She was a showgirl…
This may sound harsh but being on a farm (I still don’t consider myself a farmer – go back to post number 38 back in 2017 https://wordpress.com/post/orangeacres.blog/38) but when you have livestock – you have dead stock – today – yep – I actually felt like a farmer.
When we moved here in 2013 -we had two horses. We added a third shortly thereafter – a mare who we named Lola because she was FANCY so a show girl.
She was an older mare who still had some zing left and I wanted to make sure her last days were in luxury. She was totally rideable and great fun – a little hot headed but that was her breed. I do not know what life she had before she came here but I sure as shit knew what her life would be like going foward.
But like humans – horses age – they slow down – lose their marbles a bit and you always have in the back of your mind when is it time to make that hard decision to give them their dignity and send them trotting over that Rainbow Bridge.
We knew this past winter would be Lola’s last winter. Her teeth were not doing their job anymore (she lost a lot of weight) – she was down to her last few marbles – and quite frankly was becoming a little dangerous to be around BUT we put her on an amazing diet – trying to squeeze thru until the ground thawed and the weather was nice- one more summer of grass.
Sadly – it was not meant to be.
Confirmation two weeks ago on her body score being sub standard had us making her arrangements for today exactly when our trusted vet would come and assist us through end of life.
Lola had different plans.
Yesterday – we THINK she suffered a stroke so an emergency call to the vet and friends to come assist in getting her out to a more “convenient” location for the vet to do what they need to do.
She went down peacefully without a struggle – cradled head in Hubs arms and passed very quickly.
It was her time.
I question daily why we put ourselves thru this.
We so often have animals that die of old age – get taken out by a predator – birds mostly but it still really does suck when it happens.
We grieve each and every loss we have here.
I did not think it would affect me as deeply as it has as I knew it was coming and I had said my goodbyes MONTHS ago – the rest of it was just paperwork but I have found myself today very weepy and just thinking what could I have done to keep her longer. Nothing I know BUT maybe if I had….
Hubs is a rock and it was his horse -he took care of everything doing the dirty work and the heavy lifting when I wanted to help but just could not bring myself to do it. I am such a wuss.
Goodbye dear Lola – your crazy bitch – I hope you gallop over that Rainbow Bridge sliding to a stop with a carrot in one hoof and dirty martini in the other neighing loudly HELLO – I’M HERE!!!! LETS GET THIS PARTY STARTED!!!!
Orange Acres 