The loss of a beloved friend and companion

[Debau2005]

The Therapeutic Riding Center I volunteer for, lost a valued companion today. We are all so grief striken, that I just had to post something to honor him. He fought a good fight, and his little heart just could not take the strain.



If you have an animal or a child, give them a big hug tonight. My organization teaches Special Needs Adults and Children to ride, the joy they receive and give is neverending. But we know the grief they will face in the next few days will be overwhelming to some.

We know that our little Pumpkin will be amusing the children that have already crossed the Rainbow Bridge and that he has joined the others, students and horses, we have lost over the years.


My apologies if this in the wrong forum, please move it if it is.

[driver8]

1. Oh no...so sorry for your loss, Debau.

What a beautiful horse. I am sure that he will be greatly missed by the people who knew him.

I like to think that there is a Rainbow Bridge...I have a couple of friends I hope to find waiting for me there.

[never_get_over_it]

13. There had better be a rainbow bridge

I've lost five (four cats and one dog) and they'd better be there waiting for me - as a matter of fact I'm almost sure of it because when my dear sweet Alex passed in January - the next day there was a big old rainbow in the sky and one of my friends told me she was sure it was a sign from him

I'm sorry for your loss and now I've brought myself to tears over my baby boy Alex (the dog) and the one year anniversary for sweet sweet Cooper (one of the cats) was yesterday - I guess we never stop missing them.

[Lindacooks]

20. Me too!

We lost four cats in 2-1/2 years. That was a tough period. And my Headley, three months ago, was given three months to live with heart disease - but he's doing great! I'm so thankful.

I think about Muffin, Stomper, Oreo, and Taylor every day. I'm sorry for your loss too.

I just can't believe that those souls, that personality, just cease to exist. It has to go somewhere!

[gator_in_Ontario]

2. Oh what a cutie...

such intelligent eyes...I'm sorry for your loss. But our loss is heaven's gain!

[yorkiemommie1]

3. sending love and hugs

what a sweet little one who gave happiness to so many. there is surely a reward for such as these.

:hug:

[Greyhound]

4. I am so sorry.

We have a mini too (Smokey) and he is just the best, not spooky/wary like the other "big" horses, just loves everyone especially if you've got a peppermint in your pocket.

[Debau2005]

10. He thought he was a dog!

If he could have he would have sat in your lap. We discovered during his illness that he had a fondness for baby apple juice. He'd knock you down to get to the rest of the bottle. So now all of our horses get a few licks every day as a treat.

We also found that mixing medicines in apple sauce is a wonderful way to get them to take it! Something we had not thought of before.

Does your Mini run the barn? Pumpkin was king, he had his own herd in the pasture, and even the largest horses let him rule. He was sort of a little tyrant when he wanted to be! :-)

[midnight]

18. Pumking soundeds like he was a character.

What a sweet face he has in that photo. Whenever I see animals, I'm always reminded of my dog.

[Greyhound]

19. No, unfortunately Misty (American Saddlebred) is the uber-bitch

of the arena.

My sister has been adopted by Sam (Welsh-Arabian) that was going to be put down, Smokey is his buddy now. He lost Sassy, his mate, a few years ago and was reduced to hanging out with the sheep, he was very happy when Sam came along.

He is my favorite because he loves to play, we wrestle and play tag, he is very conscious of his size and is appropriately careful. I think he just enjoys being the fastest player for a change.

Peace and Love :grouphug:

[DarbyUSMC]

5. I'm sorry for your loss. I hope the pain is soon eased.

[Penndems]

6. Deeply sorry to learn of the loss of beloved Pumpkin

Hugs and prayers to you, Debau2005. :hug: :cry:

[Raine]

7. Very sorry

he looks like a real sweetie. O8) I'm sure he has a special place on the other side. :hug:

[niyad]

8. May the Lady of the Beasts hold this darling being close, and bring

ease and comfort to those left behind.

people who do not have our beloved companions do not understand that we grieve just as much for them as we do for the rest of our family.

thank you for sharing this beautiful being with us, and sharing just a moment of your memories. I will hug my kitties extra close tonight.

[smokey nj]

9. I'm sorry.

[Redstone]

11. Poor pony. I do hope he went easy.

Redstone

[guinivere]

12. What a sweet, beautiful pony.

I'm sorry he's gone.

[havocmom]

14. Was reading article on therapeutic horseback riding for amputee vets

It was amazing how getting up and riding horses helped the vets who have lost legs. Made them wanna get up in the morning and work at PT. Just the help with depression was amazing but sitting the horse seems to help them regain balance and strengthen muscles that have atrophied.

Amazing work! I am sure your little Pumpkin's soul is reaping heaps of rewards. Take comfort in getting to share a life well lived.

There is a book I recommend to DUers who post about loss of companion animals. It is called
Good-bye, friend by Gary Kowalski. It may help you help the others through this by inspiring ways to honor the life of the sweet horse. There are some wonderfully moving and insightful stories, it is a quick read and it sorta opens up the flood gates so nothing gets ignored.

Honor the life.
Strength to all those friends of the horse.

[Debau2005]

22. The benefits

of riding are huge. It simulates the way we move when we walk. I saw an article on the vets riding program, as well.

We have severally autestic children that only speak when they are on the horse, and one that only smiles when he is in the barn or riding. It really is an amazing thing.

There is another center in Metro Atlanta that takes abused children, they not only learn to ride the learn to care for the horses, and to see what unconditional love really is.

[havocmom]

23. Unconditional love AND understanding responsibility

Saw that in documentary about using horses to straighten out teens who have had some trouble in school then with the law. Not bad kids, just mostly un-parented and adrift. Building a bond with a horse, training (being trained) and being responsible for the horse's care really had an impact on the kids.

It was awesome. One really tough-guy type had his mare get sick. Sent him into a panic. The fact that to save her, he had to listen to, trust, follow instructions from a team of vets/specialists taught that kid some lessons most children learn as infants and toddlers. He had missed the care necessary to gain those skills. He had never been given any reason to trust and communicate with others.

The horse in dire need created a situation where the kid got a crash course and learned he isn't alone and there are resources that can help in life, if he pays attention and choses well. A few weeks of crisis with his mare had an amazing impact on his whole concept of life/reality.

Animals have such empathy. They can reach some of us that no other human can. They can figuratively kick holes in the walls so many build around themselves. They can save us just as we can save them.

When we lose an animal companion, it is as keen a loss, as sharp a pain as losing human family. They leave big holes in our lives. They do so much to make our hearts grow.

Gonna go hug my self appointed handi-dog now. He is 'just a pet' and I never trained him to help me when I have episodes of physical limitations. He just knows when to help, when to pick stuff up and give it to me, when to help me up the few steps to the door. He is big, strong, and knows when to use it. He shows me it is safe to trust another when I need some help.

We should be as good as our companions.

[petersjo02]

15. You have my sympathy

and I'd give you hugs, if I could. My husband and I have buried four of our dear equine friends and companions, and the pain is very real. I tell people that I grieved more for the mare who was my first horse than I grieved for my parents. I'm sure you can understand that. We're with these animals every day of their lives, and their loss leaves a gaping hole in our hearts. Posting his picture here is a nice way to memorialize this dear soul. Our veterinary school and hospital (Iowa State University, Ames) has a memorial program to honor our companions who have died. You can send a donation, however small, and the gift is recorded in a big book located where the public can see it, along with the name/species of the deceased and any remarks you might wish to make, along with your name. This is a permanent and ongoing memorial to our loved ones. It is called the companion animal fund and helps support programs to assist companion animals who come there to the hospital to be treated. You might see if there's such a program at your nearest vet school and take up a collection to be sent in Pumpkin's name. Maybe in some small way, such a gift can help other animals, and that would be a fitting memorial to Pumpkin's memory. Once again, my thoughts are with you and all who are grieving over his loss.

[Debau2005]

21. Thank you

I will look that up. Pumpkin deserves a memorial for all he did for us.

[survivor999]

16. Terrible...

Sigh... I was just overwhelmed by another event involving the death of an animal...

[lonestarnot]

17. ah poor "Pumpkin." Sounds like he was a good DUer in his

life. I'm sorry for you and the kids. :hug:

[TorchTheWitch]

24. Oh, this is tragic!

I'm so sorry for your loss. What an adorable pony. He reminds me so much of Mickey when I was a kid except Mickey was black and white.

I love what you do. When I was a kid, I took riding lessons at Thorncroft in Malvern, PA which did (and still does) therapeutic horseback riding. There is no question that the benefits for disabled people is simply amazing pysically, mentally and emotionally. You could even see it in the reactions of the people from their very first ride!

http://www.thorncroft.org Good grief, Mr. Dixon is still alive and still running the place! He was old when I was a kid! Wow, this guy doesn't look all that different than when I was 10 years old! Anywho, good website with interesting information about therapeutic horseback riding with good photos.

Anyone who lives in the area, I really urge you to volunteer if you have time... http://www.thorncroft.org/volunteer.htm

Or find a theuraputic horseback riding facility in your area and volunteer. Just being a volunteer is so incredibly uplifting... sometimes I even wondered if it was the disabled people or me that was getting the most out of it.

And if you can't volunteer, donate! This is such a truly amazing therapy for disabled people. It was the therapeutic program for the disabled that kept me at Thorncroft many years after I stopped the riding lessons... once I saw the benefits, I just had to get involved.

[Debau2005]

26. That graphic is AWESOME!

We are DreamPower in Canton Georgia. I will take a look at their site.

http://dreampowertherapy.org

[Oilwellian]

25. I'm so sorry for your loss

I know the pain you're feeling all too well...we recently lost our male wolf, Shadowhawk. May he and your dear pony Pumpkin rest in peace. :hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

27. Awwww *hugs* I am so sorry. He looked so sweet.

[leftyladyfrommo]

28. Ah, that just sucks.