Is it possible for horses to grieve?
I say
YES! Here’s why.
Last
February we had our oldest horse on the place pass away, Chili Bean.
Chili Bean was about 28 years old.
Chili was originally owned by my father in law and was a part of this family before I ever came along.
I say originally because since our 11 year old boy, Garrett, fell in love with horses as a baby, he laid claim to Chili as his horse.
My father in law loves every minute of it.
Chili Bean was about 28 years old.
Chili was originally owned by my father in law and was a part of this family before I ever came along.
I say originally because since our 11 year old boy, Garrett, fell in love with horses as a baby, he laid claim to Chili as his horse.
My father in law loves every minute of it.
Well, to get on with the story, a little over a year ago, Chili Bean took his last
breath and laid down in our pasture claiming one last hug from all of us,
and a kiss from our little heartbroken son.
Garrett lost his best friend that day;
we buried Chili in our pasture with a fence around him under a tree to protect him.
Chili was the top of the pecking order around here. This means he was the boss and second in command was my husband’s horse Yankee.
and a kiss from our little heartbroken son.
Garrett lost his best friend that day;
we buried Chili in our pasture with a fence around him under a tree to protect him.
Chili was the top of the pecking order around here. This means he was the boss and second in command was my husband’s horse Yankee.
We didn't know it at the time, but Yankee’s heart had broken that day as
well.
It took Yankee weeks before he would leave the gate that we carried Chili out of.
Yankee even tried to follow us that day, we didn't let him of course, but he stood and waited for his best buddy to come galloping home.
For months and months Yankees had no up giddy up in his step.
I began to be extremely worried.
He wouldn't come to treats or sweet grain with the other horses when called.
He always hung back far away and kept his distance looking sad.
It took Yankee weeks before he would leave the gate that we carried Chili out of.
Yankee even tried to follow us that day, we didn't let him of course, but he stood and waited for his best buddy to come galloping home.
For months and months Yankees had no up giddy up in his step.
I began to be extremely worried.
He wouldn't come to treats or sweet grain with the other horses when called.
He always hung back far away and kept his distance looking sad.
This
February a year after we had buried Chili I was out on a walk in our back pasture.
I went to Yankee, who hasn't had any
interest in any of us.
I started to pet his neck and talk to him and I started to cry.
I told him I was sorry and that we all feel badly that Chili can’t come home.
I started to pet his neck and talk to him and I started to cry.
I told him I was sorry and that we all feel badly that Chili can’t come home.
DO YOU
KNOW WHAT HE DID?
He
simply put his big horse head on top of mine, like I was his leaning post.
I think in a way, I was that day.
We stood together like this for quite a while.
I fed him some sweet treats and he walked with me to the house.
I think he’s has finally accepted the loss of his best buddy and the next day when our little boy called the horses in for grain, he ran!
I think in a way, I was that day.
We stood together like this for quite a while.
I fed him some sweet treats and he walked with me to the house.
I think he’s has finally accepted the loss of his best buddy and the next day when our little boy called the horses in for grain, he ran!
Ran up to his grain pan like he hasn't eaten
for a year, maybe he kind of hadn't!!
This is a picture of YANKEE!
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