The Horse is poorly and its not looking good...

[MagicLlama]

Im gutted. After all that drama with finding him, and deciding to keep him, and everything, for him now to be ill and it looking bad just feels like a punch to the face!

Hes lost the ability to stand, I heard him neighing in the early hours of the morning, and found him down and unable to get up - Vets been out and here since 5am! The Horse is up now, finally after a mass of pain killers from the vet, and us all heaving him up, but hes very wobbly, and hes shaking, and im not confident that hes going to stay up.

Vets gone off now to test bloods, and im supposed to be leaving him The Horse that is to some peace and quiet, because everytime I go to check on him he tries to wobble over to me and he looks like hes about to fall over again.

Theres talk of colic, grass sickness, muscle atrophy or all sorts of things.

I just feel so helpless, and like I should be doing something to help him, and I cant.

And just to add insult to injury for the poor guy, hes not allowed to eat until the bloods come back, so everyone else has been fed but not him! As least he seems bright enough to be annoyed about that which is a plus I guess.

[FrankellyMyDearIDontGiveADamn]

I'm so sorry to read this Magic

I have to say the list of symptoms, etc sound very similar to what happened to one of Nicky Henderson's horses a few months ago. SPIRIT SON was found collapsed in his stable and unable to stand, they think it was a virus that apparently a lot of horses carry without showing signs. You can read his story on this forum thread

[Paddlinglikehell]

Just found this, and was so impressed that you took him on and did right by him in your other thread.

Horse was lucky to find you. Maybe it was meant to be. One thing is that he had a lovely last few weeks, with someone who could make that decision for him when it came and there is no doubt from what he had gone through, it was the right one.

It's still crap though. x

[horsemadmom]

ML, you are a heroine. It doesn't make the loss easier but, know that we all think you are amazing.

[QOD]

Oh nooooo

Poor you :(

[itsthawooluff]

Magic llama, I think you have done the very best for Horse since he came to you, and no one can ask more. He was fortunate to have you to take care of him, and make the best decision for him at the end.

[countrykitten]

So very sorry about the Horse. He sounded wonderful and you gave him the best of everything when others had failed him. I know exactly what you mean about feeling better when he is back with you where he belongs.

[Wolfiefan]

I am so so sorry for your loss. I have only just found this but I saw the thread where you found him.
Perhaps he found you. A person to treat him well and do everything you could for him including that last and hardest decision. You did everything you could and I have no doubt that his time with you was his most cherished.
I don't care if this is unMN. Sending you hugs and pony cuddles.

[countingto10]

Just caught with this heartbreaking update. Please take comfort from the fact that you gave him more love, care and attention in his last two months of life than he had previously and you did not let him down in the end when the most awful and most important decision had to be made.

Horses are such spiritual animals and get right through to your soul. There's a saying that a man who cannot cry for a horse is no man at all .

[50BalesOfHay]

I'd pay good money to see you riding your tortoise, Magic. Get one of those giant ones.

[MagicLlama]

offs plomino im in bloody tears reading the story of your girl.

Bastard animals ... I wouldnt be without them though, DS suggested I get a tortoise as that will outlive me, and then I wont be sad when it dies - maybe I should give it some thought!

[MimsyBorogroves]

Oh magic, The Horse touched all of us here on MN - as did your care of him. He sounded such a lovely boy, and I'm only sorry that his stay was so short.

[Plomino]

Oh magic I'm so so sorry . You did your best for him , giving him your time, love and attention , and a safe home . He was fortunate indeed to have found you , even if it was only for a little while . An awful lot of horses don't have anything like that kind of luck.

Please don't feel like an idiot . I lost my first pony two years ago at the age of 35 after having her for over 30 years . It was completely unexpected , in fact she had just been green lighted by the vet for exercise after a horrific field accident , when I went out to give her breakfast , and found her collapsed in her stable . When I went in to check her , she knocked me over, and ran out into the field , only to collapse again. And then did it again, and again whilst waiting for the vet . When she got here , she did it again , and when she was laying down with her head in my lap , she looked me in the eye and whuffled , and I knew what had to be done . She went by injection , with her head in my lap . Even now , typing this , I confess my keyboard is decidedly blurry . And I did an awful lot of wailing then .

As I said to DS1 on the day , we have to make these choices BECAUSE we love them . I didn't want to be frightened of finding her collapsed , trapped in her stable , or dying in pain and fear . Even the vet and my farrier ( my next door neighbour) were a bit choked.

Her ashes are under the pear tree she used to strip all the pears off when she thought we weren't looking , and one of her shoes is on the gable of our new stable yard , because she'll never ever be forgotten . And nor will your boy .

Bloody horses .

[kayb0]

Hey Magic, I've only just joined this forum and have just read this thread. - As someone who lost a beloved horse through colic a few years ago, I feel your pain. - It's totally sh*t isn't it!? - But you did the right thing and the horse had a lovely last few weeks. Sadly, as animal owners, one of the crappy things is us being responsible for not only the quality of their lives but the dignity and comfort of their deaths; you did him proud.
Hugs
x

[winniesmum]

I too have read your threads and agree with fengirl1, you did a great thing and helped restore my faith in people! I'm so sorry for your loss.

[fengirl1]

Magic - I read your other thread about The Horse with great interest. I'm sorry he had to be PTS . You shouldn't feel bad about anything - you took him in and cared for him when no-one else could or would.

[yani]

Magic -I'm no gardener, but how about a plant/shrub that blooms or changes colour around the time he entered your lives?
My neighbour has an amazing plant with stems that go deep red in the Autumn
must ask her what it is called

[MagicLlama]

Thanks for everyones kinds thoughts.

I feel a bit of an idiot, as im still really emotional about it all. I reread that flippin poem by horseylady and sobbed my eyes out - although it is a lovely poem! I veer between thinking I should have done more for him, and that maybe if id just tried something else - he was insured thank god so the cost element could have gone on for a bit longer - to thinking that maybe this was why he was dumped, and at least hes had a couple of months being spoilt rotten and pampered and that difficult as it was it was the right thing to do and hes at peace now.

I said to DS the other day that the downside of having animals is that they often die before we do, and that we have to remember that the joy of owning them even for a short while is worth the pain of letting them go - but right now it doesnt feel like it - i feel about 3 again instead of 30 - i just want to wail its not fair

We are going to plant something in the garden in memory of him, next to my honeysuckle, which is what we planted when my last pony died (9 years ago) so i need to think of a plant / flower that reminds me of him and then his ashes will be back and we will spread them round the forest, and he can roam free forever more

[MinnieBar]

So sorry that this is how it all ended. I'm sure it's not much consolation, but I can't help but feel it's better that he ended his life somewhere he was loved and cared for, rather than with people who clearly didn't give a toss.

[yani]

Oh Magic, I've only just found this thread.

So sorry, It's heart-breaking being with your horse as they are pts.

You have been a fantastic owner to him, he knew you loved him which is why he kept trying to walk towards you.

In time, you will be able to realise what a massive difference you made to that horse.

I'm very sorry that his story ended here.

[Mitchy1nge]

been thinking of you lots magic, sending you love x

[CaroleService]

Oh no!

[KiwiJude]

So sorry Magic, I only found MN yesterday and your other thread about The Horse this morning. After all the moving from place to place he was lucky enough to end up in your paddock and became a part of your family. Part of taking animals into our home and heart means that sometimes we have to make hard decisions that are best for them and that's what you did. Godspeed The Horse. Hugs!

[MummyO4]

Very, Very Sad. You should only be proud of yourself for helping this poor horse at his end. I would imagine that his previous owners knew he was ill and dumped him with you because they probably couldn't afford the vets bills etc. You did what a true animal lover would do and you gave it your all. Thank goodness they chose you. Hold your head high and know that you saved his suffering and were able to be there for him to make the right decision to save him from anymore pain. Bless you!

[CajaDeLaMemoria]

I did wonder about EHV-1. It's quite common for infected horses to be ditched, at least round here.

Oh gosh this has had me in floods. I'm very glad he had you for the last months of his life, because he clearly touched you, and he seemed to warm to you instantly. He was happy, and that means so much, in the end.

I'm so very sorry that he's gone, though. Look after yourself.

[Nuttyfilly]

Im so sorry! What an awful shame after everything. Hugs to you