If you would like to view a video of Rosie’s Story, please click on the image above.
I apologize for taking so long to post this update, but I wanted to wait until Rosie was back here at the rescue, plus, I have been quite sick with the flu. The post is a bit long, but it’s Rosie’s story.
The evening I met Rosie, she had been down on the ground for several hours. Jessica and I responded to the call and when we arrived, my heart skipped a beat – it was almost as if I was looking at Betsy Rose, a very special pony who came to us in 2013. Betsy’s story can be found on our BLOG by clicking here. Betsy Rose, like Rosie, was thin, weak, dehydrated and unable to get up.
We assessed the situation and then rolled Rosie over onto her other side and waited for Dr. Stephanie, the vet, to arrive. We knew Rosie’s odds were not great, but we also knew she deserved a chance. I sat and talked to her and promised her that we would do our best and try to make all of her tomorrows everything her past should have been, and that there were many wonderful people sending good thoughts and prayers to her. Once the vet arrived, she tried to run IV fluids, but since Rosie had a thick Cushing’s coat, the weather was getting bad and it was quite dark, trying to find a vein was most challenging. We, thereby, opted to roll Rosie onto a tarp, get her into the trailer, and take her to the rescue which was less than five minutes away. Time was of the essence – her heart and respiration rates were up but her temperature was going down. I stayed with Rosie in the trailer and once at the rescue, we immediately, went to work – her neck was shaved and after a round of IV fluids, we rolled her over into the sling and got her to stand. She was given a second round of IV fluids that also contained vitamins and minerals.
We massaged Rosie’s legs and hips and gave her time to adjust. Once she was steady, we removed the sling and she let us know that she was hungry which was a good sign. We offered her a mash and she literally dove into it – it made me very sad to see how very famished she was. She would have loved to have had more mash, but we had to take it slow – a re-feeding protocol must be followed. We were afraid to give her hay because she could have choked – her teeth were bad which would be addressed once she was stable. Rosie drank, passed manure and urine, and perked up. She didn’t show signs of pain and while her heart and respiration rates were still above normal, they were better. She actually looked like she had a smile on her face. That night, Frodo stayed across the aisle way from her and they struck up a conversation – she had a friend. I also put Freckles, Betsy Rose’s best friend, in the stall with Rosie and shared some of Betsy’s story with her. It had been a long day and we headed home at about midnight. We went down and checked on Rosie every few hours, in addition to monitoring her via cameras. Every time she heard one of us, she’d nicker which made my heart feel so good. The night was calm, thankfully.
The next day, when I took Rosie out for a walk, she was stiff, but she got better as we walked. Like Betsy Rose, the first time Rosie went out and stepped upon grass, her head immediately, went down in order to graze! Once back in the stall, I brushed her and was able to get dried and caked manure out of her tail and off her legs. I think it made her feel so much better. Kathy was volunteering that day and she also took Rosie for a walk. It was a very good day. overall.
That evening, it started raining, so we brought Frodo and Komanchee in and tucked them into their stalls across from Rosie. She was tired and let me know that she was ready to go into the sling for a nap. I had to wait for Bob to get home so he could help me. When we were ready to place her in the sling, it was like she’d been there, done that. Rosie parked herself where she needed to be and stood perfectly still so we could hook it up. The winches make a loud noise which can be worrisome for some horses, but not Rosie. We put a can in front of her with a blanket on top so she could rest her head and get much needed REM sleep, just as we used to do for Betsy, I sat by her head, rubbed her neck, and told her she was home now and was loved so very much.
Rosie slept and when her little ears started moving back and forth like Betsy’s used to do, it was a sign that she was in REM which is so important when the body needs to heal. When she awoke and looked at me, I can’t explain it, but for about thirty seconds, I felt like I was literally, looking into Betsy’s eyes. The peace, love, and gratitude I saw, along with an aura that was all about her, took my breath away as I sensed Betsy Rose’s loving and soothing presence. Time stood still for those thirty seconds while acceptance, peace, purpose and calm came over me – things I hadn’t felt since Beauty left us in November. I will always be grateful for those precious thirty seconds.
After we removed Rosie from her sling, she looked very much at peace. We gave her a warm mash, I kissed her little nose, and we said good-night to all. We went home at about midnight, exhausted, but feeling good about the day’s accomplishments. At 1:39 am Rosie was peacefully standing, looking towards Frodo, when suddenly, she went down, and moments thereafter, she was gone. There was no pain. There was no struggle. Her little heart just likely gave out. We were planning to have a necropsy performed, but since it could not be accomplished until the end of January, we opted to have Rosie cremated and be returned to us.
I’m grateful Rosie didn’t die on the ground, cold, and hungry. She had a stall with soft shavings, food in her tummy, heat lamps for warmth, fresh water, and a friend across the aisle. She had countless people praying and sending good thoughts to her and she got to walk and graze upon green grass. She even had Freckles camping out in her stall. I feel so blessed that we were able to give Rosie a chance, thanks to your support. and while we did our best, her little body had endured far too much, for far too long
Some have said that Rosie may have been waiting, just hanging on to go ‘home.’ Maybe her final rally was, in fact, her belief that someone would come to take her to a place where she would be assisted to go for a final walk in order to graze, a place where she would feel loving hands and caring hearts surrounding her, and hunger pains that would be no more.
I have witnessed countless horses endure unnecessary suffering while their owners were absent, or authorities turned a blind eye. And while we can’t take in every horse, we do try to help other horses in need when resources permit. Our aid may encompass providing essential resources such as hay, vet care, and other necessities, but sadly, in some cases, help comes too late. But even then, I remain by their side, offering solace and comfort until they depart upon their final journey to Rainbow Bridge. I often apologize to these horses, acknowledging the disappointment they must feel due to their humans’ negligence. I make it a point to reassure them of their worth and the love they deserve, with the promise that a better place awaits them.
It is a deeply moving experience to witness the final moments of these horses as their last bit of energy dissipates from their bodies. Some gracefully accept their fate, while others valiantly fight to cling onto life with all their remaining strength. Regardless, I am certain that they are grateful for the presence of a compassionate soul at that time. Many must have felt let down by their human counterparts, and it is a privilege to offer them solace and companionship. It is not an easy task, but I firmly believe that every horse deserves at least this level of compassion when it is their time. Unfortunately, due to the hands-on nature of our work and the amount of time it takes, we are not able to share with you all of our happenings here at the rescue, but please be assured, we stay very busy, helping all that we can while tending to our beloved little herd here.
I believe some horses that have come to us, like Savannah, Minnie, and Rosie, have held on until they arrived at a place where they felt at peace with humans who care. Their ability to hold on, and then be at peace for a short time, may very well be their final ‘rally.’ That peace may also be what enables them to let go at a time of their choosing, oftentimes, alone, in order to spare we humans the grief we feel. Based on my experiences, the short time that I spend with these horses during that final ‘rally’ connects us deeply. While it is difficult for us, it’s a choice that we make – to continue to ‘be there’ for these precious souls during their final moments. It is a gift that we can offer them only because of your support. You all make a difference and I thank you.
Rosie was cremated and her ashes have been returned and while most will be spread on the farm, some will remain with us. Rosie is now home, and forever in our hearts, right where she belongs.
Sincerely,
Theresa
