It’s been a busy two weeks.
I was pleased and surprised by the response the ‘Can a horse be your soul mate?’ page got.
But even that was dwarfed by the ‘Good time to buy a horse?’ piece. If you missed it, it’s here.
Anyhow, here is Christina’s response to that piece:
“WOW, Thank you all so much for the informative feedback! We also have two grown, married daughters and four grandchildren. My eldest daughter and her ten yr old son also help me with my kennel and are keen on riding lessons.
My friend up the road with the horses, is also an instructor and trainer, as is her daughter who jumps and barrel races.
I’ve learned a lot about caring for the horses just from hanging out at the barn with her, with regards having a good farrier, de-worming, grooming, feeding good quality feed, hay and desensitizing, especially with the scary swinging mailbox up the road. We saddle up the two boys (not yet been ridden)and walk a country block and they do very well.
I have a 140lb Great Pyr with a very high flight response (OMG he’s terrified of everything) that I’ve been desensitizing for seven years. I am aware of the importance of the leadership position and the safety of my personal space.
I’ve honestly not discussed this with anyone except my husband and my friend and have been undecided for quite some time. After reading all your wonderful comments and advice I talked to my family and they were all thrilled at the idea of taking these two young boys who have grown up together and giving them a good home. I also have my family to help with the fencing and renovations to the building behind my house. It has hot and cold running water, hydro and is far enough from the house to be a perfect little barn. Life is way to short and you only live once.
Thank You All again for your kind words and advice.
Sincerely Christina”
So give yourself a pat on the back everybody.
I’d like to get back to the horsey tips – but before that happens there were two ‘soul mate’ posts that stood out to me.
Here they are:
“why is it when you read a story like that you need to share your own too? is it the pain that we still feel in the lose of ours? my story , i lost my big guy 7 years ago, april 17th, 8:10 pm . I got him in 1999, we retired moved to the country and made my dream come true, home w/land 12acres and HORSES. He sort of picked us out i guess but when i turned to look cuz i felt eyes on me, my first thought was wow, that horse is in need of some serious care. and i turned away. but something made me come back after i tried out afew horses. i asked if i could go in by him and the guy said ok, but be careful, so i did. boy was he big over 16 and a coat that was awful ribs showing but the biggest brown eyes so soft looking at me i knew he was to come home with me. i rode him. and he did everything i asked of him. he was a keeper.
the first 3 years went alittle different than i had thought they would. once home, he didnt trust me or my husband. 3 years it took me to win him over, then it was great, on about the 4-5 year i was next to him in his stall, and he turned to look at me eye to eye.. and REALLY all of a sudden i felt myself deep in his eye, floating off the ground, in circles, in the sky on his back. lucky took me into his soul. and i took him in.when it all stopped, i looked at him , he was still looking at me. but then walked out of the stall. i was dumb founded. but felt different. as i walked up to the house, i watched him out in the pasture, he would look up and then down. from that point on we knew what each other was going to do when riding, when just together. the bond was amazing. the day came when he had to leave, it went quick, 20 min. or so. no warning. nothing. when he went down i held his head looked into those big brown eyes and cried and cried, i swear he had a tear that came down too , or it was mine that fell on him. we looked at each other, finally i told him it was ok to go now, he closed those beautiful eyes nuzzled his nose into my lap and took his last deep breath. i still cry. i still go to the place where we spent those last moments. i still feel the bond, i still smell him. and miss him so so much. no other horse will ever be like my big guy. how could it be. each one is different. i need to expect that and never compare .but God how it hurts yet.
Jeanne”
“Our first farm stallion, Count Mein Too was a special horse. We received him from an owner/trainer who went bankrupt over a veterinary bill. When Count first came to our farm he had the size and weight of a weanling but was really a long yearling in age.
Count was of the In Reality line of thoroughbreds and so we thought he would be able to sire horses that should be able to race. He was the kindest, most gentle, but also the fastest thoroughbred we have ever ridden!
After living through a devastating accident at the track it took a long time to be able to ride a horse again. One day Count looked at us and through his eyes and said TRUST ME I have never hurt you and you can climb aboard and enjoy my strength and power safely. So we did and we began to ride again.
Count was so kind and gentle we could allow BLIND people around him and he seemed to understand that he needed to watch out for them. He has sired many winners for us at tracks such as Del Mar ,Arapahoe and Albuquerque.
We miss him greatly as we lost him to some strange mysterious wasting away disease at the too young age of 13.Despite the efforts of a veterinary hospital and $10,000 we still could not save his life. Fortunately we retained several of his sons who seem to have that same excellent temperament and we look forward to teaching them to ride by using real natural methods . We always first start riding our horses bareback and with a gentle rope halter and no bits, saddles or spurs and lots of patience. Count Mein Too is buried by a flaming red maple tree next to our house along side our very first horse, Turk de la Hussan who we had for 30 years until he passed away from kidney failure and Turk`s story is another one unto itself.
Fred and Joan”
That’s all this time.
Please do keep them coming.
Best
Al
We are so pleased you shared our experience with Count to others, we forgot to say that on his last day of life, every member of the horses including our backup stallion came up to him and said good bye; broodmares ,foals, yearlings , weanlings. On Counts last night we had him stay in our back yard by our bedroom window so as he would feel secure in his weakened condition. We so very much miss him even though it has been more than 3 years now. Our family of horses moped around for a long time after Counts passing and would repeatedly look for him. Another miracle was in the making however. One year later we had the arrival of Counts last foal who we have named Count and Slews Miracle. A filly. Fred and Joan.
what a lovely story…
God gives us these wonderful animals in our care. They become such a part of the family, enjoy so many good times together. Then when God plan is carried out..we still miss, mourn & somehow Gods grace & patience pulls us through. There will be other miracles in your life..just believe in Gods plan.
Beautiful story. Thanks
Hi Everyone
My name is Chantel from South Africa. After reading this post, I thought it fitting that I share my story with everyone.
14 years ago I got Georgie’s Best (a gelding) straight off the track. He had a bad reputation at the track, and a lot of people thought I was crazy to want him so badly. He was 16h2″already at the age of 4, and by the time he was six years old, he was a huge 17h1″. We had an amazing relationship from the very start and I loved him more than words can describe. A few months after I got him, he had a very serious colic attack and the Vet said he would need surgery if he had any chance of survival (he had severe impaction colic). However, his vital signs were not good and the Vet was reluctant to proceed with the surgery as he was concerned he wouldn’t make it through the operation. He then suggested that George rather be euthenazed. I thought my world had come to an end as I couldn’t bare to lose him. I quietly went into the stable at the equine hospital to say goodbye to my precious horse. But as I walked in, he looked up at me and nickered and I knew right at that moment that I wouldn’t let the Vet put him down. I walked up to George and put my arms around his huge neck, and he nuzzled my neck. The Vet eventually agreed to operate and I watched the entire procedure. There were a lot of complications during the long surgery, but he pulled through and I had many more incredibly happy years with George. I can’t help but feel that he understood that he had a second chance, and our bond grew even strong after that.
In June this year, George contraced a virus that caused neurological damage. He managed to fight the virus, but sadly the damage to his nervous system was irreversable. The only symptom was dragging his foreleg, but otherwise he was still as beautiful and healthy as ever. The Vet that treated him said I should give him a few months because sometimes they can recover. I however, had a bad feeling about this and I was terrified of losing him. I couldn’t however, bare the thought of putting him down.
One morning I got a call from the stable yard saying that George couldn’t stand without falling over, and I called the Vet immediately. As soon as I got there, George stood up and nickered for me. I went to hold him and comfort him, but in my heart I knew it was over for George. I could see it in his eyes, and I know Georgie was saying thank you and goodbye to me. The Vet didn’t have to tell me that I had no choice … I had to let George go because I couldn’t bare to see him so terrified and so traumatised each time he tried to stand. I was with him in the end but it is something I will never get over.
Later that day my brother sent me this poem for George:
“God saw you and you were getting tired And a cure was not tobe
So he put His arms around you and He whispered “come to me”
A golden heart stopped beating Hard working hooves went to rest
God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best”
Rest in peace my precious George, and know that I loved you with all my heart.
How many horses does this person have that you have been talking about on this website? I really want to know how many horses this person has because it you tell me I would want to buy a horse from this person
Sandra Kay
We feel exactly the same as Chantel. The poem her brother sent her is beautiful and is very fitting description of the way we feel about all of the horses we miss upon their passing. We are a small thoroughbred farm in Oregon. Have you ever thought about sponsoring a section on your website where people could buy or sell horses? You have such a good site with good, caring horse people . They are precisely the type of people we would like to place our horses into the hands of .We are not interested in making money as a primary goal as most breeders are. We are most interested in providing the horse owning public good tempered horses that come from an open ,honest natural breeder where the horses are raised in a family groups .Fred and Joan.
You need to show pictures of horses to add to your experiences. I am a former horse owner getting myself in position to own again, so I want to see stuff (smile)….