Angel



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.







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