Another sad goodbye.

Today we lost another equine friend. This is a big down side to having retired horses, but you have to take the bad with the good. We knew of Rafiki when he was showing under Chris Kappler and then he came to stay with us. Rafiki was a boarder but he was still part of our family. He came to us in 2003 for stall rest after a stifle injury and then he made it back to the ring briefly before it started up again. The next time we saw him was after he was trying to get back to work and then developed EPM. He was at another farm and having a hard time, so his owners (Liz and Greg Obrecht) called us to see if we would take him again. That was in 2005.
When he first came back to us he was having episodes of laying down and not being able to get back up. We would have to crack a lunge whip (not touch him at all, just the sound was enough) to encourage him to get up. But in time he got stronger and he no longer had any trouble getting up and down. The EPM and stifle injury took it's toll and his hind end, it was weak and he didn't exactly move like a normal horse but over all he was happy and healthy and was able to enjoy retirement like anyone else. He still knew he was a stallion and he was still very head strong. But he was always gentle and kind to my kids. Even when Tyler gave him a haircut when I wasn't looking!!!!
Look up " Haircut! June 17, 2010" on here, I can't figure out how to link it.
The last few weeks his front end gave out and then the added stress to his weak hind end didn't give him any where to rest. He refused to lay down to get off his legs and then his EPM seemed to be effecting him again as well. He started having a difficult time and it was a tough choice to say goodbye but his body just couldn't take much more. He was euthanized today. We gave him loads of carrots the last two days and told him we loved him. Tyler took it pretty hard but Emily was more upbeat saying he was getting to go see Casino, Artos and God. It was a hard day and I just keep trying to think like Emily.