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We laid our girl to rest today, March 8, 2010 - Duchess is now free of her pain and discomfort.
Her life was far too short, but it was filled with a lot of joy for her while
she was here. Only 10 years old this year, she was a great mom to 5 beautiful
babies, 4 fillies and 1 colt. 3 of the five have gone on to the show ring and
been very successful with a AQHA Congress champion, The Gridiron Kid and a PHBA
world show top 5 finisher 2 years in a row, Cool Scotch Dreams. Her 2009 filly,
A Kid Can Dream is now in New York and starts her show career this
year.
Duchess was a gift to my
mom from daddy on her 80th birthday. Daddy wanted mom to have a mare that she
could see a baby from every year, and Duchess was her birthday surprise. Daddy
loved this mare, always asking about her and naming her babies every year. Mom
always wanted to see her girl first when they would come to the ranch to visit
and Duchess would always rest her head in mom's hands and eat carrots that mom
brought to her. Mom and dad seemed to get a lot of joy and happiness from
Duchess and her babies every year.... And that was why daddy bought her... Out
of Love.
Duchess lived here with us,
we provided everything for her and her babies. 2 years ago, she developed severe
laminitis with 20 degree rotation in both front feet. At the time, she had a
filly by her side and was back in foal for 2009. We decided to try and keep her
comfortable in order to let her raise one more foal. With the help of our
wonderful vet, Anthony Holcomb and our devoted and fabulous farrier, Ray Tomez,
we were able to keep Duchess comfortable and even managed to allow her the
freedom to be on the pasture! She was happy, grazing with her friends and quite
mobile. Although her movements were far from graceful, she never was "down more
that she was up." Todd and I had decided that when that time came, we would do
the kindest thing and have her pain permanently relieved.
Duchess raised her filly in
2009 easily and then went on to care for the other weanlings as they were
separated from their dams at weaning time. She was always the perfect mom to her
foals and any others that she was around. Ever patient and kind and always
trying to keep up with them. When our snow came this year, I was so scared for
her that she would be miserable, so I decided to bring her in the barn. When I
went to catch her in the pasture, much to my surprise, she turned from me, and
took off running and bucking across the snow covered grass!!! What a beautiful
site to see, her running with the other horses, seemingly pain free and
obviously loving life! We figured the snow must have filled her hooves and
"numbed" them so she could run without feeling anything. Sadly, as the weather
changed and the ground began to harden the first week of March, she was more
painful than ever. She reached that horrible point this weekend of being "down
more than up", so we knew that dreaded time had come. Through it all, her best
buddy, LuLu (our 2 yr old mare) staying by her side, standing over her in the
pasture this past weekend. Duchess would get up to eat and graze some, but then
would go back down. Although I did not see any bone coming through her hoof, I
know it was just below the surface and that was something I would not allow her
to go through.
This morning, we laid her
to rest.... After she had breakfast and carrots, she peacefully crossed over the
bridge into God's pastures. Our vet, Anthony gently helped her pass and was as
sad as we were to let her go. She is running now and not in pain. We are left
with beautiful memories and a comfort knowing we gave her the best life we
could. Duchess taught us so much - she fought for everyday and never complained
when we had to work on her feet. She had the kindest, softest eyes I have ever
seen and I will miss them so much. Rest in peace our precious girl. You
brought so much to us all... Especially to mom and dad and for that, we are
forever grateful. Thank you God for allowing us to care for your girl while she
was here.
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