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Post by horselady on Mar 29, 2014 1:04:54 GMT
As most of you know we operate a retirement facility for horse. their last home the live at with the freedom of ponds, creeks, woods , pasture, food, love and grooming, and baths. and a room sometimes with a view. that being said, i have had some put to sleep because the vet said they are coliced or they were in pain, or they were down and could not get them up and they knew and we knew it was time. some have just lied down and gone to green pastures in the sky. There is this one horse that has been here 7 years. his owners have never been here. now before you sound off about that, his female mom kept in contact with me every month, she cried and loved him dearly, she passed away and she made her husband promise to take care of Jem for ever. so he is, i get a small check every couple of months and i do not care about the money, i made her a promise i would take care of him also. He can not bear to see this horse and he has tried to come visit but can not get the strength up mentally to come. so i send photos and updates on how Jem is doing. So this winter he is on so much food. enough to feed 3 horses. and he has lost so much weight. . i have blankets on him all the time because of the cold winter. He still runs when i call him for dinner and he knows his stall. he just loves being fed. all the time. and he knows the fields and woods better than i do. so , my question. do i wait, and see what happens or have the owner give us permission to have him meet his mom? . Such hard decisions.  |
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Post by shadowlark on Mar 29, 2014 1:59:10 GMT
I'd at least wait until the spring/summer and see how he does. If he seems happy, I would try to keep him comfortable until he is NOT happy anymore, so if that meant lots of food and blankets, that's what I'd do. Do you think there is a major health issue making him unable to keep weight on (worms, cancer, ??).
I dunno, it's hard, especially since he isn't yours. Maybe tell the owner you have some concerns that he might be heading downhill and get permission to do what is needed when the time comes, but I'd wait until the weather is nicer and see how he does before making the decision.
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Terry
Junior Member
Central Illinois, USA
Posts: 1,466 
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Post by Terry on Mar 29, 2014 2:48:56 GMT
I have to agree with Shadow on this one. If he's still happy and not in obvious pain, then I would take a wait and see approach. I'm sure you'll know when it's time.
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Post by diamondgirl on Mar 29, 2014 4:04:26 GMT
Spring is so close, and the warm weather will give you time to see if he can put on some weight, once he isn't burning fat to keep warm. I don't know how easy the owner is to contact so I think it would be a good idea to get a plan in place, so you can do what you need to do, when the time comes. I feel it is sad the husband can't get some comfort, by spending some time with the horse his wife loved so much, but it sounds like it might be to painful. Anyway I think I am also with the thought of let this wonderful old guy enjoy some warmth in the sunshine, get permission to make the tough decisions if the time comes before fall, then re-evaluate him at that time to see if he has enough weight and the stamina to go through next winter.
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Post by horselady on Mar 29, 2014 19:30:25 GMT
When i went to bed last night i decided to let him go for a few weeks and let him tell me when it was time. he loved the summer and the fields. and than i would decide. WELL that was not to be, I left to go to get horse food early and never checked the barn, hubby and my hired hand fed the horses. Hubby called and told me that Jem had passed in his stall. yes he made the decision for me. i just feel bad that i kept him in his stall yesterday because of the freezing rain. i should have let him out to wander. he was 33 years old and never knew an unkind hand. never went hungry. and was loved all of his life. This is a photo of Jem on the right with his friend P.O. that has passed about 3 years ago. now they are together with Dance who passed a month before . we called them the 3 musketeers. since they were every where as a threesome. RIP Jem now you are with your friends and your mom.  |
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Terry
Junior Member
Central Illinois, USA
Posts: 1,466
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Post by Terry on Mar 29, 2014 19:35:02 GMT
I don't see any pictures. I'm sorry for your loss. At least he got to have a happy life filled with love right up to the end, and hopefully just passed away peacefully in his sleep. RIP Jem
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Post by horselady on Mar 29, 2014 20:06:19 GMT
i forgot to post the photo thanks for the kind words.
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Lipizzan
Junior Member
Europe, Croatia
Posts: 2,572
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Post by Lipizzan on Mar 29, 2014 20:11:22 GMT
This makes me so sad. But he was living a great life. And what you do is really wonderful. Rip beautiful boy.
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Post by shadowlark on Mar 29, 2014 20:41:54 GMT
Awww I'm sorry for your loss, but glad you didn't have to make the decision. I feel bad for the husband, I'm sure he will take the loss hard.   to all of you! |
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Post by horselover4life on Mar 29, 2014 23:36:31 GMT
Jo...I'm sorry.
A member of your family has passed...your heart is sore an hurting and that makes me hurt and sad for you.
My tears join yours in sorrow but I also know you did everything you could and then some more to make Jems life a good one filled with kindness, love, good food and a kind hand of compassion.
Jem now runs in fields with those friends passed before and will meet those in the future to show them how good and kind life was with you and is kind in heaven to.
...my for you and my sympathies for losing a friend.
K.
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redzip
Junior Member
Posts: 1,701
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Post by redzip on Mar 30, 2014 1:24:56 GMT
See how they are,.., they take the very difficult burden of the decision away from us.  I was sooo glad that Red 'picked' his day. His timing was perfect, he made everything easier FOR me. He was just that kind of horse. I would not have wanted him to endure this terrible winter we have had. I thanked him again the other day, for making my burden less. Sorry for your loss HL, but be glad he knew and 'picked' his best time. 633995 |
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to all of you!
