Where Life
Begins Again!

"Fooler's Satin" aka "Bones" aka "Grandma"

07/20/06:  Grandma got a beautiful set of Rhythm Beads from angel Alli! 

09/07/06:  Grandma is better and still loving life mothering Chloe.  She is even tolerating Chloe trying to nurse her! 

09/22/26:  Grandma is maintaining her weight and is doing good.  We're very proud of her. 

09/23/06:  Chloe was out playing with Bud today and when it got a bit out of hand Chloe ran to Grandma for support.  Grandma got between Chloe and Bud and went down on her right side.  She got up and tried pushing Chloe to the right - away from Bud and she went down again.  I managed to get to a gate and open it so she could run out of the paddock.  Once she got out she went down for the 3rd time but this time didn't get up.  She rested for while we hosed her off.  We were afraid she was going to have a heart attack or her lungs were going to burst.  Once Chloe was out of the paddock a big sigh of relief came over Grandma.  After a bit she was able to get up but is very unsteady on her right side.  She was given some bute and is moving around tonight.  We'll be keeping a close eye on her.

09/30/06:  Ms. Susan arranged for Miss Maggie to visit with Grandma and give her a massage.  Grandma's muscles did a lot of shivering and quivering, but it truly helped.  When Maggie was done Grandma just stood there and looked at her like she wanted more!  Grandma says "Thank you Miss Susan and Miss Maggie!"

10/12/06:  Grandma suffered a big setback this afternoon.  She fell down right before her afternoon feeding and could not get up.  The vet came out and after about 2 1/2 hours of trying to help her up and failing, we decided she was ready to cross Rainbow Bridge.  As the vet was preparing for this, we had an idea - Chloe!  We brought Chloe to Grandma.  They touched noses and each let out a very soft whinny.  A soft light flickered in Grandma's eyes again.  Chloe stepped back about 15' and all of a sudden, Grandma got up! 

That little filly did what 6 people couldn't.  We took both of them to the barn, slowly.  Grandma had someone on all sides of her in case she needed help with balance.  We removed the wall between 2 stalls to open up the birthing stall for Grandma and she settled in.  Chloe is right across the aisle from her and they both seemed very tired, but relieved when we called it a night.  We were very blessed tonight.  Grandma is a very special mare to give it her all for Chloe.  Chloe is just not ready to let Grandma go.  Neither are we. 

Thank you to everyone that is keeping Grandma in your thoughts and prayers and provided assistance with Grandma's emergency medical costs.  A holistic vet has treated her and feels that with appropriate treatments, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and rest, she has a good chance of recovery.  She may never be able to run with Chloe again and we will have to put her in a small paddock without any other horses to reduce the risk of further injury.  At night, she will stay in the barn with Chloe.

10/16/06:  It was a beautiful day so I decided to give Grandma the option of getting out of the barn for a walk.  I put on her halter and let her walk which ever direction she chose.  She walked into the paddock behind the barn, very slowly with me on her weak side to help with her balance if needed.
 
She got in the paddock and I took her halter off.  She looked at me as if to say "thank you - but I'm a bit nervous" and slowly walked about 15' away and faced the other horses in the lower paddocks.  She stopped, held her head high, let out a whinny that made her body shake, and stood still long enough to hear the other horses whinny back.  She then slowly turned, lowered her head, turned around, and walked to me, almost losing her balance - I could see and feel the panic in her face and just gave her a smile of encouragement and held out my hand.

I met her half way and she stopped to regain her balance while I put her halter back on.  We slowly walked to her stall.  Once back in her stall she seemed relieved and held her head low as if she was exhausted.  I didn't know it at the time, I wasn't paying attention, but Chloe was behind the barn standing, watching.  I also didn't know that my daughter had been taking pictures the whole time.

I stayed with Grandma for awhile and had a very upbeat talk with her about getting better.  I had no idea that this walk would be Grandma's last walk outside.

10/18/06:  Grandma fell down hard around 10:30 this morning in the birthing stall.  We were with her and it appeared she lost all control over her hindquarters.  We gave her time to rest and tried to encourage her to get up.  She tried once and that was it.  She never tried again.  We took Chloe into her stall to spend a few minutes with her to see if it would help.  This time, when Chloe lowed her head and whinnied to Grandma, Grandma didn't whinny back.  That, along with the look in her eyes, we felt was her way of letting us know she was ready.  We put Chloe in Grandma's paddock behind the barn where she stood at the gate for a long time, waiting. 

We called the vet and made arrangements to help Grandma cross Rainbow Bridge and for her burial.  Grandma crossed at 2:30 pm.  She left hearing many "we love you's" and I held her head until well after she had gone.  There was a prayer vigil for her by many across the U.S. at the time of her crossing.

Grandma left knowing she was loved.  She wasn't hungry, alone, cold, or afraid.  She was a proud, strong willed mare and she wasn't ready to go but had come to realize her body was broken and she could no longer go on.  We did all we could for her but I still feel it wasn't enough.  Somehow, we want to find a way to share Grandma and Chloe's story with the public to help education others about neglect, abuse, the nurse mare foal industry, slaughter, and so much more.  There just has to be some good come out of this, somehow. 

We know Grandma is no longer in pain and she's likely already found her some babies to love on the other side of the Bridge. 

I feel an emptiness now - we all do.  And Chloe, she has been left an orphan now twice in the first 6 months of her short life.  We worry about how she will cope.  The other mares  push Chloe away - she is sort of an outcast even though she tries to make friends with everyone.

We know Grandma will still be watching over Chloe.  The relationship these two outcasts formed is one I just can't describe.  They touched every emotion there is.  Anger felt at the people that threw Grandma out like yesterday's trash and humans that treated Chloe like she was a commodity.  The compassion and love that formed and grew between these two I will never be able to put into words. 

The story of two horses that had been tossed aside like trash that came together and helped each other, if only for a short while.  They taught us so much.  The communication between them just left me in awe.  We are so blessed that they each found their way to our farm.  Grandma will always be in our hearts.

10/22/06:  Today we learned that there is a special filly that, like Grandma, has been saved from terrible fate.  She has been named "Satin's Honor" in honor of Grandma!  Thank you to everyone that helped this filly.  She now has a chance to live life and I know Grandma is proud of her and the many people that pulled together to save her and others.

Update:  Sadly, Satin has crossed Rainbow Bridge.  Her life on earth was cut short because of the way humans had treated and neglected her.  Her little body was just too weak and she is now on the other side of the Bridge with Grandma.