Conference noted::equitation

    I truely sympathize with you. My cat and one of my dogs are both
    14 years old. I have had them since they were born. The cat is still
    going strong but my dog is showing her age. Somedays I start crying
    just thinking of the time I will have to make the decision of whether
    to put her down. The only comfort is to know that when the time
    comes it is the kind thing to do. Liesl

    re: .1
    Liesl, I think everyone here in the notes can sympathize with you
    on this.I had to put my dog asleep two years ago, I still think
    of him sometimes.
    It happens to everyone someday.
    
                                                             Steve
                                                            
    
    
    

Jenny,

I am really sorry to hear about your pony.  I know what you are going through, 
my horse died several months ago.  Even though he died unexpectedly, so I 
didn't have to go through the agony of making the decision that you did, it 
didn't make it hurt any less.  The hardest part was that I never got to say
goodbye.

Even though I have had to put a dog of mine to sleep, and have had horses that 
I have worked with die, nothing ever affected me like the death of this horse.  
I had had him for so long, he was really a part of my life, and even 
though he's been gone a while I don't think a day has gone by that I haven't 
thought of him and missed him.  I still cry when I hear a noise in the middle 
of the night and think its him walking around in his stall, then realize its 
not.

Joan

    I appreciate everyone's comments to my story, and thank you to all
    of those who replied to this note and who wrote to me off-line.
    The main reason I shared this story with you all in the notes file
    is because I knew you would understand how difficult it is.
    
    This past weekend was supposed to be the weekend but I couldn't
    coordinate the backhoe and the vet for the same day, so we have
    pushed it off till this coming weekend.  I had to get more Banimime
    to hold Buttons over till this weekend.  I skipped one day of the
    medicine because she was feeling so much better and I learned the
    next morning that I shouldn't have.  She slipped back into that
    same bout with pain like she had the first day I found her last
    week when it all began.  I have never seen an animal in so much
    pain, it must be awful for them to go thru.  Fortuntely the Banimine 
    works so well and I have put her back on it till this ordeal is over.
    
    Thanks again for all your support and if I can coordinate everything
    for this Saturday then after this weekend Buttons will be just a
    very fond memory, one that will last the rest of my lifetime.
    
    Jenny

    JENNY, THANKS FOR YOUR STORY. 
    ITS WONDERFUL TO KNOW THAT ONE LITTLE PONY IS LOVED SO MUCH AND
    HAS HAD SUCH A GREAT LIFE.  I HAVE A GELDING WHO IS 25+ YEARS AND
    WHO HAS BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE FOR 14 YEARS.  HOPEFULLY, I WILL
    NEVER HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION AS YOU DID, BUT IF I DO I WILL ALWAYS
    REMEMBER YOUR STORY.  IT WILL GIVE ME STRENGTH IN KNOWING THAT THE
    SAME FEELINGS ARE SHARED BY OTHERS ABOUT THEIR CRITTERS.  I KNOW
    ITS A VERY DIFFICULT TIME, BUT TRY AND REMEMBER THROUGH THIS BAD
    TIME, HOW VERY MUCH BUTTONS WAS LOVED AND CARED FOR, YOU'VE MADE
    HER LIFE THE VERY BEST!!!!!

    Thanks to all, for making me feel so much better.  Especially by
    pointing out that Buttons had a wonderful life.
    
    It has been 4 days since I had Buttons put down, and finally I can
    talk about her without bursting out crying.  I have accepted the
    fact that she did have a great life and I was fortunate enough to have
    had her for the entire length of it.  I went thru a tough time 
    accepting her death but I think finally I have, now all I can
    think of are the fond memories I have of her.
    
    I have 2 other ponies, both Welsh, one who will be 24 in the spring
    and the other 25.  They are both incredibly healthy right now so
    I do not expect to go thru their death in the near future but I
    do realize that their life too will have to end just as Button's
    did.  My mom said that it gets a little easier each time and that
    the first is always the hardest.  She ought to know, she has been
    raising horses and ponies all of her life and has had to go thru
    it enough times.  
    
    Buttons was the first pony I have ever lost, and I can say that
    it is quite painful to go thru.  I appreciate everyone's support
    and if I ever read of anyone else in the Equine Notesfile going
    thru the death of a horse of pony I will certainly know how you
    feel and send my sympathy.
    
    Thanks again,
    
    Jenny
                                                    

    Recieved a letter this week from a very good friend and riding
    companion when we lived in Virginia.She got a call from where she
    was pasturing,that her mare was down.When she got there,she was
    still down,quiet,not really colicky.A call was placed with the vet,
    who came out.Diagnosis was a blockage---no gut sounds whatsoever.
    This friend really could not afford the surgical route,so they
    took the mare over to the vets house/clinic to watch her.By morn-
    ing--no real signs of distress,i.e.thrashing,etc...common w/colic.
    They made the decision later to put the mare down when she did turn
    for the worse.Autopsy revealed indeed a blockage--an 8"X8" piece
    of sandpaper.She still has no idea of how she got it,or in fact
    why the horse would eat it in the first place.I should mention
    that she wasn't being feed hay,so it couldn,t be that.
    Horses,it seems,have the natural tendency to try there damdest to
    injure themselves no matter what we humans do to avoid that.
    Please take the time to walk around your pasture/barn/corral
    to find even the most innocent piece of wire or nail etc.so
    that we won't be reading about your tradgedy also.
                                 	thank you
    Gary Reynolds

    Gary, thank you for the unfortunate but sometimes necessary safety
    reminder. I hope your friend is able to get a new horse which she
    will be able to enjoy!