We have among our herd a couple of seniors – Terry a fearless old trail blazing Morgan who looks at you with deep brown eyes that have seen it all. He has been beloved of his owner for more than 20 years and is a secret favourite of mine. His very presence can calm my boy Romy down when we’re out in a forest and a rock they have passed a hundred times suddenly looks suspicious. Those of you who know horses understand what inexplicable terror this may strike into their big hearts.
Fearless Terry
A grand old dame named Lily and a little he-monster called Pegliaro (Pegs for short) are two four legged friends I’ve had the honour to hang out with at our co-op barn. Lily is fully blind and Pegs has lost one of his eyes and they hang out together to share the one remaining good eye between them. Lily was the mainstay lesson horse every stable wants – she carefully looked after every young charge on her back for generations, until her eyesight failed and she was retired. It’s too dangerous for her to be with other full size horses now but she’s queen of the paddock with her 3 mini companions – Pegs being her shadow.
You get immersed in the more basic concerns of life while working around animals and I feel blessed to experience that at our communal barn. As you may have read here before Northern winters bring a lot of challenges to caring for horses and especially older ones like Terry and Lily.
Over the summer we do our best to fatten them up to prepare them for the cold months. They have pasture and hay on demand and as you can see Lily loves her hay! A thousand pound horse really should add a hundred to their weight to be ready for what’s ahead.
Try as we might though sometimes you can’t do enough. Terry left us Christmas Day although the vet and my friend, his heartbroken owner, did their best to keep him here. And Lily left us this week…her inflamed hooves and swollen joints wouldn’t carry her any longer. They both have lost their fight with winter and old age.
In a society that farms sentient animals like them for meat it may seem silly to some to be sentimental since they really have been among the more fortunate. But they worked with us, played with us, they’ve had their stories, their joys and challenges and a few of us will mourn the passing of these two sweet old creatures.
Womanseyeview's Blog 
😦 sorry for the lose of your horses. Well written post.
I am so sorry I just now read this…
I am so sorry to hear that two of your special friends have left us.
This was a beautiful tribute to them.
Hugs my friend!
Thank you – we were lucky to have known them.
Thank you for putting a follow on my new site, I see you have been taking time out too. This is a post that touched me as I can emphasise with your feelings for these beautiful animals and how lucky these 2 were to be able to live the last few years in a caring environment. Will you be blogging again?
Glad to see that you are blogging again and I’m happy to follow you. I’m thinking of getting back into blogging again but just keeping up with blogs I enjoy – like yours- is time consuming so we’ll see. Nice to hear from you.
I agree, it’s not only posting that takes time but visiting and replying to comments mounts up too. But of course that is one of the joys of blogging, being in contact with so many other bloggers.
Aw so sweet. Sorry for your loss. This is such a bittersweet post, horses are one of lifes most free spirited gorgeous animals.
Horses are such beautiful and incredible animals. And when they are family … how much harder to say good bye. I am so sorry I heard of this so late but wanted you to know I do care. Hugs to you and your friend. So sad for your loss.
lovely, just lovely. I used to have a horse that was gelded but still thought he was a stallion. Had a lot of attitude. But when we came to a tiny stream of water, he freaked. He’d jump it, or side step it. Or stop dead.
Oh, I so much understand you – and feel with you! They are our friends, aren’t they!
What a touching post. I was very moved.
Thank you.
Carol, I just found your post. WordPress didn’t send me any email notification. I am sorry these two beautiful elder horses have passed on. More daffodils will go into the garden in memory of these two.
Thank you – daffodils are a lovely idea.
Oh, How well I understand how you felt at their loss. Your final sentences says it all. when I started reading, I didn’t expect to be so moved by this post, but you sneaked up on me, you did.
Thank you. Thought if I started out with their death that would cloud getting to know about how interesting they were in life. Thanks for your visit.
So sad for your loss, Carol. They were both such beautiful creatures. I’m sure you gave them the best life possible. xx
Thank you.
Best to not name animals whom you raise for meat. On the other hand, if keeping animal for other purpose (labor, companionship, recreation…), names are personalities are important.
Oscar
Thanks for your visit and I know you don’t name your intended dinner😉.
I think part of the problem with our view of food is that we take ourselves out of the chain of life. Fungus, plants, and animals give me life by becoming food. When I die, do not fill me with poison to perserve my body. Just bury me or spread my ashes in the woods so that I will become nutrition and soil. I have a cousin who jokes that he wants to be ground up and put out to feed all the ancestors of animals whom he has hunted. Life is not about keeping me alive. It is about being part of the cycle of life for me and others. Thus, we give thanks to all those who give us life.
Oscar
I didn’t think it was going to have such a sad ending! I’m so sorry! I know you’ll have helped to give these lovely creatures a good life and yours will be emptier without them.
So true Jo – two fellow creatures whose paths I’m glad I crossed.
I read this and straight away knew what you meant about the rock, or a letterbox .. or anything that could hide something worth worrying about. I am so very sorry to hear about Terry and Lily .. my eyes are still damp. Thinking of you .. hugs
Someone once told me that riding a horse is like sitting on a thousand pound jackrabbit – great description😳Thank you for your condolences for Lily and Terry.
I’m so sorry for loss. But what a beautiful tribute to your beloved horses. ❤
Thank you so much.
It is so sad when beloved, animal companions can no longer experience a worthwhile life, but it’s so hard to make the decision to say goodbye. The best we can manage is a pain and fear free end. Beautiful photos that I hope bring all some comfort.
For Lily it was certainly time for her to slip gently away – Terry came as a shock though. Thank you for your always thoughtful comments.
Sorry for the loss. But you wrote a beautiful tribute to those special horses.
Thank you so much Otto.
Beautiful story and horse images Carol. They are such wonderful trusting animals.
Thank you Denis – they are wonderful creatures indeed.
So sorry to hear of the passing of these two special animals. Although I have never owned a horse I know the heartbreak of the loss of a beloved animal. My heartfelt sympathy and hugs to you.
Thank you for your thoughts – but especially your hugs.
Lots of those coming your way. Xo
So sad to see such good friends go. So sweet that they were loved and cared for in their old age. Can’t hope for much more as I approach my 73rd birthday next month!
These were much loved and cherished creatures to the end and as you say – we should be so lucky😉.
Came over to check on you. Have been seeing your ‘likes’ and comments, but no posts. Hoping all is well and wishing you a happy Christmas and new year! This seemingly last post reminded me (again) that life is short especially for our 4 legged friends. My sweet pup is approaching her tenth year now. Even knowing that loss could be approaching, the joy she’s given has been well worth facing that eventual loss.
Hi and thanks for checking up on me – very sweet! All is fine but my blogging hiatus does seem longer than I expected! It’s so true that the joy we receive from our four legged companions is very special…all the best for the season and I look forward to your future posts.
I am really sorry that these friends have passed away. The more you get to know an animal the more complex their character reveals itself to be – just like us.
“Just like us” for sure Clare…thank you for your kind comments.
My pleasure!
What a lovely commentary about barnyard friends. Brenda says it so beautifully – love is love is love.
Thank you Cheryl.
These animals who have become a part of our lives are true friends. They’ve worked their way into our hearts and our world has been a better place for having had them in it. So it stands to reason that the sense of loss would be profound when they finally pass away.
I’m so sad for you and all the others who have been touched by Terry and Lily … but I’m also thinking of little Pegs. I believe that animals mourn and my sympathy also extends to him.
I agree that animals definately mourn…Pegs will look for her for some time to come. Pegs is the smallest and cheekiest and sometimes gets picked on – Lily actually let him hide under her belly.
Awww. That’s a good friend.
Oh, such sad news. The other horses will miss them, too.
So true – after Terry left it was eerily quiet in the barn for a few nights – as if his barn mates were in quiet contemplation…a sadness.
What a lovely tribute to two special friends. I feel for you in your loss.
Thank you Gwen.
I loved this write up and how sad to have to say good bye to these two lovely friends. Thanks for sharing.
Sent from my iPad
Thank you Denise and it was lovely seeing you again.
Sent from my iPad
I’d like to extend my condolences. There’s definitely something special between pets and their human companions.
Thank you Sheryl.
Lovely post. My sister-in-law lost her Morgan last year around this time due to old age. Trooper was a magnificent animal that is missed. There are those of us that form special bonds with four legged creatures and their loss is always sad but their presence in our lives was a gift, something we wouldn’t want to miss out on.
Thank you for your understanding comments – no in spite of the pain, we are glad to have known them.
Cross species relationships can be just as meaningful as same species. Love is love is love. What a loving tribute you have written about these two magnificent creatures.
I knew you’d understand about the love for sure Brenda. XX
Oh I’m so sorry. We have good friends who own horses so I’m aware of how very much they become part of the ‘family’.
It’s true Margaret and they have such big personalities and individual quirks that you grow quite fond of when you spend time with them.
A wonderful celebration of the lives of these two sweet creatures.
Thank you!