Happy Ending for Tina

 Recently we had the privilege of looking after a 30 year old horse for the last 3 weeks of her life. When she came to us, she had just been washed (to get rid of lice) and she was extremely thin. In fact, she was being rescued from being euthanised in that condition. When my friend dropped her off, she said we had her to love on and make sure the rest of her days would be happy.

Flint heard her, smelt her and waited on the other side of the fence at the end of her paddock (about 100 metres) to welcome her but she saw the round bale of hay and thought she was in heaven. Both Flint and his new friend Harry waited patiently although Harry saw it as his opportunity to go and eat hay without Flint interrupting him. 

Over the next few weeks we saw Tina grow and change. Her coat became a shiny colour and the lice did not return. One time Andy saw Tina trot across the paddock to where he was offering her a biscuit of lucerne hay and some attention.

After a couple of weeks of Flint grooming her over the fence, sharing a water tank with her and him just watching her from a distance, we gave them the opportunity to share the paddock. I led Tina down to the gate that opened into their paddock where the Bay Boys were waiting. Flint followed her as she walked determinedly to their hay and paid him no attention. At one stage, she let out a squeal and Flint moved away. As she ate, Flint put his head close to hers while Harry kept his distance. 

Something happened between Flint and Tina - I think she wasn't paying him enough attention so I took Flint out and did a bit of ground work with him. Andy watched Tina and Harry but when Harry tried to befriend her, she ignored him so he trotted off to find Flint. He called out to Flint and was agitated at not being in the same paddock as him but Flint stayed focused on what I was telling him to do.

Finally I was finished with Flint so I returned him to Harry and we put Tina back in her own paddock. We often caught Flint standing watching her while Harry tucked into the hay oblivious to all else.

Yesterday morning, I went to check on Tina and her left eye was weeping and almost closed. When she opened it a bit, I could see an ulcer so she was in a lot of pain. The decision was made that she would leave us that night. I led her down to the water trough where Flint was and he tried to reach across the fence to groom her while she had a drink. She walked down to the gate hopefully, but I didn't think she'd have the strength to deal with the boys. Flint walked alongside her, then stayed next to me while she walked back to the water trough, said goodbye to Harry and returned to her hay home. 

When she left, Andy went out and gave a lot of love to Flint, then Harry. He said, "I know it is part of farm life but I haven't dealt with this before. It's hard." This is a photo with Harry but he and Flint did a lot of hugging before that.

This afternoon, as the sun setting, I walked down the driveway and there Flint was, staring at the empty space that Tina had once filled.

What we can learn from this: Love those who are with you now and enjoy the moments you share together. Be a blessing to others.