The Day I Lost My Best Friend
A Stabletalk Reader

Hi, what I am about to tell you is hard for me to talk about but I just wanted to share my story with others who are, or have been, in the same position as me.

It all began last autumn when my new forest pony got laminitis, she was in agony and although I was upset by this it was nothing compared to what was about to come. After about 2 weeks box rest the laminitis had subsided and she was left with terrible bruising in her feet.

I was told I could walk her out and thats all, so off I went just happy to be riding my little baby again, but after a week she was badly lame again and then came the news that turned my world upside down. The vet said that she would have to be retired and as I would no longer be able to ride her my mum said there was no way I could keep her.

For the last month that I had my pony I spent every minute I could with her, I'd had her for 2 years and we had something special between us, I can't really explain what but, we understood each other. Eventually the day came when I had to load her up and take her to the retirement home where I hoped they'd look after her.

As I went to turn her out in their paddock the tears streamed down my face so much so I could hardly see, I kissed her goodbye and flung my arms round her neck. Turning and walking away was the hardest thing I have ever done and it ripped my heart in two.

For months I could'nt look at another chesnut mare without crying but finally after about 6 months I heard of a rescue centre that was closing down, there I found my new horse, a sad looking bag of bones with a terrible history behind him and no foreseeable future ahead. Looking at him he looked like what I'd felt like and i just had to have him.

8 months on and he's broken and we've had alot of fun, he's like a totally different horse, he has his problems but does'nt eveyone?

It still hurts to know that I'll never see my baby again and that I don't know where she is, but I'm determined not to make the same mistake twice.