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  Discussion on Lost my Beloved Appy Today
Author Message
New Member:
sgmathie

Posted on Saturday, Aug 4, 2012 - 11:42 am:

I am sitting here absolutely devastated. I got up this morning to find my beloved "baby" dead in the pasture. I had noticed he had a discharge from his sheath but was keeping an eye on it as he had had that a few years ago but recovered. Now I have to wonder if he did "recover". I feel so stupid that I did not react to this correctly and call the vet. I won't do a necropsy as it won't change the outcome and I can't stand the idea of carving him up. My other gelding will be watched like a hawk but he has always had a very clean sheath. This gelding was a leopard Appy and when I read the articles on sheath infections there was a reference to light or spotted horses being somewhat susceptible. Oh how I wish I had read those BEFORE. I have two mares in my pasture both in their 30's who have had good long lives and I know it is not fair to say it but why my 14 year old??

To all you gelding owners out there that just have fun with your horses at home without vets coming and going like at a boarding stable, don't let anything regarding their sheath go without taking action.

My goodness this hurts so much!!
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Saturday, Aug 4, 2012 - 12:26 pm:

So terribly sorry about your loss.

Thanks for sharing so that we may all learn.
Member:
frances

Posted on Saturday, Aug 4, 2012 - 12:57 pm:

What a terrible blow. I am so very sorry.
New Member:
sgmathie

Posted on Saturday, Aug 4, 2012 - 1:10 pm:

Thanks so much. I know it all sounds so silly but I do not know very many people that I could talk about my sorrow to besides this forum (am surrounded by commercial cattle people).

He did not have a mean bone in his body and I pictured us growing old together (I am no spring chicken) sitting out in the paddock having our usual "chats"

He NEVER kicked, bit, snarled or acted anyway other than loving and kind. He had the most beautiful mane and tail I have every seen on an Appy and I feel like I let him down.

Anyway, thanks for listening. Hopefully he is up there on the other side of that Rainbow Bridge eating the choicest of hay and all the treats he can handle.

Maybe someday I will get to ride him again.
Member:
shirl

Posted on Saturday, Aug 4, 2012 - 1:13 pm:

I am so sorry for your loss. Try not to beat yourself up over this though I know it is difficult. So many times when we lose a beloved animal we say "I should have done this or that, noticed this or that, etc., etc." I felt that way when I lost my 23 year old. He would not want you to blame yourself and he is with you always in spirit.
Hugs,
Shirley
Member:
rdewitt

Posted on Saturday, Aug 4, 2012 - 1:59 pm:

My heart breaks for you. I also lost a beautiful boy the same way (not from a sheath problem, but he was fine one minute, dying the next). We did do a necropsy, but no apparent reason was seen. Perhaps a heart attack, we just don't know. He was health and bucking the night before, and at 7:00 a.m he was taking his last breath in the pasture.
I am SO very sorry for your loss.
Member:
dres

Posted on Saturday, Aug 4, 2012 - 2:30 pm:

I too have a best friend / Appy, and i so feel your pain ... i know when my boy leaves me i will have a hole in my heart and soul ...
Know that your boy is in a happy spot doing what he enjoys doing the most ...
RIP ...

On the first day God created horses , on the second day he painted them with spots..
Member:
lilo

Posted on Saturday, Aug 4, 2012 - 3:32 pm:

So sorry to hear about your loss. It sounds like he was a wonderful companion to you.
Member:
canter

Posted on Sunday, Aug 5, 2012 - 11:33 am:

Very sorry to hear of your loss - my heart goes out to you.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Aug 6, 2012 - 6:51 am:

Welcome WoWLO,
My condolences for your loss.
DrO
New Member:
sgmathie

Posted on Monday, Aug 6, 2012 - 9:57 am:

Thanks to all of you for your kind words that are helping so much.

However, I have to tell you one last thing......grab your cameras, phones and take pictures of your beloved beasts. I am not much of a picture taker and realized too late that I have no good recent pictures of my boy when he was all shined up and am now appealing to friends and family hoping they have some. Never really gave it much thought because I saw them everyday either when I was on the deck by the pasture or down in the paddock with them.

I have pictures of the other gelding as he was always so nosy wanting to know what was going on and stealing your tools but my Appy was usually camera shy.

So word to the wise....never stop taking pictures.
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