Sadly, Angel Baby
crossed Rainbow Bridge this morning. She foundered 3+ years
ago, but the owner continued to breed her. She was hauled to a
breeding farm in June of this year and bred three times but didn't take.
The owner scheduled the local rendering guy to shoot her and two colts
that could not make him money at the track. We were asked if we
wanted the two colts. When I went to look at them, a couple of
days before the rendering guy was to get them, the owner then told me
about the mother of one of the colts; she was in a stall and Moses was
going to shoot her, too. You know me -- I had to go look at her --
my heart said so.
I found the mare
standing in a corner with her head down. She had many bed sores.
She looked defeated, and you could tell by her feet (which hadn't
received care in ages) it wasn't good; but I couldn't leave her there.
We had her settled into a stall at the rescue within an hour. She
was so sweet; I cant describe how kind, caring, gentle, and loving she
was -- being around her just made you feel good. When we brought
her to the rescue, we didn't know if we could help her -- but I wasn't
going to let her die with a bullet to the head along with one of her
babies. She had delivered many babies, including a stakes winner;
she'd made her owner lots of money. She deserved to be pampered
and to leave this world knowing she was loved and with her dignity
restored and her head held high.
We had x-rays taken
of her feet, and her front right had grossly rotated; it amazed all of
us that she was able to get around as well as she did. She had
strong will and an obvious love for life and for babies. She
became good friends with Baby Ray and his mom. She watched Baby
Ray with loving eyes every day. After seeing the x-rays, we talked
with Dr. Ryan, Dr. Das, and Ola (our farrier); and we all felt that we
could give her some time by making her comfortable, and we did. We
agreed that when she was ready, became at risk of more injury, or was in
too much discomfort, we would help her cross. This is just what we
did. We had a few good weeks with her, and she did know genuine
love. She knew she meant a lot to all of us. We all doted on
her; you couldn't help it. Over the last couple of weeks, her body
started to fail her more. In the last few days, she had more
trouble getting up and she tripped a few times and almost fell a couple
of times. We saw a look of worry come over her. Last night,
she let us know it was time. This morning she confirmed it.
Here is Angel Baby
grazing last evening. Most all of her bed sores had healed.
She would put little, if any, weight on her bad foot except for when she
walked. Her left foot worked overtime, most of the time, and that
was not good. We didn't want to risk her foundering on that one.
This morning Dr.
Janine did a nerve block on Angel Baby's bad foot and, when Angel Baby
found out she could walk on it and not feel the pain, walk she did!
She almost trotted up Frosty's Knoll!
She grazed on the
Knoll for a bit. She left this earth quietly and gently,
like the gentle soul she was.
I held Angel Baby for
a while, Diane said prayers, and we all cried. I didn't want to
let her go. Bob and Diane cut off a lock of her tail for our
memories box. It grew cloudy and rainy. This is usually the
case when we have one cross the Bridge. It was such a shame --
Angel Baby truly has a beautiful soul and didn't deserve what had been
done to her. This was a very hard day for all of us here. We
love Angel Baby so much, enough to release her from her pain. Some
people hold on to their horse because they can't imagine life without
them. Believe me, we know that feeling very well; but we also know
that, if they are in pain that can't be helped, it is selfish of us to
keep them here for our own satisfaction. We love them enough to
release them when we must. We find comfort in knowing that, once
they cross, they are no longer in pain and that they are running,
without worry or pain, on the other side of the Bridge -- and they will
greet us someday.
Angel Baby rests
close to Grandma on Frosty's Knoll. She, like all of the ones that
have crossed, will forever be in our hearts.
Our life is forever
changed with each and every horse that comes into our life. They
are all a blessing. They give so much and ask for so little.
You are loved, Angel
Baby -- you will always be loved.
We did take the two
colts into our Adoption program. They were gelded and have since
been placed in loving homes.
