We bought Desperado's mama a month before she was due. The owner wouldn't
let us take her until the new baby was here safe and mama was okay. We anxiously
awaited his arrival, visiting mama several times a week. Hoping for a
black-and-white colt with solid head and brown eyes to start as our foundation
stallion.
We told the owner to call us the minute he arrived, "Even it if it was 2
a.m.!". Well, at 2 a.m. exactly, the phone rings on June 20, 2006. He was
here, black-and-white, dark face, brown eyes. A beautiful APHA colt, grandson
of Shots Flying Spark, his dam has Three Bars and Yellow Mount on papers.
Despite iodine on the navel and a meticulous stall, he developed a navel
infection, but was so big and strong he pulled through. At several months
old, he had a larger than normal sheath with a lot of swelling.
Poor guy, he'd already been through so much. He had an inguinal hernia, which
left us sadly without a stallion, but surgery would leave him a nice gelding.
Seven months after surgery, all was well. I left him at 9:30 a.m. on November
7, 2007, grazing and came home at 1:30 to find him colicing badly. He had
a twisted gut and we put him down the next morning November 8, 2007, as nothing
we tried helped.
He was such a talkative guy, he always nickered and was very happy
to see you, even at the end. He loved people, but managed to kick at
times when he thought you were going to stick him with another needle.
I'm just so sorry his short life had to be so rough. I spent so much extra
time with him during therapy after his surgery.
I've never had to loose a horse before...I'm on a farm and death is as much
a part of it as life. I've lost dogs and cows, but not my horses. Loosing
a horse hurts very different. And I never want to loose one like
this again. I miss you, Desperado.
We kept him close until
he died...and sat with him during the long last hours...
and then we heard that glorious sound of hoofbeats in heaven...
When a horse greets you with a nicker and regards you with a large and
liquid brown eye,
the question of where you want to be has been answered.
Author Unknown
~ Desperado did just that ~
I'm so sorry, Desperado.
I'm sorry your short life had to be so rough, and I'm sorry the end had to
be so painful. Please understand we did all we could. I prayed for you too
and brushed you until you shone, I hoped to help you relax a little.
My comfort is in knowing you are now perfect and whole in pastures of green.
Though your hoofprints left deep imprints on my heart {and sometimes other
places, too} I will just listen, and hear your hoofbeats in heaven and know
you are not too far...Stardust.
Lots of love,
Stardust~Painted Blessings Ranch
Desperado 
