I Lost a Horse Today.

[jdmidwest]

Saturday started off normal.  Spent some time with the Grandkid and off to the farm for chores.  Luckily, he stayed behind with Grandma.  Stopped on the way and picked up lunch for Dad and I and fought the hurricane winds along the way, rocking the truck from side to side.

Rolled into the farm and Dad was on the tractor.  Doc was down and he needed me to open the gate.  ???  Tide had turned for the worse in a few seconds.  Down thru the barnyard and thru the gates into the horse yard.  Sure enough, the horse that Dad had been so proud of, Sired many a colt, and had been King of the barnyard was wallowing in a watering pond, barely holding his head above water.  I saw, and knew what was coming.  He had been in there a while, lungs filled with water and he was wore out.  Too far out to reach.  I sent Dad for a halter and some rope as I assessed the situation.  I knew how it was going to end, but I tried.  So did Doc.  I retreated for water boots and something else.

I got back down to the pond and Doc had done his best.  His last lunge brought his head back to the bank.  I worked his halter on, all I could do to lift his large head to get it under it.  He was slipping, strenght was gone.  We hooked him up to the tractor and drug him out.  His back leg was broke and twisted under, and looking at it, probably had been there all night.  I sent Dad off.  After he was out of sight, I did what had to been done.  I  stayed with him until his last breath.

We called an excavator and dug a hole, buried him there in the horse pasture.

Doc was born about the same time as my daughter.  Dad raised him from a Colt and he became a fine horse.  I have rode Doc too, as did my daughter.  He was a part of the family.

[fishinwrench]

Well that sucks 😞

I thought this was going to be a story about a big bass that broke you off, and that I'd be able to laugh at you.   Now I just want to give you hug. 😟

[Johnsfolly]

I'm sorry about your loss. You did what had to be done to keep Doc from suffering more than he had been.

[MOPanfisher]

Sorry to hear about your loss JD, sometimes there are no other choices.

[jdmidwest]

Not in this case.  No Vet could have fixed that one.

I have put down pets before, but horses are something else.  They live a long time and seem to understand a person.  He gave that last little lunge out of the pond to make things easier for us it seemed.

[Mitch f]

I hate to hear that...very sorry