I owe you all an explanation of where I have been for the last couple of months.
Ziggy was put down today after a really awful bout of what I would have to call relapsing and remitting laminitis. 3 weeks ago, when my trimmer came, he seemed well on the way to recovery after 6 weeks of box rest, sound in the field at walk and trot, happy, cheerful and cheeky. About a week after the trim he got worse, and this time he didn't get better again. Every day he was more sore, and this last week despite more and more bute he didn't even want to leave the shelter when I was mucking him out, just stood on the softest spot he could find and looked miserable.
Everyone who knows him agreed that it was time, and so he was put down in the field at noon today with me and his friend and carer Carol attending him. He had 3 bute this morning so that he could go out and stuff his face with the long grass while we waited for the vet. He was so happy! As you would expect, he was as good as gold, snuffled the (very sweet, kind, young lady) vet for treats, hardly seemed to notice the needle, and slipped away without a struggle while Carol and I stroked him and told him how wonderful he was.
Mattie is distraught,: although we let him stand by while it happened and he sniffed Ziggy and seemed to understand, when the man winched the body onto the trailer he became demented and hurled himself screaming around the track at full gallop after the trailer as it left. He's calmer now, but is still calling and calling.
I just feel as if someone has hollowed out the middle of me. I've never felt so empty.
He was the kindest, most generous pony, and I loved him. Goodbye, beautiful boy.
Ziggy was put down today after a really awful bout of what I would have to call relapsing and remitting laminitis. 3 weeks ago, when my trimmer came, he seemed well on the way to recovery after 6 weeks of box rest, sound in the field at walk and trot, happy, cheerful and cheeky. About a week after the trim he got worse, and this time he didn't get better again. Every day he was more sore, and this last week despite more and more bute he didn't even want to leave the shelter when I was mucking him out, just stood on the softest spot he could find and looked miserable.
Everyone who knows him agreed that it was time, and so he was put down in the field at noon today with me and his friend and carer Carol attending him. He had 3 bute this morning so that he could go out and stuff his face with the long grass while we waited for the vet. He was so happy! As you would expect, he was as good as gold, snuffled the (very sweet, kind, young lady) vet for treats, hardly seemed to notice the needle, and slipped away without a struggle while Carol and I stroked him and told him how wonderful he was.
Mattie is distraught,: although we let him stand by while it happened and he sniffed Ziggy and seemed to understand, when the man winched the body onto the trailer he became demented and hurled himself screaming around the track at full gallop after the trailer as it left. He's calmer now, but is still calling and calling.
I just feel as if someone has hollowed out the middle of me. I've never felt so empty.
He was the kindest, most generous pony, and I loved him. Goodbye, beautiful boy.