My Sincere Thanks

I would like to thank everyone who took the time to comment on Sweetie’s Final Journey.  Your kindness and sympathy was greatly appreciated.

This is an amazing time we live in. Communication via the Internet is worldwide and it seems to bring horse communities from all over the world together.  Even though no one knew our little Sweetie mare personally, I find it remarkable that so many horse lovers felt her loss.  She will not be forgotten because her story touched so many lives.  Thank you again for your heartfelt sympathies.

Sami and the rest of the herd are doing well. I’m sure they miss Sweetie and wonder where she is, but they are resilient horses and adapt well to change.

On another note, I will be taking a break for a little while.  We are going on a short vacation and I don’t think I will have Internet access.  See you all when I get back.  Good riding to you all.

Until next time

Quote for Today
The love for a horse is just as complicated as the love for another human being...If you never love a horse, you will never understand.

A Final Journey

" Sweetie"

There is some sad news to report today.  Our Arabian mare Sweetie is no longer with us.  She has been failing for the past few months and it was time to ease her suffering and let her go.  Sweetie could hardly walk anymore; her legs were crippled by her DSLD disease and she was very uncomfortable to the point where she did not want to go out with the herd anymore.  So, we’ve been leaving her loose around the barn, she had access to any stall she so chose to go into for hay and water or lie down for a nap, which she did quite often.  There was also access to grass for grazing.  It was the best we could do for her given the circumstances.

Our vet was out to check on some of our other horses and we asked him directly to let us know when he thought it might be Sweetie’s time, as we were afraid we couldn’t be objective about such a difficult decision.  He told us it was past time and we should consider making arrangements as soon as possible.  Even though we did not want our time with her to end, it was the best choice for her.

Princess Nibar, aka “Sweetie,” came to us two years ago from a bad situation; she was 25 years old and in desperate need of good care.  If we had left her where she was, she would have been put down.  When she nickered to us to come back and not forget about her, we had to take her home with us.

It has been two years of getting to know and care for a very charming, smart, sensible and classy mare, and it would be impossible not to love her.  She made us smile every day we knew her and she taught us so much about the impressive Arabian breed.  Sweetie was one of a kind and our lives have been enriched for having known this gentle soul.  She has shown us through her indomitable spirit that no matter how dire the circumstances, one should never give up on life.

We have heard that in her younger years as Princess Nibar she was a National English Pleasure champion, and I do not doubt it.  When she was 10 years old she was sold to a breeder and this woman bred her quite a lot.  So, suffice it to say, I do not think she had a very happy life.  We are content that for the last two plus years of her life she got to be a horse and spend time with the herd grazing and grooming each day.  Sweetie was very appreciative to us, her human friends, for the care and love she received and deserved.  We do think she thoroughly enjoyed herself.

It is never easy to make this kind of decision but it is a necessary evil of being a horse’s caretaker. Last night she spent her time outside with Sami, her son, under the night stars. She had access to the paddocks and could rest in the shed when she needed to.  We led her through the barn this morning to say her goodbyes to the rest of the herd and then let her meander slowly with us to the back field. Sweetie snacked on carrots, apples and her personal favorite ‘Stud Muffins’.

Sweetie will always be with us as she is on our property resting peacefully on the hilltop overlooking the farm under a grove of shady trees.  We gave her the best end we could and she left us with the dignity that she has exhibited while she was with us for the last two years.

Although this is a sad time, we would like to think of Sweetie not in pain any longer, but whole again, running through green meadows, tail flagged up in the air and feeling like a young filly once more.  There is a picture in my mind of her drinking from a crystal mountain stream, occasionally lifting her head, ears alert and perhaps meeting horse friends from her past that she can forever roam green pastures with again.

Goodbye little mare, we will miss you; it was an honor and a privilege to have know you, if only for a short time. We will always remember your sweetness and your spirit forever.

Until next time

Quote for Today

There is something about the sight of a fallen horse that strikes one's heart in such a way, even for those who are not particularly a horse lover...the significance of something so sacred, powerful, beautiful, intoxicating as the horse...when a fallen horse is seen overcome by life's obstacles, fallen tears and a jolt to the heart and soul can never be prevented...
    - Stephanie M Thorn

Oh, Sami!

Oh, Sami!

Sami has recently been let out of detention.  For the past two weeks or so he has been residing in the smaller side paddock with his mama Sweetie.  Why you ask? Well, it seems Sami cannot control himself with the rest of the herd.  In his youthful exuberance, he constantly annoys the other horses and picks fights with lots of halter pulling, biting, rearing and striking out. He’s not trying to hurt anyone, he simply wants to play all the time and not everyone is interested.  To be fair, Grady is sometimes the instigator of a lot of the antics.  He’s another horse who has never gotten to play with others because he was a valued show horse. In recent years, before we got him, he shared a small paddock with two old grumpy mares, so he’s never had a chance to play much in turnout.  Grady is close to 18 hands and Sami is 14.2, so when they are rearing Grady towers above Sami, one false move and Sami is a pancake.  They both come in with various cuts and scrapes and it’s just a matter of time before there is a serious injury.  So Sami was sent off to detention with his mother.  It’s fair to say that just one “mother” look from her and he scrambles to the other end of the field for cover.  She may have a hard time walking now, but I have a hunch in her day she was a no-nonsense mom to be reckoned with, and I’m sure Sami can remember her wrath.

 ' Sami & Sweetie '

' Grady '

Sami appears to know he’s on probation; he and Sweetie are both back with the herd and things seem to be going smoothly … for now.  What is so surprising is that Mellon, aka ‘The Terminator,’ never corrects Sami as he’s done with all the other horses his whole life.  As leader of the herd it’s hard to believe he lets Sami get away with so much disruption.  Sami is like that annoying kid in school that nobody liked but who was always willing to do anything to try and fit in with the ‘in crowd’. 

 ' Mellon '

The other day, I actually saw Sami and Mellon playing halter tag.  Mellon never plays, but I’ve come to believe that Sami is Mellon’s mini –me.  Or maybe Mellon never played because the horses were so afraid of his authority they never included him in their games.  Sami has no herd etiquette and so he jumps in with all four hooves.  However, this morning I witnessed a very cute scene.  Sami was up Mellon’s butt as usual and when Mellon decided to roll, Sami did the same.  When Mellon got up and rolled on the other side Sami copied.  This wasn't the first time they've been caught in a game of “monkey-see, monkey-do,”  and it leads me to believe that either Mellon is grooming Sami to be the next leader of the pack or perhaps just having a little fun with our bratty boy making him play follow-the-leader for his own amusement.  Either way it’s good to see Mellon playing in his old age and I do believe Sami is keeping him young and helping him get over his deep depression over losing his best friend of 15 years, Erik a while back. 

 ' Sweetie '

We’re waiting for some good weather and the snow to melt completely so Sami can be started in regular work. Sweetie and I feel that when he has a job to do perhaps he won’t be such and unconscionable little monster.

Until next time

Quote for Today

A horse has so docile a nature that he would always rather do right than wrong, if only he could be taught to distinguish one from the other.

Sweetie's Revenge

Sweetie’s Revenge

An Amusing Anecdote

Last week I was outside doing a chore around the barn when I noticed Blue was harassing Sweetie. She was able to get away from him as he snaked his neck towards her with his ears flat back and chased her around the paddock. Sweetie doesn’t get around too well because of her age and arthritic legs, but she was holding her own. Nevertheless, my feeling was that she needed to be rescued from Blue the Bully.

When I opened the paddock gate, she trotted over and exited quickly. Sweetie needs no lead rope because she is so intelligent that she knew the routine after being with us for only a week after we brought her home. Once she exits the paddock, she walks into the barn and her own stall every time. We’ve had her for a little over a year now and she is doing much better than when we rescued her. Back to this amusing little story....

Sweetie made her escape, stopped outside the fence and looked meaningfully at Blue. Then she proceeded to march to the barn swinging her haunches and swishing her tail. She stopped at the barn doors for a second and glanced over her shoulder at Blue one more time. Sweetie was on a mission pure and simple. Once in the barn she sashayed directly into Blue’s stall, and let the water-works fly. When she was done she walked over to the window and looked out at Blue again, I swear she had a smirk on her muzzle. Then she walked into her stall and told me, “I’m done for the day; you can get my hay now!”

You have to love a horse like this.

Until next time

Quote for Today
Be wary of the horse with a sense of humor.
- Pam Brown