Today Cheryl sent me a text from Florida, home to her and Flash —a filly we raised many years ago and Cheryl bought as a yearling.
The message was one every horse owner dreads. Flash is sick, and the time has come. She is 28 years old.
Even as a baby Flash was sensible and easy to get along with. Her full brother taught our kids to ride and bring home the cows. Flash truly lived the life of a princess. I’m not sure she worked hard a single day in her life, but every need was met, every health issue was cared for, and she was deeply loved. She couldn’t have found a better person than Cheryl.
Over the years, Cheryl has been wonderful about keeping us updated. She has sent countless photos, shared stories, and always let us know if Flash had any health issues. Even though we haven’t seen Flash in nearly 25 years, it somehow feels like we’ve known her all along because Cheryl never stopped sharing her life with us.
Today is a heartbreaking day for Cheryl, but I’m grateful she had the courage to make the hardest decision a horse owner ever has to make. It’s the final act of love we can give them.
If you own a horse that you didn’t raise, consider sending a quick email, text, or photo to the breeder once in a while. Let them know how their “baby” is doing.
Every foal steals a little piece of your heart. That’s what keeps so many breeders raising babies year after year, even though it isn’t nearly as easy as people sometimes think.
A Life With Horses 