Misty was a wonderful horse/companion. She did well with my herd. Easily handled and great to be around. She nickered to me every time she saw me.
She injured her leg a week ago. She came up for feed on 3 legs. She could not put pressure on her leg at all. I immediately penned her away from the herd, where she had her own feed, water and hay. I spent the last week vetting her twice daily, praying, wrapping, praying, crying, praying and wishing I could fix her. I could not. No amount of money in the world could fix her.
The vet came out Saturday, November 5, 2011, and put her down. She was eating treats out of my hand when the barbituate went into her vein. I loved her dearly. Horses are my heart and soul. A piece of me dies when they do.
I had told each of the horses what would be happening on Saturday. I even told Misty. I asked her to please tell Beau (roping horse that passed 6 years ago) and Lariat, Dally Riata, Whinney and Cactus (Corgis) Echo and Spur (Aussies) and a few other names, that I said Hello and hug them for me when she crossed that "Rainbow Bridge".
I did my best to run the herd back to the hay ring at the bottom of the field before the vet arrived. Most went, but my 32 year old mare and my 24 year old mare would have NO part of it. They stood watch across the fence. The 24 year old mare stood there for over an hour after Misty had gone down and been covered with a tarp.
The backhoe could not get here until Sunday morning, November 6th. Again, I chased the herd away, but it did no good.
After the grave was dug, and the backhoe had left. I turned the herd back into my yard for the grass. Misty is buried in the top corner of my yard.
The whole herd (8) went straight to the grave. Several looked to the place she had laid overnight, then looked at the grave, repeatedly.
The donkey, which was a HUGE buddy of hers, stood on the grave for a long time. He would look to where she had laid before burial, then look down at the grave. He did this for probably 40-50 minutes. I have pictures of him doing it.
He also would run through the herd then back to the grave. Tanner went to the grave many times. He also would look at where she laid before burial then look at the grave.
That night at feeding time, I ran them in from the yard and every one of them went into the pen where Misty had laid. All went to the spot she had laid in, then sniffed the ground.
Tanner did that too, but then he walked over to her grave (across the fence) and bobbed his head up and down about 6 times.
I then fed them all and as Durango went down the hill, he stopped on the other side of the fence from Misty's grave and put his head to the ground...stayed that way 30-45 seconds. Then he did the damndest thing: He did the stallion head toss, turned and walked away with his head near the ground. Misty had always done the stallion head toss ALL THE TIME!!! The only other horse I have that does it is Brody, THE STALLION!
Then Tanner went down the hill, stopped at Misty's grave on the other side of the fence, lowered his head...same amount of time, then he shook his head up and down like saying yes about 4 times, turned and walked away with his head lowered.
THEN Cody went to the grave, JEEZ!!, lowered his head about 30-45 seconds, then raised it, tossed it went down hill, came BACK, did it all again THREE TIMES!!!!
I stood and squalled and sobbed the whole time out there watching them pay their respects. It got dark before the mares went down the hill. So I am not sure of their reactions. But the geldings nearly did me in.
By the way, my friend in NC burnt a candle for Misty today (Sunday). I burnt mine yesterday when I had her put down. It was a long white taper, mine was a normal size votive. About 5:15 pm her candle holder (her oldest and most favorite) exploded!!
I hope that was Misty telling us that she had found her way and no longer needed the candlelight.
Bev
Docs Misty Moore 
