After 30 years it is time to say goodbye to my first driving pony. She is 32 and will not make another Wisconsin winter. I have had her for 30 years and driven her most of those retiring her about 4 years ago. We travelled many miles together, did a few parades, some winter sleigh parades, but mostly trail driving. It has been a challenge trying to fill her pony shoes. She taught me how to drive, I did have a few accidents with her but nothing serious. She was always ready to go, loved to trot, very trustworthy, in general a fun pony. Saturday is the day. I am already dreading it. I won't be here, my goodbyes will be said before. It truly is a chapter closing in my life.

I can understand how hard this is for you.  But it sounds like your pony has had the most wonderful life a pony can have with you.  You're giving her a peaceful and dignified end instead of letting her suffer through a cold hard Wisconsin winter. She will live in your heart forever.

 Have to second everything Jayne said.  I did this a few years ago with my old horse, she was 35 and had her since she was a foal.  She was getting quite frail, and the thought of her getting in trouble or downed during a bad winter was too much.  She hated being confined in the barn, so not really an option.  We put her down about this same time of year.  It was a really nice day, and we all cried a lot.

 Husband dug the hole after and put her in it.  We let all the other horses sniff her once she was gone.  Seems to let them understand in a horsey way, that the other is gone.  Seen too many go stupid when the old one just "disappears."  Husband is a farrier, has seen the other old horse colic, have to also be put down.  Bad enough to lose one, but then the other as well in 24-48 hours from self-induced panic is awful!  If they can sniff the downed horse, take their time about it, there never seems to be a problem, no worried horse left behind.

Making it an EASY ending for her is the kindest thing you can do.  Our vet did the two-shot thing, it was all very dignified, except for me blubbering. 

 I called ahead, specified that I wanted the two-shot method because there would be NO MAYBE with a bad reaction.  Have heard of horses reacting very badly to the meds of a one-shot euth.  Then they needed to tackle the horse to give it another shot while it is fighting and flailing.  You never know which horse will have the bad reaction until they get the shot.  No chance of that for my girl using the two-step shots.

Hope Saturday is nice and things all go smoothly.  Sorry for your loss, she sounds like a good one. 

30 years of responsible and caring horse ownership is a legacy of commitment and partnership you and your pony can very very proud of. I applaud your dedication and your compassion, as well as offering a wish for lasting peace with your fondest memories of your good friend. ~FH

Thank you all for your support. Here is a pic I took recently of her relaxing. In the background is my 16 year old border collie mix.

Deciding to let go is the most difficult decision a horse owner has to make.  Being a fellow Wisconsinite, I think you made the right decision. 

Waiting for the day to come is also extremely difficult.  You will second guess yourself a million times... but know that you are doing the right and kind thing for your pony!

My sweet pony Bandit... whom I let go three years ago this past July, will be waiting to receive her when she crosses the bridge, I am sure.  He always was a "ladies man" and your sweet girl is a true beauty.

*hugs* I'm so very sorry to hear.  Of course, you are doing a wonderful thing for your sweet pony, but that doesn't make the pain any less *hugs*

Thanks,

Hey Nikel, we are neighbors! What part of south range are you? I'm just out of South Range in Superior. Heard the neighbors lost a calf to wolves a few weeks back. Another reason for making the decision. The other horses don't protect her anymore.

Wow, small world!! 

I'm about 15 minutes out of town, off of Highway 13.  I used to board a horse near the "other side" of South Range, out off of Darrow Road.  Lots of horses out that way!  At any rate, I head through Superior every day on my way to work (I work in Duluth).

We have a crazy amount of wolves out by us... I can hear them howling as they circle way too near my house.  This winter I'd get REALLY nervous taking my puppy out to potty after dark... thankfully she's now grown up and might not be as tempting a morsel for them. I'd still never let her (or my other dog) out unsupervised after dark!

Very Small world indeed. I also used to board on Darrow Road about 15 years ago.  Do we know each other?  We have more coyotes than wolves but enough of the latter to want to keep the dogs in at night.