It's been a tough day up here on the mountain

[Moutaineer]

It's a sad day here. We had dear old Lucky put to sleep this morning at the ripe old age of 35. He was the Best Horse Ever and had been a part of our family for 28 years.

We bought him back our New York days for my husband. He may have been a short-legged sorrel of unknown breeding (part Dachshund, I think,) but he was a Rockstar. He taught Keith to ride and jump, and (mostly--with a few notable exceptions) took care of him out on the trails. He and I had some great times hunter-pacing on the Westchester and Duchess County trails, too. That little guy loved to jump!

He came with us to Utah, and when we moved up here to the mountain 20 years ago, he came with us and has been King of the Hill ever since.

It's not all be plain sailing--his view on injuries was always "go large or go home" resulting in my learning handy skills like compression wrapping an arterial bleed in the dark and speed-dismantling a pipe corral with a horse entangled in it. And he was a Houdini who was always the ring leader in any jailbreak and the hardest to catch once he'd gained his freedom!

He developed ringbone in his late teens and been pretty much retired to companion duties for the past 15 years, but still his "large and in charge" self.

But in the past few months, he'd been finding life harder and slowing down a lot, and it became plain to me that with our impending move off the farm, moving him to a new environment would be terribly hard on him.

Every horseperson should be so fortunate as to have a Lucky in their lives.

This afternoon I took Pip, my sweet mini, to his new home. He will be happy there once he settles in, but it was very hard to leave him behind.

For the first time in 20 years, I have no horses at home. No reason to get out of bed and brave the elements at the crack of dawn to go feed, no stalls to clean, no expectant faces at the sound of the garage door opening.

I'm feeling more than a little bereft.

[StraightForward]

Oh, I am sorry Moutaineer! Lucky was lucky to have a good, long life with you, and sounds like he was a grand fellow.

[amygdala]

the really good ones leave a really big hole when they go. so sorry for your loss.

[heddylamar]

I'm so sorry, Mountaineer! Lucky had a long, adventurous life with you. He sounds like a really special horse. And to say goodbye to Pip too? ((((Hugs))))

[Flight]

So sorry Moutaineer! He did sound very special and yes I can imagine you'd be feeling the loss.

[Chancellor]

Oh Mountaineer. I am so sorry. That is hard.

[LeoApp]

I am so sorry for your loss. You gave him a wonderful life. With the way things are now, it just is extra sad.

[KathyK]

Tough day for you, Moutaineer. I'm so sorry.

[piedmontfields]

Thinking of you. Godspeed, Lucky. It is so hard to lose old friends.

[Imperini]

I'm so sorry Mountaineer he sounds like a wonderful boy and you gave him a wonderful life.

[Sunshine2Me]

I'm so sorry for your loss. It sounds like Lucky had a long, wonderful life with you. All horses should be so blessed.

Sending you {{Hugs}}.

[Hayburner]

Mountaineer. So sorry you have had to make some very difficult and heart breaking decisions.

You honored Lucky with letting him go with his dignity intact.

Life changes are not always easy or pleasant, but doing the right thing is always the best answer for all.

Hugs!

[PaulaO]

Totally understand your bereft-ness. It's hard to change routine so abruptly. You think "now what am I supposed to do with this extra time?" You are grieving Lucky. I am so sorry.

[khall]

I'm so sorry that you had to make that hard call, but it sounds like it was for the best for Lucky. Fly free good boy.

[VBOpie]

Mountaineer,

So sorry for your loss. I wish you healing days ahead.

[Kyra's Mom]

{{{{Mountaineer}}}}

Godspeed Lucky.

Susan

[texsuze]

{{{Hugs}}} and jingles to you and yours. Changes and challenges often come hand in hand.

[Sue B]

Awww, so sorry about Lucky. Many hugs to you and your husband while you are trying to move AND deal with this Covid19 thing.

[fergusnc]

Oh, Mountaineer that is just all so hard. I'm so truly sorry for your pain. Godspeed dear Lucky, and peace to your humans and your buddy Pip.

[Moutaineer]

I'm getting daily reports from Pip's new home. He's doing well by the sound of it, and has his new adoring mom wrapped round his little hooves, which makes me very happy.

I miss evening stables. Around 6pm there is a wierd hole in my life.

Very busy packing up for our move. Packing the tack and feed room was an ordeal, but it's done now.

[Rockabilly]

I know. I know how hard and painful it is and there's no escaping the grief. I truly am so sorry.



(I wanted to reply before now, but lightning struck my computer and I had to get a new one which means figuring out log-ins and passwords on a new system. Not the easiest thing for me.)

[Tarlo Farm]

I'm so sorry. On top of these trying times, that was another terrible blow.

[Ryeissa]

I'm so sorry for your loss