If you have a forever horse, chances are you will outlive him and have to deal with the loss of this horse.   If you’re like me, you may have many “forever” horses in your care.    It’s only been in the last few years that I’ve had to make decisions for my forever horses.   It’s a very difficult thing to deal with.   As stewards of our horses’ good health and quality of life, we have the choice to euthanize our friends when it’s time.

Knowing when it’s the right time is a challenge I’ve faced three times now and will have more in my future.    It’s horrible and I dread it.

 I remember crying to my husband that “I don’t want to kill my friend”.  That’s what it feels like to me.  You’re making the decision to end the life of your friend.    Many make the decision to allow natural death to takes its course and that’s your choice and your journey.  Personally, that doesn’t feel good to me and I’ll tell you why.

We have been gifted these horses into our lives and it is our responsibility to give them the best quality of life and abide by their wishes.  Because I have the ability to hear from animals and know their wishes I may see things differently than those who don’t see things from the same perspective. This is something that I would never take lightly and always consult with vets and other animal communicators when needed.   Believe me, when your heart is involved it’s very hard to make an objective decision.  Have you ever looked into a horses eyes and had them beg you to help them go? I have, and my eyes fill with tears and drop from my face as I flash back to those looks.  Those big brown eyes begging you.  Your heart will tell you it’s time and it will also break into a million pieces and try and convince you maybe there’s something else you could do.  It is so damn hard – every damn time.

How do you decide to put down your horse friend and quite possibly your best friend? You set your heart to the side and do what’s best for the horse, not for you. Your heart may need this horse to fill a void in your life, but your horse doesn’t need you.  You may think you need your horse to be who you have become, you may need him to hold on to all that you were.  Your horse does not need that and he’s spiritually enough to know he doesn’t need that attachment.  Your horse needs YOU to do what’s best for HIM.   When it’s time to go, his job is done and he’s ready to move on to a better place.

Energetically they are still with you, just their physical body is no longer alive.   Animal spirits can visit you and be all around you just

like human spirits.   When an animal crosses over, they are free, they are elated.  That can be a very hard to take when you are heart broken and in a million pieces, but it can also be comforting to know they are with you and they are pain-free and happy.  All that ailed them in their life with you is now gone.

It’s so hard to let our friends go, to let them move on because we love them.   They are our friends, our confidants, and our counselors.    For many we grew up with them, grew stronger and wiser with them and because of them.   Our horses are there for our first loves, our first borns, and our first wins.  They grow our confidence, they grow our network of friends.  Our horses, they build us up and tear us down, just to be built back up again.   They can teach us and heal us.   They can help us make a name for ourselves (who would Charmayne be without Scamper?).   They can lift us up when we’re at rock bottom, they can carry us through times of tragedy and lift us higher than we ever dreamed.

The loss of a friend that can do all that may be the greatest loss you’ve ever experienced.   Make sure you acknowledge this and take the time to grieve.  Whether you make the decision for them or they go on

their own, they are not “just a horse”.  They are your friend and you deserve time to process all of this.    How many people do you have in your life that do and have done all the things your horse has done for you?   How many of your family would you go to the same extent of love and care you provide for your horse?   It’s okay that you’d do more for your horse than you would for a relative or acquaintance and it’s okay that you grieve harder for your horse than him too.   It’s okay to take some time off work and take the time to cry.

Take all the time you need.   Feel the loss and the sadness, but at the same time be open to feeling their presence and support after they are gone.  They are okay, they are love.  They are with you.