For over 30 years I have owned horses but the last 5 months have been the worst.

For over 30 years I have owned horses. For a good part of that time I have trained them as a profession. In that time I have not experienced the death of a horse often. My first horse, pony actually, was 16 when I got her. She died at 32 and it was not unexpected at her age.

Then I got off pretty easy until the last five months. Two years ago we did have a foal die. It was hard with such a young promising life but again I realized that with the number of horses I have owned, trained and loved I should be prepared for things like this.

But the last five months have been crushing. In December my first horse, Bay, who again was 30 years old (so it was not sudden and unexpected) had to be put down.

And then in February, Roxy. I know I didn’t own her but we did have a special relationship. It was sudden and shocking.

Roxy and Stacy Westfall Equine Affaire

And now Vaquero. I walked into the vet clinic guessing I would not have a show horse anymore but also thinking he would easily be a pasture pet for the rest of his life. Now his stall is empty. Roxy wasn’t here with me when she died. She had been at Greg’s house for a couple of years so although I was shocked there was no empty stall.

There is an empty stall now.

Misty and Bay were old and it was expected and both were at my moms

house. Roxy was shocking and her stall was at Greg’s.

If I didn’t already have horses, like Popcorn, that I have a relationship with I don’t think I would even go to the barn.

I know many of you out there know what I am talking about. I know others have felt this loss and had to look at the empty stall. That also tells me that you understand how hard the last 5 months have been. Thank you for supporting me and putting up with my sad blog posts:(

Thank you Maria for sharing this:

I’ll lend you for a little while my grandest foal, He said.
for you to love while he’s alive and mourn when he is dead.
It may be one or twenty years, or days or months, you see,
but will you, till I take him back, take care of him for me?
He’ll bring his charms to gladden you, and should his stay be brief,
you’ll have treasured memories as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return,
but there are lessons taught on earth I want this foal to learn.
I’ve looked the wide world over in my search for teachers true.
And from the throngs that crowd life’s lanes, with trust, I’ve chosen you.
Now will you give him total love, not think the labor vain,
nor hate me when I come here to take him back again?
I know you’ll give him tenderness and love will bloom each day,
and for the happiness you’ve known, forever grateful stay
But should I come and call for him much sooner than you’d planned,
you’ll brave the bitter grief that comes, and someday, understand.

159 Comments

  1. Hillary Riley on January 17, 2014 at 7:08 pm

    I am glad to know that I am not the only one that grieves so deeply over the lose of on of my equine babies. Horses were my first children and teachers in my life. I have had horse in my life for the past 33 years and those years were mostly filled with the joy of the ride, achievements in the show ring, or the pleasure of seeing some one else brought to he horse world. I’ve lost 3 in my lifetime. Chocolate was my first pony. I admit when Dad and I bought him, we knew nothing about horses. He died a few years later from EIA. When I was 17, I had my first real heart break. Her name was Skipper and I had her since I was 8 years old. She started off as Dad’s two year old and I just kinda took her from him. She had a filly named Dream that was right at weaning when she coliced and died. I found her in the turn out that morning. I couldn’t function and wouldn’t go anywhere. I even gave Dream away because I was so upset. I got Dream back 4 years ago, and she was pregnant but we didn’t know how far along. She had an amazing paint filly we named Comet. She was always gentle, fun to train, and we all had such high hopes in her. She was the last foal me and Daddy bred before he passed away on 2-20-12. She started losing weight a few months ago and I had her teeth and throat checked. Then she became way to picky of an eater. I checked with the vet and he said it was EPM, and we started her on the meds. She died a week later on Christmas Day this year. My heart is in so many pieces. I can’t stop crying, and I know things like this are gonna happen when you raise or train any kind of animal. I just can’t get over this one.

  2. HELENA on September 27, 2013 at 6:11 pm

    MY DEAREST STACY, MAY OUR LORD JESUS KEEP HIS ARMS AROUND YOU ALWAYS FOR BEING SO KIND TO HIS CREATURES…TRUST ME ALL OF YOUR FAMILY ARE SO HAPPY NOW, AND FREE FROM FEAR AND PAIN…MAY THE REST OF YOUR FAMILY BE BLESSED CONTINOUSLY WITH ALL OF YOUR DEVOTED LOVE AND UNSELFISH CARE TO THEM..SPREAD YOUR KINDNESS TO THE REST OF THE WORLD ABOUT LOVING HORSES, HOMELESS, SICK, AND UNWANTED, YOUR REWARD IS GOING TO BE COUNTLESS, GOD BLESS YOU, ALWAYS HELMAR816@AOL.COM

  3. Selene on December 16, 2012 at 5:54 am

    August 20, 2012, I put down my baby girl Bug, she was a dream I had since I was 16, to raise my own foal. May 2011 I aquired her momma pregnant with her, and my life changed, then due too complications from a umbilical hernia?, I lost her, I have know idea how you did it with 3.

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