"Why do we do this to ourselves?", our daughter asked through her tears. We do it, because those four-legged friends give us back so much in return for the care and love we give them.....anyone who has ever loved and lost a pet of any size can relate to this.
Today we had to say goodbye to Applejack, our daughter's 27 year old gelding. He'd been struggling with a health issue for the past seven years, and today he lost the battle.
Applejack was born on our farm on May 18, 1987. It was a school day and oh, how difficult it was to head off to school and work with a new foal in the pasture!
Sent for training when he was three years old, the trainer pronounced him "too smart for his own good." He learned his lessons quickly, and our daughter learned right along with him. As her riding lessons and his training progressed, they spent many an hour developing their skills.
Applejack quickly decided that this riding thing was definitely not his favorite past time. A pleasant ride could very suddenly turn into a contest to see who was the more determined, horse or rider. Over time, it soon became evident why our daughter and Applejack shared such a close bond, one that continued throughout his life.... They shared many of the same traits! Smart. Determined to do things his/her own way. Lively sense of humor......oh, yes, don't try to tell me otherwise! Applejack could play up the tired, hard-worked horse routine at the end of another ride, only to kick up his heels and race full speed ahead when turned back out into the pasture. Other days, if the saddle was brought out before Apple was already in the stall, the ride was cancelled, as he would not be approached no matter how tempting the treat being offered. No matter how many times he battled the ride, nor how frustrated she got with him, he never failed to bring the girl to gales of laughter at his antics. Even over the past few years, when the vet deemed that his health issue would make it too hard on him if he were to be ridden, he got the last laugh. Given "maybe a year" by the vet, he lasted seven. Told the effort of being ridden would make it too hard for him to breathe well, he continued to race around and kick up his heels, enjoying his retirement, eating his special diet, and knowing full well that he won the "I hate being ridden" contest!
But even the best-fought battle is sometimes lost in the end. The past winter took a terrible toll on him, and his ability to fight just ran out. There was time during the past few days for teary-eyed visits to him in the pasture, and "remembering when", but today we told him good bye..
As is often the case, even in this extreme sadness, there is a lesson to be remembered. Love always comes at a price, but it is a price we will continue to pay because of the great rewards we receive.
When Applejack was born, our daughter was not quite 8 years old, and I was a young mother. Today, she and I stood together with her not quite 8 year old son, as we all cried and said good bye.
The circle of life continues................. Good bye, old friend. Rest in peace!
