My best friend has died

My standardbred gelding, Dusty, died this weekend. My son and I walked to the barn Sat morning to feed him breakfast and found him lying dead outside the barn. He was in relatively good health for an older horse. He had lost some weight recently despite a good appetite. His last meal Friday was oats with diced apple, some hot water to soften the oats, some brown sugar mixed in and some horse treats on top and several flakes of timothy hay.

We have been together since 1999. He was my forever horse, together until one of us died.

When my exBF would beat me I would go to the barn and sit my chair in his stall and Dusty would put his head in my lap. When my PTSD was bad I would look at his calm eyes and try to emulate him. At times he would place his muzzle against my face and we would breathe each other's breath. He was a member of my family.

He had an easy going personality but had his own ideas at times. When I first got him and I wanted to ride to the back field he wanted to go back to the barn and would only go backwards or in circles. But I outsmarted him. I shut the gate to the paddock by the barn and then sat on him while he was on the outside of the paddock. I didn't prod him to go toward the field but just sat on him quietly as he stood by the gate. After about ten minutes he let out a big sigh. I then gently asked him to walk to the field and he did without pause. The problem was solved with patience.

I am heartbroken without him.

RIP Dusty 1988-2012

so sorry yoda. our pets can be our very best friends. hugs.R.I.P. dusty.

(((Yoda))) - so sorry for the deep loss of your best friend ((Dusty)). I enjoyed reading your post even though its sad. I could hear he was your friend who comforted you in very difficult times and you both had a very special bond. R.I.P Dusty.

Oh Yoda, I am so sorry, I can understand how important this horse was to you first hand and because he was there for you for so many years and was your haven through many difficult times in your life, it is a big loss. There is no human friend dearer than that kind of friendship with a trusted understanding, loving, devoted horse. There is something very deep about how this animal becomes such a true soul mate. I hear you and it is every bit like losing a real important family member that was there for you.

I just want you to remember Yoda, that you gave this horse a wonderful life and you did love and appreciate him. He was every bit as lucky as you were to have him in your life. I believe that horses do have souls Yoda and I believe that his soul is still with you free of his body and any kind of body pain from age or any kind of illness.

This takes time to grieve Yoda, because it is a big loss.

((((((((Hugs)))))))))
Open Eyes

I am so sorry Yoda, losing your best friend, how awful! I was reading this and got a surprise he had the same name as one of my horses. Great name! And what a beautiful guy! At least he had a wonderful last meal and a good long life with someone that I know loved him dearly, but no matter it still hurts I am sure. Please find comfort in the good memories you two had together and know he is being well cared for in that pasture in the sky. The two of you will ride again someday, I know. I am crying with you!

Yoda, I'm heartbroken with you. Your post brings back memories of my Daisy. I am so sorry.

A large and liquid eye...
the swirl of dust around pounding hooves...
these, then, are the images that move us.
~ Author Unknown

That's on the homepage of a website, HoofBeats in Heaven (http://www.hoofbeats-in-heaven.com), that I found when I was mourning my sweetheart. It's gotten commercial to support itself, but you might want to stop by.

Dusty is still with you, I'm betting on that. Equine spirits are so magnificent, I was always undone by the fact that Daisy would choose to spend so much of her time with me. It was just all of a different order, somehow. A touch of the gods in her somehow, as if she'd always just left heaven to be with me.

Well now she's in heaven full time and Dusty too. But personally I think equine spirits have visitation rights.

Many hugs and I'm shedding some quiet tears for horses and their separated companion humans everywhere. Oh, Yoda ...

Roadie

Yoda, I am so sorry, I feel your pain I really do, Losing a pet is so sad, I am crying reading this and the replies very very sad.

(((((Yoda)))))

I was thinking of you yesterday and wondering about Dusty - thinking about the time you almost had to rescue him after he climbed that ridge. I'm heartbroken to hear the news. You've given him an amazig life - he knew how much you loved him.

Thanks for posting a pic. He looks VERY lovable.

Rest in peace ((((Dusty))))

I am so very sorry. Horses are such wonderful creatures, and Dusty looks so lovely in the picture. ((((hugs))))

I am so sorry. I remember when my horse died back in high school...was devestating. It sounds like you had quite a wonderful bond with him. Never forget that.

i am so very sorry...he was a beautiful animal. you know...animals don't lie..you can not make them like us...we can force them to obey us..but never like us..that is a genuine, true admiration...a blessing so to speak.

god speed & safe passage dusty.

safe healing yoda. this love will never be replaced but there might be another whose love will will flood into the empty hole & try...

I'm so very sorry. Reading your post has brought tears to my eyes. It is agonising to lose an animal that clearly meant so much to you. I'm thinking of you.

((((((Yoda)))))))
My heart aches for your loss. There is nothing like the friend in such a beautiful being. I cherish those memories with my beloved and hope there will be some comfort for you in yours as well. Peace be with you and for Dusty. With the warmest of hugs, -F

Oh Yoda, I am so very sorry you lost your beloved Dusty. He looks like a sweetie pie. Our beloved pets are never with us long enough.

(((((((((Yoda))))))))

I'm saddened to hear of your sweet boy's passing. To read what you wrote brought tears to my eyes.

Thinking of you.

(((Yoda))) Am so, so sorry for the sudden loss of your beloved Dusty.

Our animals know & love us unconditionally, you gave him a wonderful life.
Take time to grieve.

Thinking of you.

(((Yoda)))
Your post is such a beautiful tribute to Dusty.
I'm so sorry you've lost someone so close to you and so important to you.

Thinking of you

How long do horses normally live? You did well to give him a nice home and an easy life. RIP Dusty.

Yoda, I am so very sorry for your and your son's loss!

I am so sorry....((((((((( Yoda))))))))))))

Thank you all for your kindness.

I wish I had some Halloween pictures of him. I would paint a Jack-o-lantern in orange paint on his side. He put up with me. Dusty liked to bob for apples too. I cut the apples into bite size pieces and he bobbed in a 15 gallon tub of water.

The depth of our sadness and sense of loss, reflects how very much we loved them and just how important they were to us and it is so precious to have had that.

Thinking of you, what a beautiful boy you had the pleasure to cross paths with - Soup

Hey, Yoda. I think about you every morning. How empty they must be in some way. Yet how filled with remembering.

*hugs*

Roadie

Illegal toilet, it depends on the care they get during their life how long they live. 24 is a good old age for a horse

Yoda, I'm so sorry for your loss. It's hard to find them like that. We don't get to say goodbye. On the other hand it sounds like his passing was gentle.

Your post brought back memories for me. Have shared my life with so many of them who've gone on....