I read a quote once that went something like this: “Life is not fair. Once you accept that- you will appreciate the good times when they are here.”
I will remember Vaquero like this:
This is a picture of his neck x-ray. If you follow the line that runs through the bones –that is his spinal column. If you look from the right side of the photo and move left you will see a bony finger that sticks into the spinal column. It is a bony, arthritic growth that sometimes happens in horses and is considered a growth defect. Not caused by injury, etc. just the way he grew.
A couple of years ago we decided to geld Vaquero. We made that decision for HIM. As a stallion he spent his life alone and couldn’t be turned out with friends (he drove them crazy). So we gelded him even though we knew he would go on and win. And he did go on and win. He was shown three times bridleless and was undefeated. And by gelding him we lost the money we could have made. And I never regretted it because he got to play with his friends like in this video:
This decision was even harder than that one but again we know it was for HIS best.
Vaquero May 18, 2005 to May 7, 2012
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Stacy, There are no words right now that could even begin to touch the immense loss you and your family have experienced in the past few months! Just know that we all love you and our hearts and prayers are right there with you. Let the precious times with Roxy & Vaquero fill your memories and it will heal your heart in time! You’ve been such an inspiration to us to step out and be a pioneer. Your dad’s “don’t be afraid to try new things” sticks in my heart when I doubt, and your willingness to try, to share, and to move forward is a great blessing. Holding you all up for strength! Thank you, Stacy.
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Very sorry for your loss, but you did the right thing for the horse. Thanks for posting your experience and the X-rays, when I was going through this I could find pretty much nothing online about this condition, there’s lots on EPM and real Wobblers, but not much on arthritis in the spine, and I think it is more common than people think. The surgery is a big deal and if the prognosis afterwards was not good, or if he would have to go through it multiple times in his life, then it wouldn’t be worth the pain for him. Very sorry things ended this way, I was hoping you would have a better outcome.
Oh Stacy, I’m so sorry. I read this post when I woke up this morning before going to school, and I started crying. I can’t imagine how terrible this is for you. But it was the right thing to do for Vaquero, and up in heaven, he’s probably thanking you for putting him out of his suffering, and now he’s with Roxy and all of your other horses that have passed, able to play with them and be together.
Sorry to hear that you had to come to this decision. Prayers be with you and your family in your time of need. He was such a great horse. He will be missed.
Oh no…I’m so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you.
My heart hurts for you and your family………..
I’m so very sorry for your loss of this magnificent horse and friend. I cry with you, knowing your pain, reliving the loss of my friend, Raven Dancer. I pray God will comfort you and your family during this very difficult time and ease the pain with beautiful memories.
Roxy and Vaquero, two great horses in a lifetime…gone much too soon. I heard Buck Branaman say that if you owned one really good horse in a lifetime, your were lucky. Stacy, you were doubly blessed.
Stacy, I had to read your message twice before I could really comprehend what you were saying. I can’t believe your beloved Vaquero has left your side and I know he will always be in your heart. I can’t even imagine how heavy your heart must feel at this time. It was the right decision for Vaquero and GOD is with you…HE will comfort you. I do believe one day we are reunited with our loved ones, human as well as our 4 legged friends. Roxy and Vaquero have crossed over the Rainbow Bridge and are running free, kickin it up, rolling in the mud, and eating all the green grass they want! They are happy and one day you’ll all be reunited again. May GOD BLESS you and your family during this very difficult time. You, Stacy, are a gift to the horse world, and were a bright light in Roxy and Vaquero’s lives. They loved you!
Stacy, I’m so sorry for your loss. 🙁 You are in my thoughts.
My heart, and hearts around the world are breaking for you, your family, and Vaquero. Seeing these radiographs, there is no question you made the right decision for him. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
I’m so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Words cannot even begin to express my deep sympathy. I can’t imagine what you must be going through. Just after you lose Roxy, dear Vaquero passes. Your pain must be unthinkable. My prayers are with you during this very hard time,
Stacy- Please, in your way, grieve your loss, honor dear Vaquero, and continue to do what you do for horses and their world. Your knowledge and intelligence of these magnificent animals can only be matched with the courage and strength you display when the tough decisions are made. That is why they trust you so. The enormity of what has happened in the past months is hard to comprehend for some of us, but that doesn’t mean we can be any less sorry. Sit and listen to the wind and maybe you might hear Vaquero running free and happy. God will ease the pain in your heart and you soon will breathe deeply and calmly and find the determination to continue on in your labor of love. Blessings and prayers to your entire family- human and animal 🙂
oh Stacy So sorry ,But you did your best ,he is now free of pain ,running like the wind .My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family .
So very sorry to hear of your second loss of yet another amazing horse. It is never easy to lose a horse to neuro disease, no matter their age. Having lost my sister’s and my first horse to still unknown neurologic problems three months ago, I understand what you are going through, though it was over the course of almost a year- not days. My thoughts and prayers for you and your family, two and four legged.
Oh Stacy my heart goes out to you! I recently lost my almost 16 yr old dog that I have had since he was a baby. I am so sorry for your loss!!
I am so sorry for your loss! I am thinking about you, as much as it hurts it is the best thing for him. I saw the videos and he looked so confused that things weren’t working right. He was a sweet horse. My prayers
Stacy I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of your dear Vaquero! My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time!
Dear Stacy,
I just showed my 7 year old daughter who also has a passion for horses your video with Vaquero for the 2011 championship and she said “She’s the most beautiful rider I ever saw Mama…I wanna ride just like her someday”….you are an inspiration and your love for horses shines through in everything you do. Keep that love alive and continue to share your gifts with all of us and your horses 🙂
Psalm 34 17-18 – The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and he saves those whose spirits have been crushed. So sorry for your loss, may the Lord comfort you and your family.
I am so so sorry!
so so sorry for youre loss stacy and i pray things look up for you and youre family
Stacy I am so sorry for your loss and yes somethings in life aren’t fair but we do have our memories that bring comfort. We have to cherish each day with the ones we love as they may not be here tomorrow. Two great Horses were blessed that they had you in their life’s and to get all the love you gave them. God Bless you and may you find strength during this difficult time.
Dear Stacy, and All of Vaquero’s Connections:
I just wanted to tell you all that I’m truly sorry for your loss. On April 9th of this year I lost my once in a lifetime horse to wobbles. He was an amazing racehorse, posting remarkable stats as a two year old. Over $220,000 dollars, Indiana two year old trotting gelding of the year, 6 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third in 9 lifetime starts. He did some amazing things for a horse, and when he came back into training after being off for the winter there was something that wasn’t quite right. After months of trying to figure out what was wrong and treating him different ways, he would show a little improvement and then he would get bad again. We were finally advised to take him to Rood & Riddle and it didn’t take them long to give him the correct diagnosis. His condition was too severe for the surgery to be successful and Dr. Reed advised us to put him down, so we did. There aren’t words to describe losing him and I know you understand. I had already planned on attending all four days of Equine Affaire and after the devastation of losing Tiger I knew I needed the vacation. I watched you and Vaquero in all of your demonstrations and the reality of losing my horse escaped my mind for those moments; so thank you for the amazing horsewoman you are and thanks Vaquero for being the amazing horse horse that he was.
holy cow 🙁 so sorry
So very sorry for your loss. He was an amazing horse, and a beautiful soul. You and your family are in my prayers. You are right, life is not always fair; I pray the pain you feel now will be replaced with the many good memories of Vaquero and the joy he brouoght to you and his fans.
Oh, Stacy, I’m so sorry! Horses are so big-hearted, it’s so hard to lose them! Know that there are many who share your pain. Your horses have always been great; they know that they have someone who cares a great deal for them, that is why they perform so well for you. It is up to us to look out for their best interests, and it is not always the decision that we would want. It takes so much courage to live up to this responsibility. You always have been and will continue to be a great influence on the horses that are in your life. May God give you strength in this difficult time.
I’m so sorry Stacy 🙁 the horse world is a tough place, a lot of it is just purely luck. It is especially hard for us people who care so deeply for the horse and see them as an equal, not even just as a pet or an athlete. As someone once said to me, you never know how strong you are until you are faced with hardship. Stay strong.
This joining of hearts, and tears, in hearing about your loss today, is profound…..how complete strangers never are, at times like this.
Sincere condolences for you and your family….from the west coast of Canada.
Soo sorry to hear of your loss. He was a truly beautiful horse and ya’ll made a spectacular team. Thoughts and prayers go out to you.
My deepest sympathies for you Stacy,and your family. You have showed us you are a very strong person. First the loss of your dad and Rox, and now Vaquero.
It’s always spring in Heaven and he will always be in a lush green field playing with his friends.
For you and your family – all my prayers that your pain will fade.
I am so sorry for your loss. Life isn’t fair and I feel for you, having lost Roxy and now Vaquero. You brought out the best in them in their short time with you. God bless.
So so sorry for your loss..Praying for you and your family.
So sorry for your loss! My heart breaks for you and my prayers are with you. May God bring you peace and heal your broken heart!
So incredibly sad for your loss Stacy, Vacquero was truly a beautiful boy. He and Roxy, Bay and Misty were all so fortunate to have you as “their person”. Prayers and condolences from S. China :'(
crying again…thanks
“When peace, like a river, attendeth my way; when sorrows, like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, ‘It is well, it is well, with my soul.’ ”
When God is all you have, only then can you truly know that He is enough. Praying that He will restore your soul–it must feel numb right now from all the pain. When the Lord makes the new heaven and earth, I believe that Roxy and Vacquero will be there, for there will be no more death.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
Reading your story here and seeing your videos says so much about you and your love for horses. I was especially impressed by your first major decision for Vacquero when you chose to geld him so he could live a fun life with pasture mates. How wonderful that he got to experience Popcorn and crew! So very sorry for your loss, but ever so impressed with your ability to consistently choose what is best for your horse(s).
Hugs from Maine to you!
I got chills watching your video above, and sobbed. My heart breaks for you and your family. I am so sorry for this horrible, horrible loss.
So sorry Stacy. You’re in my prayers.
I am so sorry Stacey………..your love of your horses shines through always.His spirit will live through you and your other horses. I hurt for you and your loss. He was magnificent!
So very sorry about your heart breaking news.
My his hoves always be dancing in your heart. I feel privileged that i got the chance to see him at congress. Huggs to you and all his buds!
Oh my god Stacy!! My heart absolutely breaks for you. You have been through so much these past few months. I cannot even express in words how sorry I am that all of this has happened to you losing your first horse, Roxy and now Vanquero. I am so sorry!! Many tears are shed and prayers are being said for all three of your champions I will pray for you and your family. I feel your pain and know how it feels to lose horses I loved in a short period with no good answers or reasons to explain why it happens
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Stacy, I am so sad for you and your family. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers. From the postings on your blog I know I am not a lone in wishing you peace at this very difficult time. -Jill
My heart cries with you, I wish you peace with your loss and many happy memories of the good times.
Do not close your heart to the pain. leave it open. for every horse lost there is another that wants to be loved.
i pray that you are given the strength you need to move on from this. Im sorry 🙁