I'll lend you for a little while
My Grandest foal, He said,
For you to love while she's alive
And mourn for when she's dead
It may be one or twenty years,
Or days or months, you see.
But, will you, till I take her back,
Take care of her for me?
She'll bring you charms to gladden you,
And should her stay be brief,
You'll have some treasured memories
To bring solace to your grief
Since all from earth return.
But, there are lessons taught on earth
I want this foal to learn.
I've looked the wide world over
In my search for teachers true.
And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes
With trust I have selected you.
Now will you give her total love,
Nor think of the labor vain,
Nor hate Me when I come
To take her back again?
I know you'll give her tenderness
And love will bloom each day.
And for the happiness you've known
Forever grateful stay.
But should I come and call for her
Much sooner than you'd planned,
You'll brave the bitter grief that comes
And someday understand.
We can not express the depth of our grief of losing a horse so dear to our hearts. You were, and always will be here with us in our hearts April, and you will never be forgotten for the sweet, loving and wonderful horse that you were.
We love you sweet girl, rest peacefully now.
Stephany, Patrick, Jessica, Andrew, Jeremy, Ciagan, Hannah, Dakota & the staff, families and horses at Morgan's Farm at the United States Military Academy in New York.
April's stall plate graces the wall in the office at West Point.
Our Sweet Boy, Limerick
Beautiful Boy.
The beautiful tribute above to Limerick was made by his angel Jeanne - thank you Jeanne!
Thank you Jamie in TN, Karen, Ciatlin & Murphy in TX, Jeanne & Linda for being Limerick's Angels while he was still here with us. Lim felt very special having his own angels to help care for him. Thank you Elizabeth, Lim's foster mom, for loving him so much and taking such great care of him. He knew love and what it was like to not have a worry in the world, even if for a short time.
Limerick came to us in January of 2007 as an emaciated 27 Y/O gelding seized by the county due to neglect. Limerick's rehabilitation was quite a challenge due to his age, medical conditions and depleted condition, but he steadily gained weight and a renewed energy. We all grew so attached to this older gentleman and fought with and for him until the very end. Sadly, Limerick had to be humanely euthanized because he went completely blind from Uveitis, which was causing him pain and made living with his EPM very difficult.
| Arrival - January 2007 | June 2007 | |
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My Dixie 5 Y/0 OTTB Mare with a Heart of Gold
I would like everyone to meet Dixie......she is a 5 Y/0 OTTB mare that was injured racing and came to us as an emergency today, December 5th. She has a slab fracture in her front right leg and her left front is beginning to deform from her trying to keep all of her weight on it and off the injured leg. She has sores on both sides of her body from laying down so much. Unfortunately, Dixie has been in this condition for too long and surgery will not be an option. She leans out on her right hoof due to the deformity and although we were wishing and hoping that it wasn't as bad as it sounded, it is. Our veterinarian will be out tomorrow to see Dixie and make his assessment, however, two veterinarians at the track have already said that she should be euthanized. Dixie is bedded down in a ton of straw right now so that she can lay down in comfort if she needs to. I gave her a treat of sweet feed, bran mash and peppermints with 2g's of Bute to keep her comfortable through the night until our vet can get here tomorrow to see her. I held the bucket in my hands while she ate out of it, kissing her forehead and telling her what an absolute princess she is. She looked at me with the kindest expression in her eyes and continued to eat. As she was standing there eating, Soxx, our barn cat, walked into her stall and lay down in the straw. I have never, ever saw him do that with a horse in the stall before. Dixie put her head down to smell him and was ever so careful not to step on him. He was still in there with her after night chores, laying by her hay, with Dixie calmly munching, content with her friend being there with her. It is with so much sadness that I say I believe our vet will recommend euthanasia for beautiful Dixie. Her leg looks to be completely unstable and she has a very hard time getting around on it. Her opposite leg is becoming compromised because of it. My heart is breaking for her, yet, I'm happy that she will be with us if that is the recommendation. She has stolen my heart already - her and I really bonded this afternoon. She knows she is loved. This beautiful young mare has so much dignity and grace. She is a beautiful young lady. Our beautiful Dixie was peacefully laid to rest on December 6th, 2007 - the day after her arrival here at Celtic Rein. Dixie's injury was catastrophic - an unstable, displaced slab fracture. Unfortunately, the time to have been able to help Dixie had long since passed and the only kind thing we could do for this beautiful mare, that we only knew for such a short period of time, was to end her pain and suffering. We are so sorry Dixie, although we only knew you for a brief period of time, you meant the world to us. Like I whispered in your ear, you were not a rescue, in my heart, you were mine and you crossed over with all of my love. |
