Saturday, August 8, 2009

Heartbroken

Hubby and I are heartbroken. Last night at midnight we had to make the unbelievably hard decision to put our beloved Sunny down. Fine on Thursday and dead by Friday has left us shocked and grieving.
He had a blockage in his intestines that was getting worse by the minute. Anyone that has experienced colic in a horse knows the frustration of not being able to fix the pain. Yes surgery was an option but we would have had to drive him to the hospital two hours away and the vet said that even then it was iffy at best. Most believe that a horse can be worse off after the surgery. So after trying everything possible to fix it and two vet visits we decided to put Sunny out of his pain.
Miniature horses are prone to such blockages because their intestines go from very big to very small in a small amount of space with a bend toward the end. The bend is where things get stopped up. I did know this from reading it online but chose to put it out of my mind. Sunny as small as he was did have very large poops.
To see your significant other sobbing over the body of his beloved little horse was the last straw. I said it once before but I will say it now with certainty,
I will never own another horse again. Period.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry for your loss. I believe 'it is better to have loved and lost than never loved at all.'

Danni said...

Ohhhh.....I'm trying to call you right now. :-(
I'm sending you both a big hug.

frugalmom said...

Oh NOOOOOO..I am so sorry. So very sorry.

Big hugs coming to you from me.

Anonymous said...

i have lost horses to colic and i agree that it is the hardest decision to make! No words can console right now but know you did the best you could for him!

Tracey said...

I am so sorry for your loss and pain. I hope you take some comfort in knowing what a great home with patience and love you provided for Sunny!
Tracey

Kelly said...

I'm so sorry to hear about Sunny. Big or small it hurts. We have lost horses to colic, old age, illness. It is never easy. I think it is because they have such soul and intelligence in their eyes.
Kelly

@JDHealingTimeOnEarth said...

Oh no, a big hug to you both. So sorry for your loss, Wendy. Just know that things happen for reasons often unknown to us. But you gave him a very good life, he touched you both in positive ways. Breathe deeply. Breathe in healing, breathe out peace.

goatfarmer said...

Not little Sunny. Not little Sunny.

Helaine said...

Oh I am sorry to hear about your beloved Sunny passing on.


Hugs, Helaine

Heidi said...

Oh I am SO sorry for you!! that is so sad - been there myself and wouldnt wish it on anyone... hugs to you!!!

I need orange said...

I'm so sorry. It is always so hard when they must go on without us.

Stephanie said...

Poor Sunny. We'll miss him! I know this may not help, but you can take comfort in knowing that the last home he had was the best out there.

Marigold said...

We are all so sorry. This has been a very hard year.

Holly said...

*sucks in breath sharply*

Oh no! Colic is one of my worst fears.

this is one of those hard hard decisions...you know what has to be done, but you hate doing it.

My heart breaks for you.

DebH said...

I am sorry,and I understand your feelings and realize nothing said really helps much, but time eases the hurt. I always die a little with each of my animals passing, then I reawaken when I see new life that is so remarkable. You are wonderful people for being so caring, you should not make decisions right now. Emotions help us heal. Take Care

Esther Garvi said...

I'm so sorry for your loss!
Sending a big hug from Sweden!!

Lisa said...

'bye Sunny.

Wow, I'm shocked and so sad.

Please take care.

MaskedMan said...

Ah, dammit. That hurts. My deepest sympathies.

May your memories of Sunny Jim provide you comfort - He'll always be in your heart.

goatgirl said...

Thank you everyone for being there when I needed you. This has been so incredibly hard. I loved that little knuckle-head. To make the decision to end his life was about more than I could stand. I have certainly lost animals before...anyone that has a farm knows that comes with the territory but something about losing Sunny was harder than I have ever experienced.
Thanks for being so understanding and making these last couple of days just a little more bearable.
I truly felt all of the hugs you sent my way...even the one from Sweden.

Melinda said...

I am so sorry you had to do this. Thank God you didnt make him go through the pain....It was too much...So many hugs to you...

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry about Sunny!
I also understand how it feels to love an animal friend that has been with your family so long.

Take care.
Pam

sugarcreekstuff said...

I have been on vacation and am just learning about your Sweet Sunny. I'm so sorry. That beautiful little horse and your posts about him will be missed.

goatgirl said...

thanks for your kind words Melinda and Pam.
sugarcreekstuff, It still takes my breath away I miss him so much.

Pamela said...

So very, very sorry for your loss. Any loss is painful, but it's these unexpected ones that rip you to shred.

Wish there were words to soften the blow, but I know there aren't. Just so sorry.....