Wall of Memories for beloved equines/pets

[Horsetopia-Annie]

Dear Horsetopia forum members,

This is a place for anyone who is interested to post a remembrance of a beloved equine or other animal who is no longer with us.

This thread will stay locked at all times, but new posts are welcome at any time. To have your posted added, please type up what you want to have included and send it to a moderator via private message. Anyone wishing to express condolences can do so by PM. Anyone needing support or advice will be welcome to post their own thread in the appropriate category.

[Horsetopia-Annie]

Posted by KrisRN2005

My heart holds a special place for my beloved mare, Melody who passed over the rainbow bridge in 2006.

I had the honor of sharing 30 incredible years with my girl, she was indeed my dearest friend. I was seven years old cried with joy when my mom told me that she was going to be mine.

Since that day I have shared every special memory in my life with my Mel and spent every moment I could by her side...my favorite place to be.
Melody spent the last eight years of her life blind. Life became a bit more challenging for us but we had an incredible bond and I knew somehow we would be okay and indeed we were.

We had a bond unlike any other that I have known. She was a part of me and I miss her more than words can ever express.

My memories of Melody are tucked safely in my heart and today when I look back at all the gifts she gave me and the lessons she taught me over our lifetime together I realize that I was indeed the lucky one.

The day we said our goodbye still brings tears to my eyes and I have learned that although time changes everything it really changes nothing.
I know in my heart she is still with me, sometimes I even think I can hear her whinny. I know she is watching over me and she is safe roaming the pastures of heaven until we are together again.

In loving memory of Jubilee's Melody my dearest Friend.

[Range]

Submitted by Range:

Girl died at the end of January, 2007, after battling for two and a half weeks.

She always met us at the door with her smile, she "talked" when she wanted something, she ran like a crazy thing when she was excited, she cuddled with me at night, and she always alerted us to things in the field that shouldn't be there. She was my trail riding companion with a zest for life that only failed at the end.

Girl was my first dog after ten years and our first animal here in the Back of Beyond. My husband brought her to me from the shelter and she was sitting so pretty in the front seat of the van, all 11 pounds of "bull-mation" puppy, Skinny, flea-infested, and sick, but the cutest darn face you've ever seen. The first thing she learned to do? Point and pounce grasshoppers!

Girl was involved in all of my adventures here and I miss her so much, it's sometimes a physical pain. She's buried with her favorite big, blue ball and I sure hope she's playing with it while she waits for me...over the Rainbow Bridge.

I love you, Girl.

[Range]

Submitted by Sugarsgal:

In Memory of Dozer

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just this past June I was honored to be a part of Dozers life. He was a healthy English Bull dog when I got him and turned ill 1 week later.

He had developed severe Pneumonia and was on several antibiotics and oxygen. Dozer had to be fed and watered by syringe and was on 24 hour per day care. We did everything we could for 2 weeks thinking he was getting better. He started to eat and drink on his own, he ran and played and even asked to go out for the toilet, but God felt he wanted him back and took him from us.

He was a true fighter but his little heart just could not take anymore, his heart failed him on June 19, 2007 At 2:00 am he took his last breath.

He was only with us for a short time but he touched everyones hearts deaply. He was very loved and he knew that in the short life he had.

R.I.P Dozer

[Range]

Submitted by Faceman:

SMOKEY
1/1995 - 10/2006

I'll never forget the day we brought you home from the pound. When Mrs. Face first held you on her shoulder, you and she knew you had found a home.

Though your roots were humble, you had a noble heart and no one could ask for a better companion.

Our hearts are still breaking and we still shed a tear when we think of you or walk past your grave. But despite our sorrow, you blessed our lives and for that we are eternally thankfull.

I wish our time together had been longer, but you are still with us in memory and soon we will all be together again.

"Wanna feed the horses"?

[Horsetopia-Annie]

Tribute from b-mark:

My beautiful little Eskimo took his last breath in my daughter's arms a year ago... and I still miss him so much.

He was pushy and obnoxious at times, but he was the most lovable little cuss I've ever known. He protected all of our other animals and once saved a 1-week old chick - he was just the perfect farm dog.





RIP, sweetie.

[Horsetopia-Annie]

Submitted by wingsofdown:

R.I.P. Quest
May 22, 2002 - May 29 2007


I wish that I could've spent just one more day with you
Just one
We would've strolled around
Just you and I
Wandering through the trees enjoying eachothers company
Listening to the birds sing
Feeling the warmth of the sun on our faces
I'd let you take us where ever you wanted to go
Time would fly until the sun was setting
& as i put you away for the night I would kiss you on your velvety nose
Hold your head in my arms
& rub your ears until your eyes closed
I would tell you that i loved you
& that I knew you felt the same.



They are leaving now,
To the sound of beating wings.
To images of a scenery,
A scenery whose colours,
Have started to fade.
They are leaving now,
Just like the easier days left us to die,
Just like the loss of you,
Left the scars that will always be a part of me.


I love you.
Forever & Always...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spVa_sR_MF0

[Horsetopia-Annie]

Submitted by Sundance:

I would like to add a post to the Wall of Memories thread.

My true best friend ventured his way over the rainbow bridge April 21, 2006.

Sundance was the greatest horse I have ever known. He was beautiful, kind hearted, elegant and loving. His true history is still a mystery to me. I have heard several stories of where he came from, how old he was, etc. None of that every truely mattered to me. All I could see was this golden horse that I still dream of to this day. He was everything a horse should be. His eventual downfall was heaves. It had finally gotten the best of him.... and me. I knew the end wouldn't be far off, but I still dreaded the day it would come. After talking it over with my vet, we decided the best thing was euthenasia. We said our final farewell on my grandparents' farm. I still miss my best friend and still have those moments of tears, but always try to remember the laughs and joy he brought to my life. I will never forget my beloved palomino. My Sundance, my best friend.

[divinemisselle]

A Tribute from Snickers:

Ima Possum, AQHA Gelding
DOB- June 6, 1986
DOD- May 8, 2007

Possum has been in the family sine he was 2 years old. He came to live with us when he was 9 years old and was the been there, done that, anyone could ride, horse.

When he was with my in-laws, their son had seizures.
When he had a attack while riding Possum, Possum would stop and wait until he could continue on.

I remember when they were out herding up cows, he had an attack. Possum stopped on top of a hornets nests and did not move until he could. Many stings to him and his young master, but he waited until he could move safely on.

When people come over to ride that didnt know how, Possum was the one they rode. Little toddlers would toddle up and grab his big leg and he would just put his head down to them.

When I had knee surgery, He is the one I would ride.
I would put my knee brace on, and off we go.

He loved the foals and always tried to take them away from their dam's.

Brownie sure loved him and was off her feed and out of sorts after he was laid to rest. She has now bonded with Bonnie.

My mother-n-law rode him at her last horse show before she passed on. A pic of her and Possum are forever on her headstone.

30 min. after Possum made his was over the rainbow bridge, another was born with somes traits as this big guy had.

Thanks to Gbar, Lil P will be coming to fill the shoes of Big P.
It was meant to be by the circumstances that played into this.

Thanks to Face for the stain glass of Possum, where when I look at it, he is still here.

I think of him every day and miss him, but there is still room in our hearts for more to come in.

Possum


Possum and Brownie

[divinemisselle]

A Heartfelt Tribute from SweetPea&Sage:

SAGE, my beloved heart and soul
07/03/03-05/17/07

My favorite picture of me and her; she LOVED to be held!

When I first met Sage, she was a gangly 9 month old puppy living at Toby’s house. She was a holy terror at that point; chewing (and destroying) everything and anything, including pool and hot tub covers, hoses and even a pack of ciagarettes got devoured.

With the approaching summer, they were worried that her relentlessness was going to be too much for their 9 year old daughter and her friends; she just had too much energy for them to handle it and with 3 other dogs as well as Sage, they didn’t have the time they wanted to dedicate to her. So by luck, they offered her to me. I was so excited that Sage was going to come live with me. I was also a little apprehensive since she did have so much piss and vinegar.

Sage and I both got what we longed for…. Me a rottweiler to love and adore… Sage a human to make her the center of their world. We never lost a hose to Sage… she never bothered our hot tub cover…with us she became a different dog.

That summer I found out that Sage loved to chase water coming out of a hose…. God, that used to be her favorite thing… she would run around the yard chasing the stream of spray…. She would fly through the air for it and catch it in her mouth.

Her love for water extended to our pond when we moved here; she would chase anyone who would splash her .. she would commandeer floats (and sink them with her nails).

She also loved stuffed animals with squeakers.. it seemed her goal in life was to surgically remove the squeaker.

And the cotton, oh the cotton would be EVERYWHERE… she loved destuffing stuffed animals… it was like Christmas for her!

Sage traveled everywhere with me... twice to NC, twice to GA (hell, she even stayed at the Hilton). Sage even traveled all the way to Texas with me to pickup Daisy. On the way back we were sleeping at a very dark rest area in Arkansas… a group of guys had pulled up next to me and they were all outside their truck while I was sleeping in my van. I don't if anything was wrong, but it bothered me. So I whispered to Sage, who was already wound up “Protect”, and she started barking her little a** off… which she was supposed to do… protect was my word for “speak” ….just sounds a bit scarier…

I quickly got up, jumped in the front seat and headed out of there… I don’t know if she saved me, I don’t know if I needed saving, but she sure made me feel better and there was no way anyone was going to bother my van….

She has the most expressive face… she could convey so much with her face, and I could read the subtle differences… and she had so much going on upstairs.. she knew so many words and phrases… I don’t know if she was almost human, but she sure made me almost dog…

Sage slept with me in bed almost every night…on her back, with her paws in the air, or on her side with her head on the pillow… she loved to be comfortable in bed… even after having her pups, she would spend part of the night in bed with me; she would just wake me up when it was time to get in with them… she was that smart, she was that good, she was that awesome…

She also loved to be picked up and carried.. all 80lbs of her… she was not a huge rottweiler by many standards, but I have to say she was the perfect rottweiler for me.

Sage lived a wonderful life.. and I just touched on it.. on her.. She was so much to Rob and I…she was so incredibly loved. And she returned it 10 fold… My world revolved around Sage… she started this whole thing.. she’s the reason we are where we are today, she’s the reason we have all these amazing creatures… Sage lived… Sage shared… she made us laugh.. she made us so mad at times… but she made us live too…. And she taught us how to love..how to really love…and that’s the reason it hurts so much… she loved us so well… my how we were blessed to have her for the time we did.

We buried her out by the pond and she is wrapped in my favorite comforter..her body as comfortable in death as it was in life… Jill mentioned how she didn't look like Sage anymore.. she didn't look bad at all for getting hit.. but it’s because Sage was so much more than her body… she was a spark… she was a spark that went out.. she was a wonderful little piece of heaven on earth… I will see her again someday.. I hope I dream about her often.. and I have SO many good memories of her… they make me smile so much… and I have her babies… god, I have her little babies… how blessed can I get… life is bittersweet, I hope you all learn, but I wouldn’t trade my life for the world. Blessed be the creatures…blessed be Sage… watch over us… we love you.

Coco and Sage, my inseperable trouble makers

[Diamond_Y]

Posted by paso_lover
In loving memory of Quilla

I don't know what to say, yet there is so much left unsaid. I guess this is a case of actions speak louder than words. I love and miss you so very much, Quilla, it's been a month yet it feels like yesterday. Although I never said it, I did trust you with my life, even though we fought constantly. I will never forget you and all you taught me about myself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZOAqX6zJ9Q

ETA: Please turn on your sound to get the full effect of paso_lover's beautiful video.

[foxtrottergal]

Sometimes we are given choices, we are not sure that we made the right choice but we know we made the necessary choice at the time. We can maybe make a more logical choice with our head, a sensible choice, business wise with our money, taking on a younger, healthier, possibly in most people's eye's a prettier horse, papered sure bet, but we would be letting down a horse that "needs" us in the process, while the other horse is sure to find a home because it is the "safe" bet. A hard choice to make, sure, in your head, but not hard at all if you choose with your heart and see with your eyes by looking from the inside out. So let me introduce you to a horse that touched my life, my heart, and my soul, he was with me a very short time, and yet he showed me what it is like to have faith, to believe and to love again after losing all these things with the tragic death of a much loved horse, Sammy, that you will find on my introduction back to horsetopia. His name is Sarge, he was a grade tennessee walking horse, but in my eyes there was nothing "grade" about him. His name fit him to a tee, He was a noble, stoic horse that fell through the cracks, a case of severe neglect, left in a field with little grass, no attention or love, and no medical care. I found him at a horse dealers, was led to believe he was 18 (figured he was probably 20) turned out he was 25 or older, according to the vet and farrier. I gave him the best of care, shots, worming, good pasture, senior feed along with amplify for weight gain and coat, hoof care, and scheduled and equine dentist as he pocketed his food. Unfortunately my other gelding did not get along with him and a month in a small turnout kicked him through a fence, a stressor he did not need. Even though he was vetted, taken care of the best and did heal enough to walk again on his own, it was too much along with age and his terribly bad teeth. He also had a parrot mouth and my equine dentist (vets do not do that here) rescheduled twice with me due to surgery of her son and another reason) He passed peacefully the night before his day of dental float. I really did not see it coming, have photos of the day before he passed and he had been putting on wieght again, he would go up and down due to the stressor and his age, had a very glossy, healthy coat (he had very bad dandruff, had all that gone) and such liveliness in his eyes. I am glad for the time I had with him, for every day that I hugged and kissed him, for the children that got to sit on him, for his pasture buddies that were kind with him, for the peace he knew here and for every day I told him after I brushed him out, I told him how very handsome and loved he was. Sarge, You are so very missed...You can never know how very much you touched my life in the short time that I had you, each nicker you gave me when you saw me, each nuzzle of your velvet nose, each teardrop that fell onto your neck when I held you tight...I will treasure as I treasure your lock of tail and each photo I cannot bear to delete from my digital camera. I know you are up there, running those peaceful, green fields with my Sammy, pain free...and you both have found my Mom, who hugs you boys with her tender touch now.
I love you all!
R.I.P. SARGE

You were never master, but friend
I was your friend. I loved you well,
and was loved.
Deep love endures to the end and far past the end.
If this is my end, I am not lonely, I am not afraid,
I am still yours.












Loyal, loving, faithful, brave
Until my saddest day
When you were alone your lonely road
But here I had to stay

You will live on in my heart
My faithful friend so true
And memories of you will fill my mind
Until I go to you.


Click to view...created by my precious friend Meredith
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muH8tc4PsUI/COLOR]

[Diamond_Y]

Sammy, It has been over a year now since I lost you and your story is still so hard to tell that it feels as if my heart has millions of shards of glass that run through it each time I do, but I feel I must.
It is not only to share my greatest love and bond that I have ever shared with a horse, but to warn of the dangers that we sometimes are not aware of and if perhaps my story can save a life as precious as to someone else than it is worth the pain in telling.
Sammy was a curious by nature horse, the type that would always get into something, I swear he could of been wrapped in bubble wrap and he would still find a way to injure himself, but this time he would not be fixable, this time I would lose my heart and soul, my little sorrel that meant everything to me.
It was a hot afternoon, last late July and I had just come inside from filling the water tank, loving on the horses, spraying them down (they loved that) and they were ran off into the field, playing, bucking and just generally being thier happy selves. Little did I know, it would be the last time I would see my Sammy before death came calling. Jeff and I were inside and our airconditioner is loud so we were unaware that anything had happened, and I was actually talking on the phone, until happened to glance out the window to see Sammy coming up. He noticed that he seemed to be walking oddly, something off about him, so he went outside to check. Well, he came back in seconds later, yelled for me to get off the phone, come out there, something was really wrong with Sam. I ran out and what I saw I still cannot get out of my mind. My little horse was standing there, head down, glassey eyed, with most of his intestine hanging down on the ground and all I can think is " Maybe I CAN put it back in? If I can get it back in, he won't die right? I remember trying to just hold Sammy and hyperventilating, and having to chase off the other horses as well, and Jeff calling the vet on the cell.
Sammy's face was rubbed raw on one side, probably from struggling on the ground and I just kept trying to calm him, which he was oddly calm, but I was frantic and kept wanting to black out. Finally Jeff said I have the vet on his way out, and I yelled at him to call another vet as well, I want two opinions, I do NOT want him put down. Well we called two vets and Jeff made me go sit down as I kept rocking on my heels and Sammy was actually backing away from me. He said I was scaring the horse.
The vet arrived, local vet, and after looking just shook his head. I just knew, just by looking in Sammys eyes, I was fighting with the reaper and losing, and I just could not face it. Jeff came over and told me the vet said " He would not make the trip for surgery to Columbia the only place he could maybe even have a chance, not to mention he has stepped all over his intestines, major damage to his other organs from what he could tell, stage 3 shock, white gums, and he is barley hanging on now." The best thing for him was euthanazia. I kept saying wait for the vet from the other town, maybe there is a chance..No they had talked and the other vet agreed, the horse was in misery and for his own good, it was what should be done. Was not even a matter of money, only mercy now. I had said my goodbyes when I held him earlier, I could not watch them put him down. I know alot of you my disagree, but I could not watch this horse I had cried with, laughed with, loved with everything I had, I could NOT watch him lay down and die...So Jeff stayed with him and I just hung my head and cried like I never cried in my life, those deep sobs like when the world is ending and you hate everything and you don't know how you will face tommorrow. Well after about a week of going down and laying on the grave, crying, yelling at God to take me instead, why did you pick on my little horse, turning away from everthing and everyone, and much grieving, anger, resentment, and still plenty of guilt and times of sadness..I am coping. But I do MISS that horse.
Come to find out, he had impaled himself upon a t post left in the field, had been there for years, but we think, he had been playing with the other gelding we have and perhaps reared up, or kicked up and come down on it in his groin area and landed square on it, he never had a chance, the vet said. He and Jeff walked the field and found it, with blood & hair and bent over.
I will never forgive myself that I did not make my field safer, it is of course now, but the price I paid was very heavy. I am crying as I write this.
I just wanted to say, please everyone walk your fields, check for old machinery, wire, down fence, tree stobs, anything you feel that a horse could hurt thierself on, they probably will and you may not be able to fix it. I had warned Jeff about this t post, we had a wire fence running through the field and had taken the wire down, but not the post. We paid for it, we paid dearly.
So for the older members, sorry for the length and the repost, but for any newer members, I hope it keeps you from suffering like I have. Please be sure to click on the link to his tribute video at the very bottom, it was beautifully done by a very good friend of mine and I am so thankful to her for it. Again it is good to be back.

Here is my Sammy...the last photo I got the day I lost him:



One of our many rides:



He and our other gelding, Rocket, playing basketball..





My two boys:



TRIBUTE VIDEO (BY MERIDETH)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnbhJ-1B2rc

[Diamond_Y]

Posted by Sandy_llg:

I just needed to give a tribute to Possum. I have had Possum since he was a couple months old. He was a BIG TIME Momma's Boy. Scared of his own shadow when in the house, but would try to attack the weed eater when outside.

We have another dog who is a year older than Possum and when he would lay down, he would have to lay so he was touching Smokey. If she moved, Possum would get up and move so he was touching her.

When I was sick and hugging the toilet bowl, Possum would come in the bathroom and lay on the floor next to me till I got up and collapsed on the couch or bed. Either place he would be within touching distance.

Always came running to the door whenever any of us came home with a tail wagging. Always happy to see us.

After my horse Molly died last year and I was crying, he was right there.

Possum had almost 12 wonderful years. He had tumors in his throat that were inopperable. I came home from shopping yesterday and his lungs had filled with fluid and he was having a hard time breathing. I called my equine vet (I was going to schedule his appointment this week) and he asked if I could go to his house. When we got there my husband came around and opened the door, I said it might be too late. He had stopped breathing in my arms for a minute, but started again. The vet euthanized him and we drove to our land where Molly in buried and laid him to rest with her.

A friend of my husband's once said that when he died he wanted to come back as one of his dogs because they were so spoiled. He said to us, I changed my mind, when I die I want to come back as one of your dogs.

Possum, I love you and miss you.






In their favorite place


Molly and Lightning

[Range]

Dozer Boy 2001 - 2007

"That ain't no black-nosed, junkyard dog." That's what the man said when we picked you up and I will never forget it.

I hope you've met up with Girl and are romping and playing like you did when you were puppies. I hope someone is there already to throw you all the tennis balls you desire and give you all the bones you want.

I hope you'll have your smile for me when I see you again.

RIP my sweet Boy.

[Diamond_Y]

Walkerfarms would like to share this with our HT family.

In Memory Of Chicks Painted Robin

June 7th 1994 July 28th 2008

Our beautiful horse Robin now, a free spirit in the
heavens above
You were our loyal companion,that we truly loved
You were taken from us on a bright sunny day
Now you are in a greener pasture and meadow
where you can run and play
Your long sorrel mane to your long flowing tail
You made us so proud when we rode you on the trail
Your kind nature,your obedience on command
Your look of comfort when we touched you with our hand
You are in a better place now,no more suffering no more pain
Only good memories of you on earth will remain
Your stall now empty, many tears coming down
We miss you so much Robin,we know you are safe and sound
Run Robin run with your head high and proud
If we look really close,we'll see a horse with angel wings hanging on a cloud
I bet it's a sorrel paint our beautiful mare Chicks Painted Robin.



Granddaughter and Robin

[Range]

From Fishing_trex
In memory of L.C. (aka Elsie) the Cat

Seven years ago we found you, so little, running around a state gamelands dark parking lot, at first thinking you were a skunk the way you hopped from place to place. No one knew you or of you, so we brought you home and made you part of our family. We named you L.C. (for "Little Cat"), not knowing you would grow up to weigh 16#, and not knowing you would play such a large role in our lives with your unconditional love. You never missed a night sleeping at my feet or an evening in my lap or a day of comforting me when I was sick or sad. You were too young to curl up on the sofa and simply die in your sleep...and we were so shocked to find you that way, without a chance to say goodbye. You left a huge hole in our family and your paw prints on our hearts.

We miss you L.C.