He found me when he was five,

Afraid and lost, forsaken by all.

Eight months alone I spent with him,

Until he himself allowed me in.

We know each other’s smells and sounds,

We felt each others joy and sorrow.

Three years of happiness we shared,

At last he knew what family meant.

Then came the day his past came back,

The years before crept up too fast.

We did our best, all of us;

The Dr., staff, and best friend Henry.

But now was time to say good bye,

With no regrets to wonder why.

Oh.. how I loved you, you "bag of bones",

My dear Tito, I loved you so.

A brave daughter:   "Mister Man" April 23 1989 - July 29, 2002

Dear Friends:
Our family today had yet another one of our beloved horses put down.  My daughter Rhea, who is all of 12 years made the decision whether or not to have her horse - whom she has ridden for the last two years and for whom she had the papers put in her name for her 12th birthday present, be subjected to yet another surgery on his fetlock that had been operated on 3 times before or to have him put down.

If Rhea had opted for surgery, if would be different this time.  For Mister had severely fractured his sesimoid bone.  We would not only be buying the horse over for a third time, but more importantly, his quality of life and for what he lived to be doing would be taken from him  for the rest of his remaining 10 + years of life. With  his prior surgery, Rhea had nurtured and babied him, which was not only expensive but so sad to watch this magnificent animal stalled and depressed, and your daughter brushing and loving on him every minute.  With yet another surgery he would be stalled for 6-8 months, then after a year be fully healed and what he healed up as would be the best that he could possibly get.  He would only be allowed to walk, maybe a slight gait on level ground only.  He would never see another trail, play with Rhea in the muddy creek waters, race bare back with Rhea down our quarter mile grass strip or compete in what he love most, which was competitive events.  He would only be able to be kept in a small paddock, so that he could not run, play, frolic in the mud or sand with the other member of his "horsy family" running free over 18 rolling acres of pasture.  This horse would spend the rest of his natural life confined and with no certainties that even with the slightest twist could send him back to the surgery room yet again.

Rhea awoke this morning, came quietly in the living room and said she wanted him to be put down, for it was not fair to him to keep him alive.  Her only request was that his body were to be returned home and buried.  As a parent , watching a 12 year old girl who absolutely adores and LOVES her horse, make a decision that not many adults could easily do, was not only heart wrenching but rewarding in that this child could have the insight to make the right and most compassionate decision.

"Mister Man" as Rhea called him was a 13 year old fox trotter gelding, stood 15 hands, did everything that was asked for him and was a loved member of our family.  He now lays quietly asleep near Denny, who as pasture mates hated each other.  We all kinda giggled though our tears with that.  As a family we are so blessed to of had the opportunity to make wonderful memories with the animals that share our lives. 

We have now given Rhea that papers to Sadie, a beautiful black 2 year old Peruvian filly who is Rhea's second love and for whom she will continue to make even more wonderful memories with as she will start Sadie's training this coming year.

~ Cathy

Published 1978: 
Emptiness
Zooming across the sky, only two great birds can fly.
They twist in the air, ' cause no one is there.
So tranquil is the deep blue space, merely two birds can fly over all human race.
Does anyone know how it feels to be alone, just one and one?
Like two birds flying high past the stars to the sun.
To the suns burning rays they shall fly, where they can cease the eternal loneliness and die.