We called our beloved
pony, Angel, never knowing that name was truly what she was.
A friend and myself
found Angel at a neighboring barn auction and were looking for a barrel pony
for another friend. We saw this sweet 12 hand pony in one of the stalls.
The young kid who was selling her said she was 8 years old. We decided she
looked like a good prospect, until we looked at her teeth, which with experience
told us she was over twenty! A little too old to be put through the rigors
of barrel racing. Anyway, I went home and told my husband what a great
disposition this pony had. He went back, hoping no one else took her, and
came home with this new member of our family.
My kids' age at the time were four and one. When my son started riding the
next year at age 5, Angel was his pony. He rode her at open horse shows,
competed with 4-H, trial rode and even tried team penning on her. He
won numerous champions on her including novice champion his first year
in 4-H and pony champion. She was the most trustworthy pony I am sure I will
ever know. After my son moved up to a larger pony, my daughter rode Angel.
She collected numerous blue ribbons and performed the grand entry to
the National Anthen at our 4-H shows. Angel also gave a number of other
children the confidence they needed who otherwise would be afraid to
get on a horse or had a previous bad experience.
During the last 5 years Angel had two treatments for squamus cell carcinoma,
which is cancer cell in the eye. First was cryosurgery, and when the cells
came back we tried a cancer fighting eye ointment. This also worked but was
only temporary. She then developed a tumor about 10 months later right under
the treated eye. We tried other treatments, but because of her age, which
we were guessing was mid-30's, surgery was not an option. The turmor
grew and Angel started losing weight. When her quality of life was in
question and her strength weakened I knew it was time.
On Wednesday, September 20, 2006, we led Angel out to our lush pasture
and put her down as peacefully as we knew possible. About 8 of us were there
to pet her and talk to her softly during her last moments. She truly was
one of those rare ponies I feel we were blessed to have during her last decade
on earth. We truly miss her and hope she is now running and frolicking
free forever.