All Horses Go To Heaven, Right?

We lost a good ol’ boy yesterday.  He was such a healthy gelding, but had an unannounced bout of colic that he was fighting all day and the vet assured us that his intestines were so tangled that it could not be fixed.  I guess anything can happen once horses are over the hill...in their twenties!  Blaze was the king of the field, but not in an egotistical way, like most horses at the top of the hierarchy.  He was so kind to every horse (and sheep!) in the field, but still able to put them in their place if necessary, like a confident student in a hallway full of bullies and victims, if that makes sense.  He was never a bully, but never a victim either.  He was silently gifted to Allan, as when Allan and I started dating years ago he became Allan’s boy, so Allan could show off in the saddle and impress me with his riding skills (I think Blaze taught him how to ride!). 

I remember buying a 6 month old filly with my parents, when I was just 8 or 9 years old.  We loved her so much that we returned and bought her older (half) brother, Blaze.  He was the most obedient horse I have ever had the pleasure of spending time with and I think the most obedient horse I will ever meet.  Nine years old, out in the open field lunging him and if I so much as made a peep in his direction he stopped in alertness and turned to me, full attention on his “little master.”  He could have killed me, but instead he taught me so much about respect. 

I am always telling myself to slow down and spend a few more minutes each day with something or someone that really matters to me, to let go of some responsibilities and change my priorities around.  I rushed out to the office yesterday morning, after doing barn chores, because someone wanted to meet me.  I had planned to spend a little more time with Blaze in the morning when my parents called and told me he was down.  He lives at their farm just down the road.  Of course I didn’t want to make someone wait or let them down so I hopped in my car and left.  If I had only known that this would have been my last moment with him I would have spent the time that morning which I had planned to...given him a quick brush and a few too many carrots.  Once home, I laid with him for hours last night, but I am not so sure he knew I was beside him at that point as he took his last breathes.    

Last night, I kissed all three of my dogs on the head, lingered a few extra minutes in the barn and gave a pat to all the critters, and hugged all of the horses (even the ones that are not mine) before I said good night.    

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