I bought Delta in January 2000, and she single-hoofedly gave me back ALL
of my shattered confidence in riding. She taught me to canter, she taught
me to jump, she taught me that riding could be fun and that it was safe to
trust a horse. She taught me that not all horses take advantage of inexperience.
And she taught me that sometimes horses, not humans, can be the best teachers.
I taught Del things too - I taught her that pony club could be fun (she had
never been before), and I helped her discover some new talents that she didn't
realise she had - particularly a talent for mounted games and XC! We had
rough moments - she did buck me off and bite me every now and then, and sometimes
I got frustrated with her when things weren't going right. But overall, we
had a very strong partnership. If I did an ODE on Delta, I knew that she
would take me safely around the XC. I never had to fear about her refusing
or running out. I could point her at a jump and I knew that she would try
- even if it was too high (and sometimes it was) she would still try. She
couldn't help but clip the top rail, but she would still try. She never,
ever let me down. She looked after me. When I retired her, I missed
riding her so much - I missed knowing exactly what she was going to do, and
knowing that we were a team.
But Del and I were more than a riding partnership - we were
best friends too. When my ex dumped me, I spent hours crying into her mane,
and she didn't mind. When I was so heartbroken I quit riding and leased her
out, she understood. When she came back to me, she was my same old Del -
as willing and true as ever. She seemed to understand what I'd been through,
and she didn't grudge me for sending her away just when I needed her the
most.
When Del first became sick with colic in May 2004, I stayed up with her all
night, wishing I could feel the pain for her. She lay on the ground and I
sat by her head, just trying to stay strong for her, the way
she always had been for me. When she pulled through, it felt like the
only miracle I could ever dare to pray for had come true, but it always worried
me that we never knew the reason for her sudden colic attack. I knew there
was a strong possibility that it could reoccur even though I had prayed that
it wouldn't.
My fears were realised on 31 August 2004. At first it was just mild colic
and the vet wasn't overly concerned. I think I was a little more concerned
than the vet because I knew what had happened last time (it was a different
vet) but I tried to think positive. She was pretty sick in the night. I think
I knew what was coming by then. Like last time, I sat with her in the dirt
(I could hold her head this time because she wasn't thrashing around, she
was quite peaceful) and just talked to her for ages - just telling her how
much I love her. I had a sinking feeling that it was going to be our
last night together.
The next morning she improved and insisted on joining
the other horses out in the paddock. We knew she was still sick - she hadn't
eaten or drunk anything - but if she wanted to join the others so badly,
there was no way I was going to stop her. If the colic was going to take
her away, then at least she could enjoy herself for a while first. And she
did - she galloped out to join the others. It was a wonderful sight. Later
that afternoon, it was pretty clear that she was a very sick horse. She collapsed
in the paddock and every time she tried to get up it was a huge struggle.
There is a steep hill separating the paddock from the horse yards. She never
made it up the hill. She made it about halfway (with immense effort) but
eventually collapsed and that was it. She couldn't get up. The vet came out
again and he confirmed my worst fears. We think she may have had a tumour
in her intestines - apparently that isn't uncommon in older horses, and Del
was in her twenties. That would have explained the 'mystery' colic. I won't
go into all the details but basically the only other option was surgery,
and her chances of surviving that would have been very remote. I couldn't
put her through that, and I'd already decided after last time that I would
never let her suffer like that again. So I gave the vet permission to put
her down.
I think Del knew that her time was up, to be honest. She seemed very
peaceful, as though she just knew she wasn't going to heal this time. She
was so brave through the whole ordeal - she always was the braver one of
the two of us. I always let her make the decisions because I trust her instinct
more than I trust my own. She made the decision for me on that Wednesday
night, it was clear as anything. All I had to do was translate it for the
vet. She died very peacefully, being stroked and cuddled by four people
(including me) who love her very much. She was buried in the paddock she
adored, and I know she will rest peacefully there.
I know I did the right thing and I'm glad that Del will be okay now.
She's joined all the other wonderful horses who have passed away. My one
big consolation is that she is in very good company with some of the most
wonderful horses in the world. And I have no doubt whatsoever that there
is a cheeky gelding up there in horse heaven with a big hoofprint on his
rump, because Del will be alpha mare wherever she goes. Especially when
cheeky geldings are involved! But I can't help it - I miss her so much and
I'd give almost anything to have her back. I even miss her pigroots and her
filthy stable habits. I just miss everything about her. Even though she could
be narky at times, she was still such a special horse, and she and I had
such an amazing bond. I feel very honoured for having owned her for the last
years of her life, and I don't have any regrets because I know I gave her
the best life that I possibly could. I just wish I could have had her forever.
Nothing has ever, ever hurt this much.
Delta Song
(by our friend Sam)
Every once in a while,
A horse comes along to walk a mile.
To walk each step by your side,
A friend to cry with, share and confide.
These friends touch
us in amazing ways,
Without saying a word, they brighten our days.
For sometimes there is a very special horse,
Sent from God, to help us on life's course.
One of these horses
was Delta Song,
Such a joy she bought, a life lived long.
Forever in our hearts, Delta will stay,
Till one day we hear that familiar neigh.
Delta Song 
