Some days have a way of taking a persons breath away and leaving them dazed. Today started out like any other, with the grand anticipation of moving the remaining six horses from the Douglas Legacy Farm. A friend and photographer, Dan, made the trip with me in hopes of connecting with the shipper. We arrived in early afternoon, and set to the task of going to greet the horses and feed. Tanner, as usual, was front and center, his large sorrel head stretching over the gate. It was time to mix Easys senior feed, which we did, and set in the barn. 1,2,3,4,5 horses came up to munch greedily on their sweet feed. Where is 6? I went to look, and Easy was standing in the pole shed with her head down low, something noticeably alarming. I took her by the halter, noting the discharge from her nose on both sides. We walked into the barn, but she did not offer to lower her head to eat. Instead, her breathing was labored, heart rate was 100 bpm, and she felt warm. Her rear legs were shaking, and she had an odor that told me something was very very wrong. The vet was called, and we waited the long hour or hour and a half for her to get to the Douglas Farm. During that time, we had a chance to observe Easy, whose head was down and eyes had lost their love for life. Her daughter, Tyler, stood by her side. Dasher came up to be let in with the old brood mares. Easy still showed no interest in them, but acknowledged Tylers presence. While grooming her, we noted that Easy was taking in air through her nose, but it seemed to be exiting her rectum. Could that be possible? We panicked. Prayers, hugs, soothing words to Easy....and then the vet came. Upon examination, the vet gave us words we did not want to hear. Colic, not moving manure, possible choke, gums blue.....and upon rectal exam she said she felt what was the most enlarged kidney she had ever felt. Words, expressions, stares.....waiting.......recommending.............options of tapping her belly and examining fluids, tubing Easy.......but the vet strongly felt that in the end it would all be in vain. Words hard to recall...ringing through my mind............Easy would die within 12 hours, or maybe 24....shutdown, imminent death, humane thing to do is euthanize. I sobbed. The vet hugged and rubbed my back. I looked back at Easy, whose rear legs were shaking with distress. Phone calls. Texts. The neighbors who helped ASAP take care of Easy offered to come over. Uncontrollable sobbing. Not expecting this today............never expecting it. Not wanting to face it. Of course, the transport back to ASAP was impossible today. Would Easy pass at the Douglas Farm where she had spent a glorious summer in the company of her daughter and the rest of the herd? Or do we bring her back to ASAP and bury her? The vet said the trip would be unreasonable and she may fall in the trailer. More decisions, tears, the thought of giving up, letting go.............but the vet was patient and kind. After all, Easy is 29...........hard winter ahead, may have cancer..........most likely multiple things going on.....my head spinning, I looked to Easy for the answers. It was clear....she couldnt go on...........not like this. Being the coward that I am, I had to leave. Chelsea and her grandpa would stay. Chelsea brought me a gift - a project she had been working on of an embroidered picture of Easy that she had planned to give........more sobbing, tears, hugs............Chelsea said, Dont worry Sue - she will be running again in heaven, and no longer suffer. I replied, And she will be reunited with the owner who loved her, raced her, bred, her, and cared for her up until the last eight months of her life. The thought was comforting. I did not witness this but was told by Chelsea that as they led her out to end her days....she whinnied to her daughter Tyler, and Tyler whinnied back. I could not bear to hear any more of this, fearing that maybe she was not ready to go. On the contrary, Chelsea told me.........She was telling Tyler that she was going to be all right. Sedation was given, and Easy passed within one minute of being given the euthanasia. Tomorrow we face the task of burying her at the Douglas Farm. Please pray for our strength as we say so long to a very very special Standardbred mare. It was an honor and a privilege to know her, care for her, treasure her........God must have known. One day away from coming back to the ASAP farm....but passing at Pearls blessed farm where she experienced paradise this summer.
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 02:05:26 +0000
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