness. But this is different... I have a 10 year old thoroughbred mare that is going blind due to Uveitis. She is my first horse. I have grown to love her like my own child. We all know that true, unconditional, spiritual love for our horses. I get so tired of hearing people tell me that I should put her down or get rid of her, but I just can't bring myself to do it. I ride her occassionally when I can. She seems happy even though she can't run in the fields any more. Actually, without her, neither can I. I go out to the barn every night and clean her stall and let her eat grass out in the small paddock. Its the only time she can get out and be free. Turn out where I board her is a "herd" situation and it is too dangerous for her to be with other horses. We tried to put her in with another mare and she was beat up. So...I go out to the barn every night, even though I pay full board, and I give my horse sight. I cannot even imagine giving her away to someone that might not treat her as I do. I feel like I am trapped in a world of pergatory with my horse...not alive and not dead. Some days are harder than others...but when things get tough I imagine those days where we would ride out on the trails. I miss that.

# Guest 2008-09-08 13:56

i used to lease a 20-some year old Hannoverian Gelding. he was the sweetest thing, i had major confidence issues, and he got me through them. i had to leave the barn, i was being tormented by the other girls, the trainer was crazy, and everything was a mess there. i got very ill in the fall of 2006, and when i couldnt come for a week, the horse was leased out to another girl, though i was still paying. i left the barn, it still pains me to see images of him on facebook, with his 'new rider' . its so hard for me to imagen him with someone else.. i miss Gig so much. i have purchased a throughbred mare, and she has arthritis, the vet is comming to see if there is something worse going on, i might not beable to ride her as much. she has gotten me through my father's death, and i dont want too see her go, i dont want her to forget me like what happened with Gig... its such a painful exsperance to come with these beauitful creatures.

# Dance_under_the_Stars 2008-09-12 11:57

Hey everyone, my name is Sarah and I'm 18 years old. I have a very complicating story...I'll try to make it simple:
I got my first horse at age 12. He was a 3 month onld quarterhorse colt and my best friend. I trained him myself and he was the best horse I had ever seen. He never spooked at anything...I knew I could trust him with my life. Than I moved out of the state(CO) and oculdn't take him with me. It's been 4 years since I left and he's still staying with some friends...
Now 3 months ago, here in NY I was given a 4 year old thoroughbred gelding named River Dancer. He had been a rescue and was nearly 200 pounds under weight! I nursed him back to health and when I started riding him...it was the best feeling ever! It wasn't enough that he looked almost identical to my first horse, but his temperment is amazing. He's been a best friend that has given me the best summer I have had in a long time...
Now for my problem...my father is a chef and has gotte a really good job...in MN...we leave next month, but I cna't take Dancer with me. Some friends were going to keep him for me...but then I got an offer form a girl who wants to buy him. She's been riding forever and does shows, I know Dancer will be in good hands. And the money I get from him will go to paying my friends and to moving my first horse, Gabriel, up to MN in the spring.... It's just really hard to say goodbye to someone who has become your bestfriend...I feel like I'm letting him down...I rescued him and helped him get better...I love him so much! He follows me around the field when I go in there, I don't even have to call him; he comes right over to me. I know this girl and her family will take good care of him....and I do really want to see Gabe again....I just don't want to say goodbye....
Anyone have any advise for me? I'm lost right now...

# ChristianCowgurl08 2008-09-20 05:45

Stratun was actually my aunts horse but hes the first horse I ever rode, he was one of the orniest horses I ever met, he ie of colic about a month ago. I unfortunatly was 5 states away when I got the call. This horse was a goof but he was loyal, I fell off him when I was younger and as most of us know with a fall comes air being knocked out of you, that horse stood over me and didn't move an inch until I could get up he stood over me, and he wouldn't let my aunt or my mom near me. He was one of the best horses around an you could always count on a laugh from him. My poor aunt walked that horse for countless hrs trying to save him but he didn't make it. I went down to the barn last week and started crying when I saw the name plate but no Stratun. I'll miss that horse but I'll never forget being picked up by my hood by him or the way he stood over me! I miss him everyday! But still have the memories!

# Pocosmyboy 2008-09-26 06:53

Everyone said 08-08-08 was suppose to be a lucky day and it wasn't for me. For 2 years we had a horse named Mo who kept coughing. The vet couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. After 2 years they said he had COPD which made him to where he couldn't breathe. We struggled for 2 months trying to figure whether or not we could put him down. So on 08-08-08 they made that decision. I was out there with him when they put him down. the only problem was my uncle didn't care eough to let us borrow his tractor so i had to help pull him on to a flat bed and i had to drive to where we were taking him. This past month has been so hard but its changed me so much. I now know life is so short and i plan to remember Mo forever. So my last thing is anyone who has horses, i know after so many years you get kind of tired of the same old same old but when that horse is gonna your gonna realize just how much you miss getting them out everday. I regret that i took it for granted.

In Loving Memory of Geronimo aka Mo

# chessie08 2011-01-04 00:09

My husband and I had just bought 2 unbroke 3yr old QH's on May of 2009, one a stallion and one a mare. The stallion went straight to the vet to get gelded, then they both came home. Soon after Chance recovered from getting cut our AQHA paint stallion Bishop ran his through a few fences and Chance got some major wounds. After a while of doctoring his wounds and giving him special treatment during feedings..his wounds were looking great, almost completely healed. However, he had lost so much body mass that one night it got cold and mu husband went to feed him that morning and he was laying dead in the pasture. The hardest part was draging him with the tractor to his final resting place. That beautiful younge horse had a hard life in the 2 moths that we had him but boy did he prance and love running in the pasture.

R.I.P. Chancers Win Or Lose

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