Buddy

Below is an email I received today from Riverwood. It is very sad but very touching.
Enjoy!

Dear Riverwood Family,

I'd like to take a minute to share some news with you...

Many of you know that when I started here at Riverwood about 10 years ago, I brought Buddy with me. I've had Buddy since I was 6 years old and he and I have been together for 27 years. Over the past 6 months he had slowly been telling me that his body was weakening and his strength was diminishing. We "officially" retired him in June and he spent most of the summer following Tony around the farm, getting loved on by all the summer riders and volunteers and causing mischief when he could. About 6 weeks ago, he injured his mouth and needed daily treatment and medication to help it heal and allow him to continue eating and drinking regularly. I think that was the last step for him. He took it all in stride, but was no longer his perky self. He was 34 years old and his time to leave this earth had arrived.

My family and I, along with Susan and Dr. Newell, decided that it would be much kinder to let him have a peaceful passing rather than waiting until he was truly ill or in a state of crisis; so we chose to have him euthanized here at the farm on Monday. The anticipation wreaked havoc on us for a few days, but when the time arrived it could not have been more peaceful or more blessed. He spent the day having visitors and lots of hugs. He ate almost 2 pounds of carrots, a jar of applesauce and dozens of apple slices, along with his regular feed. Later in the day, the wind picked up and the temperature dropped about 15 degrees and he and I went on a walk through the woods. I'm sure we were quite a scene to observe: the pregnant lady huffing and puffing up the hill with her ancient pony huffing and puffing up the hill beside her; he'd rest his head on my belly when we'd stop to catch our breath!!! When the vet arrived, Buddy had a full belly and was napping comfortably with all of us surrounding him sharing stories from his life. As he slipped into his final state, his face relaxed and he took a long deep breath. Dr. Newell said that she was pretty sure he'd return as a huge horse one day because his heart was too big to stay in a little pony's body.

I'd like to make sure that you all know that he loved his time here at Riverwood and I am so happy he could share with you what he shared with me and my family for all these years. As I looked through pictures yesterday, it was enchanting to recall all the places he had been, things he had done and the people he touched. He's been a cattle pony, a jumper, galloped cross country, trail ridden, given lessons and carried me more miles than I can count wherever I asked him to go. However, I'm positive that his time at Riverwood extended his life. He was a wonderful therapy horse who really took care of whomever was around him. He LOVED to love others and that is the lesson we can all take from him. He certainly taught me more about loving life than I could have learned anywhere else!

He will be deeply missed but for those of you who feel saddened by this news, please know that his death was the end to an amazing life and we should all be so lucky and so loved when our time draws near. It is a sad time, but also a time for celebration. I invite you to use this as a time to reflect on the things that are important to you and make sure you love them for all they're worth!

Kind Regards,
Laura


Riverwood Therapeutic Riding Center
Tobaccoville, NC
336-922-6426
www.riverwoodtrc.org