ChrystalPaths
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- Joined
- Aug 31, 2003
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- 8,277
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I know more than I ever wanted to know about founder and laminitis. It is one of the cruelest equine diseases I have ever encountered. Some of you know my lovely Treasure was foundering about 10 wks or so ago, I did everything told but she continued to decline. Finally the last week or 10 days she was on complete stall rest and still with her up to 1/2 tab plus of bute 2 times daily it never touched her pain. Friday she looked at me with that look. I sat with her that nite brushing and talking and stroking her leg and hoof giving it all the magic I could send and I still felt a bulge in the bottom. I asked her if she wanted to go and she lay her regal head on top of mine and sighed.
I made the arrangements quickly. The backhoe was here at 9:30am Saturday, he picked a wonderful spot where I can see her grave always. Then he surprised me by coming up on the porch where he and his helper waited until 12:30 when my vet arrived.
As the vet (jess) and I walked quietly to the barn and she asked if I was sure. I said look at the foot. She cleansed it gently as I brushed her long mane and shook her head, she saw the coffin bone too. "Do you want her done right here? she asked. I said, "No, I don't want to drag her, I will walk her to her grave".
Jess shook her head and didn't believe she could walk. Honestly I knew it would be so hard for her but my Treasure has such dignity and grace. I haltered her and pressed a point on her that would numb her a bit, filled her with my Reiki, then asked her to walk out the barn on the soft side with me. OMG she did. Head up with me holding her she walked a bit and would stop and crop a few bladed of sorely missed grass, then she would walk a bit more. 3 adults watched as we approached slowly, each had tears including me by then. I t took her 10 mins to walk such a short way but she did it for me.
We stopped at the lip of her grave and she was so serene. Jess said to run get her brush, see, Treasure would allow anything to be done to her if you brushed her hair. She was like a little girl and you could feel her purr as your brushed and stroked. When that huge needle entered she never flinched. asked if I was ready I nodded and as I brushed her and told her I loved her she gave a final whinney and the girls in the barn whinneyed back and she was gone.
In the blink of an eye or less. The 4 of us gently lowered her onto a bed of soft straw in her deep grave. We covered her in a big comforter then I walked away to take down the fence that had shut down the paddock so I could finally let my other 2 (how can there be only 2 left) girls out. I fear Diminutives is dead, no stallion anymore, all my ladies gone but 2.
My heart is just so sad and it hurts more than I thought possible. She was my baby. I loved her from the moment I saw her all 12 ft legs and furry tiny face, and as she grew into an old soul and an elegant lady. She was only 3 and next year would have been bred somehow and what a child she would have had.
Diminutives Treasure's Secret Gold (she is in the center)5/23/05 to 9/16/06
I made the arrangements quickly. The backhoe was here at 9:30am Saturday, he picked a wonderful spot where I can see her grave always. Then he surprised me by coming up on the porch where he and his helper waited until 12:30 when my vet arrived.
As the vet (jess) and I walked quietly to the barn and she asked if I was sure. I said look at the foot. She cleansed it gently as I brushed her long mane and shook her head, she saw the coffin bone too. "Do you want her done right here? she asked. I said, "No, I don't want to drag her, I will walk her to her grave".
Jess shook her head and didn't believe she could walk. Honestly I knew it would be so hard for her but my Treasure has such dignity and grace. I haltered her and pressed a point on her that would numb her a bit, filled her with my Reiki, then asked her to walk out the barn on the soft side with me. OMG she did. Head up with me holding her she walked a bit and would stop and crop a few bladed of sorely missed grass, then she would walk a bit more. 3 adults watched as we approached slowly, each had tears including me by then. I t took her 10 mins to walk such a short way but she did it for me.
We stopped at the lip of her grave and she was so serene. Jess said to run get her brush, see, Treasure would allow anything to be done to her if you brushed her hair. She was like a little girl and you could feel her purr as your brushed and stroked. When that huge needle entered she never flinched. asked if I was ready I nodded and as I brushed her and told her I loved her she gave a final whinney and the girls in the barn whinneyed back and she was gone.
In the blink of an eye or less. The 4 of us gently lowered her onto a bed of soft straw in her deep grave. We covered her in a big comforter then I walked away to take down the fence that had shut down the paddock so I could finally let my other 2 (how can there be only 2 left) girls out. I fear Diminutives is dead, no stallion anymore, all my ladies gone but 2.
My heart is just so sad and it hurts more than I thought possible. She was my baby. I loved her from the moment I saw her all 12 ft legs and furry tiny face, and as she grew into an old soul and an elegant lady. She was only 3 and next year would have been bred somehow and what a child she would have had.
Diminutives Treasure's Secret Gold (she is in the center)5/23/05 to 9/16/06
