Saying Goodbye is Never Easy

 Today I said goodbye to a dear friend who had become a beloved part of my family. Ferdinand came to live with me in August of 2019. I adopted him. He was a starvation and abuse case, but had a heart of gold. I'm not sure who rescued whom, but my beautify Tennessee Walker changed my home. My boy just needed a good home filled with love and treats.

Initially, he was hesitant to take food from my hand, but ultimately searched that hand for carrots, apples, and, even sometimes, peppermints. Ferdie loved when folks came to visit him. He would come to the fence and whinny, not returning to the barn without attention. 

A friend's son who had a keen interest in equitation ultimately came a few times a week to train my Ferdinand's Festive Fandango (his official name). I loved watching Ferdie play through his lessons; you could almost see him smile. He improved his jumping skills and even followed some vocal commands.

I adored sharing my Ferdie with my granddaughter. I think she loved him almost as much as I did. Each time she came to visit, she spent time with my boy-riding him, grooming him, or just being with him. I believe the love was mutual. At the end of one visit, she told me that she was afraid Ferdie would forget her. From that time onward, a picture of the two of them hung in his stall.

His barn buddies adored him, too. Onassis, the Percheron, welcomed Ferdie to her barn, but we lost her in January of 2022. Then along game a goofy, Welsh pony named Jagger. Ferdie and Jagger became best buddies until Jagger's untimely death from colic. Ferdie's girl was my Belgian, Pacey. They often occupied the same stall. She was with him up until the very end. My Chincoteague, Holly, was never a fan, but she too, looked in on my sick boy his last few days. 

I was fortunate enough to spend seven years with that special horse. On Tuesday, April 14, Ferdinand had to be put down-the diagnosis was intestinal cancer, and at the age of 29, surgery really wasn't a good option for him.  He will be missed, the barn is much quieter today, but my sweet boy will  forever be in my heart.