Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

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quinta
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Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby quinta » Thu Oct 20, 2016 12:29 am

(It has been a few months, but I just couldn’t write the post until now)

In August, I said goodbye to my sweet black Morgan. Quinta was a character. Not a mean bone in her body, but also slow to trust, with a very short list of people on her ‘good’ list. Perfect ground manners, unless you were walking up to her in a field carrying a halter. :roll: I bought her in Tucson in 2008. We moved from Tucson, to Chicago (where we worked with UDDBer Quiddy, who was definitely on Quinta’s short list), and then to Durham, NC. I bought her to do dressage, but arena work was not her idea of a good time. So, when I bought mare #2, Quinta became my trail pony. She was forward, brave, and trustworthy on the trail, gamely crossing brush, ditches, banks, rivers and bridges without so much as a second glance. She could out-walk anyone else, and had that fantastic Morgan road trot (which she much preferred to cantering).

Early this spring, one of her eyes got swollen and weepy. Treated with steroids, but it came back and we got a diagnosis of bilateral equine recurrent uveitis (ERU). We spent the entire spring and summer going back and forth to the NCSU vet school - subpalpabrel lavages, steroid injections, UV blocking eye mask, leptospirosis treatment, surgery for immunosuppressant implants, and meds 2-3 times a day when was she was back at our boarding barn. We were recovering from post-implant surgery when she colicked - sad and frustrating, but not that surprising after months of steroids, atropine, and banamine. We went back to NSCU, where she did pull through after a week of hospitalization. (Having to make the no-surgery decision at 3 am for your 19 year old mare is not a good night). She came home from the vet school with a moving GI tract and clear eyes, but soon developed corneal ulcers in both eyes that refused to heal. So, seven months after this all started, I euthanized her in the cross-country field where we had happily ridden so many times.

Quinta was a brave and compliant patient throughout the whole ordeal and made many friends at our local vet clinic and the NC State hospital. I could not have asked for better vets and techs and I am endlessly grateful for their expertise, support, and kindness.

She did suffer me a few dressage shows, and was a cute mover.
FenRidgeDressage_2314-1753921699-O.jpg
FenRidgeDressage_2314-1753921699-O.jpg (53.73 KiB) Viewed 19712 times


Her last day. We had lots of peppermints, carrots, and snuggles. She was surprisingly good at snuggling, given her general distrust of humans.
last_day.jpg
last_day.jpg (46.99 KiB) Viewed 19712 times

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Sunshine2Me
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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby Sunshine2Me » Thu Oct 20, 2016 12:46 am

I am so sorry. She was a lovely, lovely girl! You sure went above and beyond for her. ((Hugs))

boots-aregard
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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby boots-aregard » Thu Oct 20, 2016 12:57 am

It sounds like you had a very rewarding partnership with her, (once she successfully told you what she'd prefer to do) and you cared for her well during her troubles. RIP Quinta.

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Fatcat
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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby Fatcat » Thu Oct 20, 2016 1:00 am

I am so sorry, what a heartbreaking ordeal. She was a lovely mare.

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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby PaulaO » Thu Oct 20, 2016 1:48 am

Godspeed Quinta. You were well loved.

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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby Dapple Field » Thu Oct 20, 2016 5:15 am

I'm very sorry for the loss of your lovely mare. You tried, that's the best one can do.

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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby Flight » Thu Oct 20, 2016 5:23 am

That's very sad, she looked like she was lovely.

Kyra's Mom
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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby Kyra's Mom » Thu Oct 20, 2016 5:36 am

My condolences.

Godspeed Quinta.

Susan
from susamorg on the UDBB

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Chisamba
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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby Chisamba » Thu Oct 20, 2016 11:29 am

I am so sorry. A heartbreaking ordeal indeed. My eyes were watering in sympathy . I really do hope there is a place where horses go with no bugs an green fields good herds and no pain.

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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby Josette » Thu Oct 20, 2016 11:59 am

I'm so sorry for your loss. Quinta was much loved and a beautiful mare. RIP Quinta.

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StraightForward
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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby StraightForward » Thu Oct 20, 2016 12:52 pm

I'm so sorry, she was clearly wonderful. :(
Keep calm and canter on.

LeoApp
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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby LeoApp » Thu Oct 20, 2016 12:56 pm

I have a special place in my heart for Morgans. I have always wanted one. I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for telling us about her.

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PhoenixRising
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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby PhoenixRising » Thu Oct 20, 2016 1:57 pm

I'm so sorry for your loss.
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, live the life you've imagined!

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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby Hayburner » Thu Oct 20, 2016 2:05 pm

I'm sorry for your loss of such a special mare. She is free of pain now - take comfort knowing that you did everything to heal her and take away the pain.

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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby Sue B » Thu Oct 20, 2016 2:41 pm

I am so very sorry for your loss. You and Quinta had such a special partnership; she was so lucky to have you for a friend. i am sure she is still there in spirit looking out for you and Autumn, keeping you two safe out there on the cross country courses.

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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby Tuddy » Thu Oct 20, 2016 2:45 pm

I am sorry for your loss. Hugs!

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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby Rhianon » Thu Oct 20, 2016 3:39 pm

Ah, I'm so sorry. We all know that horrible sad point of exhausted options when you have to admit it's time to let them go. Hugs to you, and godspeed to greener pastures for Quinta.

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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby piedmontfields » Thu Oct 20, 2016 4:16 pm

I am so sorry for your loss of your friend. Godspeed, Quinta. I'm glad NCSU and the people around you were so supportive.

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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby VBOpie » Thu Oct 20, 2016 6:13 pm

So sorry for your loss. The pictures you shared were beautiful. Love the one of her looking out the barn door.

Ryeissa
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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby Ryeissa » Thu Oct 20, 2016 7:18 pm

I'm so sorry

Kelo
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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby Kelo » Thu Oct 20, 2016 8:18 pm

I am sorry for your loss, Quinta

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orono
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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby orono » Thu Oct 20, 2016 9:02 pm

I'm so sorry, what a beautiful and special mare.

Canyon
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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby Canyon » Thu Oct 20, 2016 9:19 pm

I am sorry for your loss. She was a a beautiful mare.

KathyK
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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby KathyK » Fri Oct 21, 2016 12:40 am

Echoing everyone else in expressing my sadness and sorrow.

Code3
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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby Code3 » Fri Oct 21, 2016 3:20 am

Such a beautiful girl. Godspeed.

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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby heddylamar » Fri Oct 21, 2016 12:43 pm

Quinta was lucky to have you as her human. She was a beautiful mare.

I am so sorry for your loss.

fergusnc
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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby fergusnc » Sat Oct 22, 2016 12:23 am

Such a lump in my throat as I read your post. I just cannot imagine how that must have felt, and am so very sorry for your loss. She sounds like a tough, wonderful girl and what a love you had for her to try so hard and also recognize when it was time to say farewell.

Last week I lost the second of my two girls (one dog, one cat) in less than a week. The second was my dog and it was a complete and total shock, start to finish it was 12 hours. A friend shared something I had not read before, and I really liked it. I hope you do too. Peace to you.

"I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze, and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength and I stand and watch until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says, "There! She's gone." Gone where? Gone from my sight - that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her; just at the moment when someone at my side says, "There, she's gone," there are other eyes watching her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, "There she comes!" And that is dying. ---anonymous

demi
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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby demi » Sat Oct 22, 2016 1:27 am

heavy sighs.

exvet
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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby exvet » Mon Oct 24, 2016 1:06 am

We are honored to have them in our lives and in return they bring out the best in us. I'm sorry for your loss. As we all know it's the toughest part of the whole gig; but, it's also when we are given the chance to do the best by them. She's running with a very large well loved and very missed herd of equine.

redsoxluvr
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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby redsoxluvr » Tue Nov 01, 2016 5:23 am

Sorry for your loss. She was lovely.

khall
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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby khall » Tue Nov 01, 2016 1:02 pm

I am so sorry for your loss quinta, having just lost a very special mare myself I feel your pain. Your mare was beautiful, I love a dark bay.

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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby goldhorse » Wed Nov 02, 2016 3:13 am

Oh Quinta, I am so sorry. I have been fortunate to acquire a Morgan gelding and he has won my heart. They are special, aren't they? I hope that you can go forward with your good memories.

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quinta
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Re: Goodbye to a fine Morgan mare

Postby quinta » Fri Nov 04, 2016 1:59 pm

Thanks to everyone for the sympathy, hugs, and understanding. I am at the point where the good memories of our time together are asserting themselves over the sad ones from the end, which is a good place to be.


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