For those who have been following us for over a year, you'll know that the mare, I call Baby April, daughter of Super Sega, has had a lot of ups and downs the past 18 months. I have not mentioned her in a long time and like last year, this year has been, well full of bumps in the road. We rehabbed a serious injury this winter (many months of stall rest and limited turnout) to finally get my Big Mare sound but it was not meant to be. We had a small window of hope in August but the world came crashing down in October when she again became lame, this time on a different leg.
We went today to see the best of the best in the horse world and saw a vet who cares for many extraordinary horses (inside and outside the US), and the verdict is not good. It seems that it will be another very long winter of rehab but this time there won't be a light at the end of the tunnel. Baby April won't be the special performance horse that we hoped she would be. In fact, she'll probably be "Mother April" sometime in 2014 (if the stars align correctly). It wasn't a huge shock but reality does indeed hurt. Tough day here on the farm. Hopes and dreams won't come to fruition. She's lucky though that she will be loved and cared for just as much. Horses can be so humbling.
Wow, I really can't comprehend all that this means except that I know a lame horse is lucky to still be loved and I'm thrilled to hear that perhaps she will be a "mama" horse soon! My sister in law has the best barn and riding facility of anyone I know so I've learned a good bit from her…I may have already told you about her! I hate that I can't remember stuff like that any more! But her farm is Rolling Hills….Sterrett, Alabama! You can't miss it! Love your posts…they are always so real and mean so much!
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard when you breed for a sport, and their future ends up to not be what you intended.
ReplyDeleteSo much in horses boils down to 'luck'.... my horse off the track at 6, and 17 years of my riding without much of a hitch... that was ALL luck. Now he's had 4 years in retirement, we're approaching our 21st year together and it's bittersweet.
Jingles that April manages stall rest better than mine does...
A
SoLongFarm.blogspot.com
Wow. How lucky are you to have all those years...they go by so quickly don't they?
DeleteThe universe is trying to tell you that THIS is your super broodmare. What was the specific diagnosis? I rehabbed a T'bred mare with two broken sesamoids and she became a wonderful broodmare. I know it's disappointing, but this may actually be a good thing.
ReplyDeleteTwo separate ligament injuries in the feet, on different legs.....
DeleteBeautiful girl! I'm just happy that she is alive and will be able to still have a happy life on the farm, being a mommy.
ReplyDeleteI prefer to think of it as luck, good or bad, with horses. Right now I'm adding to the good column. Anyway, we love them like family and like family, we adjust our hopes and lives to fit their needs, if that is possible. I'm sorry that April is having problems, but I hope she will be a great mommy to some other lucky horses.
ReplyDeleteAnn, I've been reading your wonderful blog daily for the past 18 mths or so and am so sorry to hear your news. As others have aptly pointed out, a lot of what we go through with our horses so often falls in the 'good' or 'bad' luck basket. Or, as young Reed Kessler recently commented, it's most fitting to think about the 'journey'. Cliche or not, I couldn't agree more.
ReplyDeleteWhat fabulous luck you now have a very, very beautiful broodmare in your stable...and who knows what good fortune the road ahead holds for the two of you.
Best wishes from Sydney, Australia.
Ann, I second the Nov 27th post of Anonymous. It is the journey, and it is apparent from your writing that you know this , not the destination. However, it still stings.
ReplyDeleteFunnily, as I read the post above, I thought I had written it. I smiled when I saw it was not mine. It could have been, as this person has summed up my would be comments re your blog. I only follow your blog, and my sister's.
I have had similar experiences as yours, with several horses . Oddly, with both mares and a STALLION! Yes, my stallion I carefully selected the parents of, foaled out, kept when he was too finely boned for an eventer, kept for my eventual breeding program planned for my retirement from International competition travels, selected and bought 7 mares to start the program to breed to, did not prove to produce more than one foal from my first mare covered. After a second season of trying everything to deal with his fertility issues, I shut down the program, collected him just in case, and gelded him. He was then 13 years old. 13 years old and still beautiful, kind, and a hunter. I was not a hunter.
I only recently sold my "immaculate conception" 1999 foal to a wonderful home with a young boy. His father passed on, but I hope Mr. C lives a long and happy life on his new adventure. I now find myself a non horse owner for the first time in 40 years. I enjoy hearing about Mr. C and his new owners adventures and I look forward to seeing him show live.
In the end, I have enjoyed it all. I hope that you are have a lovely experience in many other ways with your breeding program.
Keep writing. We all enjoy your posts and story.
Cheers "Pearce".