Goodbye, our sweet and sassy Shanno!
There is no easy way to say it, so I guess I'll just get it over with.
Today, our grand old lady and everyone's favorite grandma horse, 39-yr-old Shanno, suffered what appears to be a stroke, leaving her weak and barely able to rise, unable to maintain her balance or walk straight. She had a similar, but much less catastrophic, incident earlier this month which she managed to recover from, but tonight, with another incident that was worse, we made the heart wrenching decision to say goodbye to our strong, independent, beautiful sugar-faced girl. Her previous owners were able to make the trip to be there to say goodbye, and Shanno left us for greener pastures surrounded by many people who cared about her.
How do you say goodbye to a legend? When contacted by her family a little over two years ago to see if she could come in because they were moving off the farm, at first we encouraged them to say goodbye to her in her home, with them, as horses much younger than her often didn't do well when everything changed and at her age, no one would blame them. But they advocated hard for her - she was different, they said. She was fierce, and independent, and adapted to change well. And since we don't say no, we said ok, bring her in, but be prepared.
Well, they were right. This sassy mare came off the trailer and made herself right at home. Two days after arrival she decided it was time to figure out her new home and she pushed her way out of the stall and took off running all over the farm and down the gravel road... but came right up to me and loaded on the trailer to come home when I caught up with her. She just wanted to know what her new home was all about.
Shanno didn't do things halfway. Why walk when you can run? Every morning she'd eat her breakfast and trot out of the barn to go to the pasture for the day. Every night she'd canter in and we'd hold our breath until she cleared the gate and was in her stall. She loved her senior feed, but if you failed to give her soaked beet pulp you would hear about it! She required nothing for maintenance - no buteless, no joint supplement - she was strong and healthy with no sign of arthritis. She just ... lived. And she lived well.
She was the ultimate caregiver, and as you all know, the ultimate baby sitter. The moment she saw foals she claimed them, and loved them, and made them hers. She did the same with her senior friends, keeping tabs on Buddy this fall when he had some vision issues, hanging out quietly with other seniors ... and kicking up some excitement from time to time to keep them all young.
Shanno is a reminder that life is special, and being allowed to live a long and natural life is a gift that very few horses are allowed anymore. We're so grateful that her previous owners gave her that, and are glad we could be a part of it.
Shanno's family is hurting tonight, as is our team. Two losses of elderly horses in two days is a lot to deal with, and our anxiety level is even higher as we have a very, very old herd. But it's a choice we've made to allow horses a safe landing to live out their lives as long as they are happy and comfortable, and we aren't scared of the pain. Being able to be a safe haven, and provide a pain and stress free goodbye, is something we are willing to do. And your support is what makes it possible.
So ... hug your friends, both human and animals, a little closer tonight. And tomorrow, in Shanno's memory, maybe reach out to an older relative and let them know you care. Everyone, human or not, needs and deserves that connection.
Goodbye, our sweet and sassy Shanno, and take it easy on them up there in #greenerpastures. Your big personality and energy is going to make a huge impact on the sky herd.