A Tribute to
ShowBiz
My life with ShowBiz started
in March of 2003. I was horse shopping and I arrived at this gorgeous
farm to look at some fillies. I walked by the first stall and I see this
big, handsome stallion standing there, his face pressed against the stall
bars. I told the owner of the farm that I HAD to see that one. She said that
he is not really for sale, so off we went to see her fillies. None of them
sparked my interest like the young stallion did. He had so much presence
that I insisted she take him out of his stall so I can watch him move...she
was more than happy to show him off. He was turned out in the arena...and
WOW...he knocked my socks off with his gorgeous, lofty and intense movement.
His 17.2hh stature was of sheer power. He had fire, spark and pizzazz to
his every single move. He would do canter pirouettes on his own and buck
with great effort to the point of his body being vertical. After this little
show of his, Biz walked over to me...I scratched and kissed his nose...he
drooled on me and I knew that this amazing horse had to be mine.
In April of 2003 (after two
long years of horse shopping), I made an offer on Biz, had him vetted (he
was clean), hooked up my trailer, grabbed my best horsey friend, Beverly,
and made the trip north to pick him up. I had never even ridden this youngster,
was I nuts?! Nope, I was in love.
In early July, 2003 (just
as we were enjoying a couple wonderful months of riding and learning about
each other), Biz got really sick. His temperatuare skyrocketed to 106
degrees...he was in a comatose state. I called the vet and after an exam
and bloodwork, he decided to put Biz on some meds...thinking it was a bug
that had his system down. Two weeks later, when there was little improvement
in Biz's health, it was suggested that I haul my boy to the hospital...only
to find out that this "bug" was in fact a 20-gallon internal abscess. After
draining the abscess two times (and four weeks at the hospital), it kept
filling up again, so our vet decided to operate and try to remove the abscess
as a whole. All went well and Biz was finally able to come home on September
3rd (after six total weeks at the hospital), with a huge hole in his side
for drainage. Twice a day I would flush the surgery site and inject him with
penicillin. Soon enough it looked like my boy was healing up wonderfully...we
were scheduled to go back to the hospital six weeks later for a re-check.
I was told I could start Biz back into a riding routine in early October,
but I wanted to make sure that the abscess was completely gone before I backed
him. Oh how I would've loved to have a few last rides on my proud
boy.
On October 23, when I brought
Biz back to the hospital for a re-check, I received bad news...the ultrasound
revealed that the abscess was never completely removed. We decided to operate
one more time and be more aggressive...hopefully to remove the whole abscess
this time around. While Biz was under, my vet realized that the abscess had
attached itself to his diaphragm and Biz won't make it. The abscess beat
us. My heart was in 1000 pieces, but I needed a few more days with my boy
before I let him go.
My Biz is now gone, but at
least I got to spend his last few days giving him whatever his heart
desired...full bags of horse treats and boxes of sugar cubes (his favorites).
I brushed all his "feel good" spots - he loved being groomed - he would move
his body every which way to make sure I got all the good spots. We nuzzled,
said our goodbyes, told him how much I (and everyone else in my family) loved
him. I leaned on him and hugged him...and wiped my tears and buried my face
on his warm shoulders (I loved leaning on him, he was so very big &
strong.).
The hardest day ever...Tuesday,
October 28, 2003, after a long morning of spoiling, loving and crying
on my boy, I walked Biz up the driveway behind the hospital to the "rest
area". His walk was slow, he was in pain...little steps this time...no more
prancing next to me as he always used to do (in pain or not, he would normally
prance by my side when I would lead him). He had lost that sparkle in his
eye and I knew it was his time. The vet gave Biz the first drug to ease him
a little. I gave Biz one last kiss on the muzzle, told him that he will no
longer be in pain and that I'd "see him later". He relaxed his head into
my chest, I looked away...bawling like a baby. He was down in less than 3
seconds...
Even though I feel gypped
that I did not get to form a lifelong partnership with Biz (he was God's
magnificent creation to begin with, so God had every right to take Biz at
any moment), I am thankful that he came into my life, gave me a solid six
months of love, shared a deeper bond than I could ever imagine and taught
me how to deal with a major loss. Death will not stop me from giving my heart
again...I will surely find another horse to love, but I will never forget
my dream horse, Biz. He is always in my heart...I still talk to him daily.
I love you, Biz, and I miss you immensely.
Erika
ShowBiz 
