This is in memory of Cassie Sue, a registered black Appaloosa. Registered
name, Nero's Blackie. Born May 8, 1983 and Died March 18, 2004. She
was 20 when I had to put her down. She is very much loved and missed.
This is her story.
Cassie Sue came into my
life June of 2000. She was purchased at auction from a horse dealer
at a barn I was giving riding lesson. When she arrived, she was
hairy and very ornery. But there was something about this mare that I was
drawn to her and she to me. She wasn't a very pretty thing, she looked like
a woolly bear and her mane had been cut like a castle wall. She pinned her
ears and bit at everyone that walked by her. When you tried to walk into
her stall she would spin and try to kick you. I just had to have her, she
was a challenge.
Cassie's last owner used her for endurance riding. I was later told that
she was a medal winner. I believe that when Cassie started showing signs
of extensive hair growth that she was sent to auction. She was diagnosed
with Cushings disease. This was in part one of the reasons she was so
ornery. They don't really know what all is affected by this disease.
I put her on special medication and used sheep sheers to get rid of
all that hair. Cassie stood for hours being clipped and enjoyed every moment
of it. We had to clip her 3 times a year just to keep her hair growth under
control.
I was using her as one of my lesson horses and she was loved by all who rode
her. Even though she stomped and chomped through the entire grooming and
tacking period, all who rode her were extremely attached to her. She taught
five year olds to ride and when a more experienced rider was on her
back, she taught them the joy of barrel racing. Over the period of 4 years,
Cassie Sue taught 150 riders the love of horses. She also gave all that rode
her the experience of participating in the show ring. She was shown western
and english pleasure and all the speed and action events.
In February of 2003 Cassie's head began to swell. This was one of the final
signs of her disease taking over. So I began making preparations as to putting
her down. I informed all her students, past and present, that her time was
coming to an end. In the week before she was to be put down, everyone came
out to say their goodbyes and gave her treats and took pictures with
her. It was a very hard time for all of us, the flood of tears were running
fast.
The day came and her grave was dug and the vet came out. To our amazement
it wasn't her cushings at all , it was uveitus, she was going blind
and had extreme inflammation and eye pain. For the next few weeks we nursed
her eyes back to health. She had to wear a fly mask to keep the sun out of
her eyes and I also designed a horse size visor that she wore proudly when
out playing with her friends and doing the job she loved
best, Lessons. She beat the odds and we had Cassie Sue
for another year.
She was a very happy girl but one night in February 2004, she
got out of her stall and got into 50 lbs of corn. Poor Cassie Sue foundered
in all four feet even though we did everything possible to help her. Oddly
enough her front feet were fine later on, but her hind feet rotated the coffin
bones so she had a hard time walking. She didn't want to leave her stall
anymore and I knew that this time she was not going to be with us for very
much longer. Everyone said that I should put her down, but I still had a
little hope and said that Cassie would tell me when it was time. She was
still a very happy girl, whinnied when it was time to eat and she was still
eating like a little piggy.
The day did come, when she did tell me it was time. She did not
whinny to eat and refused to eat when it was in her dish. Her eyes lost their
sparkle. She looked at me that morning with pleading eyes "help me".
I knew I had to make that dreaded call to her vet. He came out
and at 12:25 pm, March 18, 2004, she was given her injection.
I held her head in my arms and cried and told her to go to sleep and
everything will be alright. I cried and told her, "I will always love
you". She laid down and went to sleep. I sat with her, holding her head on
my lap for what seemed like hours. I didn't want to let her go. She was my
special, ornery, loving friend. Now she is gone but her memories will
forever live on in the hearts of all of her students. I notified all of her
students, of her passing, with a letter from her and a piece of her
tail.
This is her farewell letter...
It's Time to Giddy Up
and GO
Some of you know me
as Cassie, some as Cassie Sue, some as Cassie Sassy Sue and others, well
you know.
The time has come to
say goodbye to each of you, along with a thank-you. Each of you has touched
my spirit in a very special way. You gave me space when I was ornery. On
off days you gave me patients, some of you helped by simply pulling Willies
door closed when he was bothering me. You all spoke gently to me when I was
being difficult. You all understood and made my last four years the best.
There were times when others would have scolded me with harsh words or hit
me, but none of you did this. You always treated me kind with a pat on the
neck or a treat to make me feel special.
Please remember me
for the trail rides and the shows. Remember the walks in the woods and even
the great grazing time. And let's not forget the countless, and I do mean
countless, hours going round and round in that arena. Please feel free
to forget that whole chomp, stomp and tail swish thing I always did. We really
did have fun didn't we.
But most important
of all, you must remember, no matter what anyone might say, I was and always
will be "the best school horse ever".
So in closing please
keep on riding and remember that I will always be the one out front leading
all of you where ever the trails may lead you so, GIDDY UP AND
GO.
Love,
Cassie
Sue
Cassie Sue, in the four
years we had the pleasure of having her, touched so many lives. She
will forever be remembered in everyones' hearts. She brought peace and joy
and love to all who loved her. She is now up in heaven giving riding
lessons and is now forever pain free to run and play. I will always
love you, Cassie Sue.
Trina Nilsson-Morey
Cassie Sue 
