I acquired Rio three years ago, when she was already in her mid to upper 20s and was in need of a lot of love and a lot of food! She was given to me when the owners could no longer give her what she needed.
She quickly wiggled her way into my heart and I spent every single day with her for 2 1/2 years at the boarding facility where I kept her. She was my first horse and I have never felt so loved by a creature and so understood by anyone in my life. Her warm, brown eyes could say everything without saying anything. We got to do a little riding together, but she loved our time spent just talking and grooming or walking.
About 4 months ago, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, we made a pact that I would get better and so would she, because she had lost some weight from our tough, Minnesota winter and she needed to catch up before the next one. She was doing great, but when the weather started to get chilly, colic hit her and she had a hard time coming back.
I know she was trying very hard to hang on because she knew that I needed her to get through this. But I told her that it was ok to let go, because I knew she was holding on for me. And she was so brave, she would have held on a long time, even if she was miserable.
I had to put her down after a long weekend of trying hard to help her come back, and it was the hardest thing I have ever done. I miss her so much every day and it will never be the same without her. But I will never forget those big, brown, loving eyes as long as I live. Rio will always be with me. And I have my memories and all my photos of her to last a lifetime.....
Stacey Stumpfl
Minnesota
Rio 
