Family &
Friends,
It's with a VERY heavy
heart that I tell you of the passing of my beloved black Tennessee Walking
Horse gelding, Spirit, Sunday afternoon, June 8, 2008. We shared a beautiful
4-hour ride early Saturday morning - in the shade of the woods, with a gentle
breeze - before it got so hot. Afterwards, he enjoyed his shower bath, cooled
off, and relaxed in the shade of his stall with a fan blowing on him, and
the barn radio going. I hugged him, told him I loved him, and gave him horse
treats - like I've done after riding him for 19 years. He was 32 years old,
and simply laid down and died of a heart attack, the 99 degree heat, and
his age - no pain, no suffering, no struggle - just laid down by the barn
at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, at the same time I was sitting on my sofa at home
and felt "something" push me over to lay down for a 5-minute nap. We've always
been in sync on many things, and I truly believe his Spirit passed over me
as he lay down.
Two big blessings: Our great ride together Saturday and the fact that
he went quickly Sunday with no pain. The ground on the farm is too rocky
for digging and burying, so I had him cremated June 9th, and he came to rest
in my apartment home in a special oak "box stall" on June 17th. Some of my
horse friends have sent checks to pay the memorial costs so I won't have
that financial worry. Spirit will be at home with me until I die, then buried
with me later.
I truly cannot imagine life
without my Spirit - thinking of the over 1,000 miles of trail riding, riding
with friends or alone, herding cows, riding in parades, etc., etc., etc.
for 19 years - every week. He helped me through Daddy's death, old boyfriends'
situations, the cancer and other pains, my current neuropathy, etc., etc.,
etc. He was my definition for love and happiness.
I don't see how I can afford another horse. Horse feed and hay and
the gas to get to the boarding stables is just too high now. And yet, I can't
imagine my life without a horse in it. However, I know that I WILL ride again
when the riding "itch" comes.
Please pray for me to get
through these terrible times. I feel so lost and despairing. Spirit was a
grandson of the famous Midnight Sun, who won The Celebration in 1945 and
1946 - perhaps the last remaining grandson of the Sun's bloodline.
June 8, 2008 was the WORST
day in my life...Spirit was my "horse husband" and "son" all rolled into
one. He was my reason for living and is named after the Holy Spirit. The
love of my life forever...
Becky