Life Goes On, Apparently.
I've just hopped off an emotional roller coaster. The ground is still a bit wobbly under my feet, but it's getting better.
Just over two weeks ago I said goodbye to Riffy. We decided on the Friday night, when he didn't want his dinner and when he did nibble a little it came straight back. He was a little wobbly then, but on Saturday morning he couldn't even walk anymore.
I carried him in to the vet's office and held him while he had the needle. When I came home, Bear knew right away and just sat with me while I cried. I think he was crying, too, in his own way. He and Riffy had been inseparable for 14 years. When we buried Riffy under the dog rose, Rusty sat near us, but Bear went to his bed.
I had to leave two days later for the annual yearling sales. This year it was a week away, two days home and four more away.
During that first week, Frog called me to say she was rushing Bear to the vet. She couldn't wake him, he felt cold and he was breathing raggedly. I broke into hysterical tears and had only just pulled myself together enough to work, but not talk when she rang back to tell me that he had heat stroke and would be fine. The vet was amazed at his age and thought he was probably depressed as well. He didn't even wag his tail when I got home, but he did manage a little one when I got back from the second stint. he's a little more alert, but he mostly sleeps and eats now.
I sold Polly during the second stint away. It was a bad sale in general, with prices ridiculously low, so I was pleased to make a profit on her, even if it wasn't as much as many thought she was worth. I'll be able to buy a laptop and some other stuff I've been wanting for a while. I do miss her, though. She was the best behaved horse we had for this prep, and that's saying something, because they were all pretty good this year.
Now I'm back to my own bed and exhausted from working long, frantic hours in the big smoke. I'm tired, I'm sad and I'm really happy that life might just be able to get back to some kind of normal.
Frog has suggested puppy might be a good idea, for Bear as well as the rest of us. I can't even entertain the thought yet. I can't help but think it's stupid to have pets. All you can hope for is that they live long enough that you have to kill them. I know I'll get over this stage, but right now? No.
Just over two weeks ago I said goodbye to Riffy. We decided on the Friday night, when he didn't want his dinner and when he did nibble a little it came straight back. He was a little wobbly then, but on Saturday morning he couldn't even walk anymore.
I carried him in to the vet's office and held him while he had the needle. When I came home, Bear knew right away and just sat with me while I cried. I think he was crying, too, in his own way. He and Riffy had been inseparable for 14 years. When we buried Riffy under the dog rose, Rusty sat near us, but Bear went to his bed.
I had to leave two days later for the annual yearling sales. This year it was a week away, two days home and four more away.
During that first week, Frog called me to say she was rushing Bear to the vet. She couldn't wake him, he felt cold and he was breathing raggedly. I broke into hysterical tears and had only just pulled myself together enough to work, but not talk when she rang back to tell me that he had heat stroke and would be fine. The vet was amazed at his age and thought he was probably depressed as well. He didn't even wag his tail when I got home, but he did manage a little one when I got back from the second stint. he's a little more alert, but he mostly sleeps and eats now.
I sold Polly during the second stint away. It was a bad sale in general, with prices ridiculously low, so I was pleased to make a profit on her, even if it wasn't as much as many thought she was worth. I'll be able to buy a laptop and some other stuff I've been wanting for a while. I do miss her, though. She was the best behaved horse we had for this prep, and that's saying something, because they were all pretty good this year.
Now I'm back to my own bed and exhausted from working long, frantic hours in the big smoke. I'm tired, I'm sad and I'm really happy that life might just be able to get back to some kind of normal.
Frog has suggested puppy might be a good idea, for Bear as well as the rest of us. I can't even entertain the thought yet. I can't help but think it's stupid to have pets. All you can hope for is that they live long enough that you have to kill them. I know I'll get over this stage, but right now? No.