Wednesday, October 12, 2011

With A Heavy Heart

Things have been exceptionally hectic around here these last few weeks, so I haven't had much time to blog. This morning I was walking around taking pictures of all of the projects going on and planned on doing a rather long post to fill everyone in on all the happy stuff.

Instead, I am very sorry to say that instead, I have to say Rest In Peace to Turk...

As you all know, Turk has been a project horse. For the last year and a half, I have worked on getting him sound again. Due to a massive injury to his right front foot when he was a young horse, I have had a lot of experimental type shoeing done on him to see if we could rectify a floating heel bulb. Although his foot came a long way, it did become apparent to me that he was probably never going to be completely right and at best would be a light riding horse. My mom and I have had several discussions these past few weeks about what exactly we were going to do with him. Taking him back to SD was not an option due to the fact he needed those front shoes and they needed to be reset every 4 weeks. Can't even find a decent farrier in our neck of the woods in SD, much less one that is reliable enough to come reset shoes every 4 weeks. Without the shoes, Turk would have gone back to being completely unsound, in pain and inevitably his front-end would have given out.

The damn thing of it is, the horse has always been accident prone...note the bandage...

If anybody was going to get into something they shouldn't or get hurt...he was the one. Unfortunately poor Turk used up his 9-lives this morning and I had to put him down.

I still have not really figured out how he did what he did, but he was in the pasture with Spooks, Bugs and Jet. Moon and Frosty were in pens waiting for me to clean them up for my trip this weekend, so I know that it was not a fight between Moon and Turk. Anyway, I saw horses at the tank this morning when I left to get work done on my trailer, when I came back, they were all at the far end of the pasture. That's normal. Turk was off by himself. That is also normal. I get a knock at the door with an unfamiliar lady telling me they were working on their fences and noticed my Paint horse had some blood on his leg and wasn't standing on that leg.

Already sick to my stomach at her words, I grabbed a halter and ran up to where Turk was. There wasn't much blood and although the gash in his leg looked horrible at first glance, by the time the vet got here, I realized the gash wasn't that bad. I knew the vet would be putting him down though. He had fractured the high motion joint (the front of the hock). The vet confirmed what I already knew in my heart. The chances of that ever healing right...very slim.

I called my mom. After all, Turk was her horse and I thought she should have the final say. She agreed putting him down was for the best, so that's what we did.

Rest In Peace Turk...You had hard-luck in this life, but you were a pretty nice guy in spite of it all....

32 comments:

Mikey said...

Awww girl, I'm so sorry to hear that. RIP Turk, you were a good boy. Hugs to all of you.

Ranch Girl Diaries said...

Always hard to do, even for the right reasons. Such a pretty boy. Thinking of you this week!

Cut-N-Jump said...

So sorry to hear about this. Sounds like putting him down was the only real option. There are some things time won't heal and seeing as how Turk has already had a rough go of things, let him rest.

He will be tearing around in Heaven until you get there. Apparently there was a horseman up there needing a good horse.

As Deb said when I lost Tess-

A tear and a toast.

C-ingspots said...

I'm so sorry. Poor guy just seemed to have bad luck alright. Big hugs to you all. RIP pretty boy.

Shirley said...

Aw dang! Sorry to hear that. Even when it'd the right thing to do, it isn't easy. Hugs to you and your mom.

KarenTX said...

You and your Mom did what you could to keep him sound and having a good quality of life. So sorry it had to happen like this.

Laura Crum said...

Its always hard to lose one suddenly and unexpectedly like that. Good wishes to you.

Mrs. Mom said...

We'll see you on the other side Turk.

Hang tough BECG. Thinking of all y'all from our little corner of the swamp. Big loves all around.

Unknown said...

Here's to green pastures and sound legs on the other side, Turk.

GunDiva said...

So sorry, BECG.

Crystal said...

Oh so sorry to hear that. He was a nice boy and its always tough.

Anonymous said...

RIP Turk.

cdncowgirl said...

Aw damnit so sorry to hear about Turk. RIP big guy

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry for your loss. RIP Turk.

Allenspark Lodge said...

Roll In Pastures, Turk.

Bill

SunnySD said...

Well, damn. That's a sucky way to lose one, not that there's any good way. So sorry!

Leah Fry said...

So sorry for your loss. I know you tried real hard with that one.

NeighGirl said...

Oh you poor thing that must be so hard. I almost lost mine, He cut his leg too, He got by.
I'm sorry to hear about your loss,
Neighgirl

ACountryCowgirl said...

I am sorry to hear about turk:( I am sure it is a hard time!

in2paints said...

I'm so saddened by this news!! May Turk rest in peace... Lilly and I sent hugs your way!

Sherry Sikstrom said...

So rotten! Hugs to you , knowing you did the right thing doesn't take away much hurt at these times.
Glad at least you were there to do whayt he needed ,and he did not have to suffer. RIP Handsome Turk

Vaquerogirl said...

So sorry BEC! Sometimes fate just doesn't give a damn!
You did the best thing of course, but it never easy.
Gallop On Turk!

cdncowgirl said...

Sorry I wasn't so good with the words before, think you know why.

I wanted to add that you & your mom did a lot more for Turk through the years than most people would have with all the issues he's had.
You guys gave him a good life and good care. That said its also good to know when its time to say enough is enough.

((hugs))

kestrel said...

That's a hard choice, and you made the right one. Hugs girl.

Nuzzling Muzzles said...

So sorry, BEC. My heart goes out to you, your mom, and your herd.

joycemocha said...

So sorry, dear. Hugs.

Fantastyk Voyager said...

I'm so sorry to read of Turk's passing. At least now he's in a better place.

Barbara said...

I am so sorry to hear about that. RIP Turk you were well loved

Kristen said...

so sorry for your loss! This is two posts I've read this morning about horses being put down... I feel like I need to see my guy and give him a big hug. Rest in Peace Turk

Funder said...

Oh, my condolences, LT! So sorry to hear this.

Chelsi said...

Awww.. Poor Turk! That is really too bad, we all know how hard you tried to get him sound and give him a life with purpose... But I'd guess there is some relief there in knowing that he isnt in pain any longer. Sorry:(

Tammy Vasa said...

I am so sorry for the loss of Turk. Decisions like that are never easy but usually justified. You did right by him.