RIP, Comet
Comet, the first and only horse I've ever leased, who was a fantastic goofball and teacher, had to be put down last night. Two days ago, he was kicked and fractured his patella, and in surgery yesterday, it turned out to be worse than they thought. Afterwards, trying to stand up, he fractured the tibia in his other leg-- the good leg-- and there was nothing that could be done.
It is terrifying, how suddenly and quickly things can go so wrong. It is frustrating, how little we can do for a horse, especially when their legs are concerned. (Yes, I know it's more than in the past, but it still doesn't seem like enough, sometimes.)
My heart goes out to his owners & their family-- both human and equine. They are some of the finest horsepeople I know, and together with Comet they taught me so much. I know that Comet had a wonderful life and lived like a prince, but that still doesn't really make it easier to know that he's gone. And even though I hadn't seen him in a few years, and he'd moved to Tennessee, it's hard to know that I'll never see Aileen post photos of him with the herd or on hunter paces again.
Rest In Peace, Fuzzy Man.
May you gallop through the greenest of pastures, carefree forever more.