Everything sublime is as difficult as it is rare. Baruch Spinoza

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Forever Elegent

Forever Elegent
(NV Shalako x Elegent)
5/10/92 - 6/21/09


Mama Ellie had a colic she couldn't recover from and was laid to rest early in the morning on Sunday.

She was a wonderful mother to her brood of fillies. Such a good girl, she only had daughters. She was without a doubt the best mother on the farm, she loved babies. Broodmare was her only job and she did it to perfection. She is also the mare that taught the two Arabian stallions how to breed. She had infinite patience with them, making their first experience positive. They loved Mama Ellie.

My tribute to her is that she always settled into foal, carried the babies to term without issue and foaled them out without help or worry. She stood still for them to nurse and she watched them like the mother that she was. Her babies learned to be independent and brave because she let them. But woe to anything that she thought would threaten her young. She would not be intimidated. She basically raised Topper because Diamond Rose didn't have much interest in him and Ellie didn't have a baby that year. So she stood guard over Topper. He used his mother for milk and that was about it. If she had been without a foal when Zing was born, he would have had a mother when DR died. There is no higher honor for a broodmare than to say she did her job. The stallions get all of the credit and the mares do all of the work. When you have a really good one, you know it. I knew it.

19 comments:

Ganeida said...

Sandra: I don't know how you cope; I really don't. The emotional toll of all you do with & for your horses would do me in. I am so sorry you lost your best brood mare but I'm sure she knew without a doubt she was loved & valued.

EveryoneThinksThey'reGoodDrivers said...

Sandra I am so sorry to hear about her passing. She was gorgeous!

I hate colic.

Lorac said...

So sorry Sandra!

Sandra said...

Thank you all for your sympathy. She was beautiful.

Ganeida, there are times when it feels too much. But I have to put one foot in front of the other. She was loved and valued.

Judy said...

Oh Sandra, I am so sorry....my heart breaks for you. She was a lovely horse and lived the life she was suppose to.

Cyndi and Stumpy said...

What a beautiful mare!!! I am so sorry she is gone. Colic is a thief and a nightmare...

Jean L. said...

Sandra, my heart sank when I read the beginning line of the post. I can only imagine it was another horrible experience with tough decisions to make. My posture is deflated as I sit here at my computer thinking about it. I am so sorry.

Sandra said...

Thanks for the kind words, I really appreciate it.

Jean, this was not a tough decision. She had a twist in the colon and I've never seen a horse in this condition. It was gruesome and heart-wrenching. I couldn't get her put down fast enough. Even if surgery were an option, she would not have survived the trip.

This is the first time colic has stolen from me. Strange because I have a handful of frequent colicers, this mare included, but they have always pulled through. If you do something long enough, it's eventually your turn.

I had an offer to buy her several years ago, but I wouldn't sell, even though I wasn't breeding. She'd had a lot of foals for me, so she deserved a stable home, and I loved to look at her. She was so beautiful. She and her daughter Sophie, the most beautiful horses on the farm. I own four of her girls.

Alicia @ boylerpf said...

Sandra, I am so sorry about the mare and what a beautiful mare she was. Colic is such a horrible thing to experience..I don't know how you do what you do. My thoughts are with you...

Sandra said...

Well Alicia, I am wondering myself how I do it. I guess cause I don't have a choice. At least not one I am willing to make. Thank you for your words.

dressage rider said...

Sandra, I have been through this kind of excruciating colic during my 39 years of owning horses. Awful! What a beautiful mare! What special memories you have shared with us!
I have a dear old friend who owned a Fadjur son, an Arumus daughter and some other precious bloodlines and my father and I spent many an evening in her stable and ours and around the kitchen table with half a dozen of her dogs. Since she had great faith and is, I am sure, in heaven with her Lord, I have said since her passing that I am sending each old horse to her as they pass on. Her name was Helen Bendo and she was much loved around western New York. Much love and prayers.

Sandra said...

My gelding Shaka is an Aramus grandson. It's good to see those old names again. I think my mare would be in fitting hands with your friend. Mama Ellie was line-bred Gamaar. NV Shalako was during the time that it was in vogue to breed Bey Shah to Gainey bred horses.
Shalako was out of Gigi Rose, by Gamaar. Ellie's dam was by Garis out of a Gamaar daughter. Garis was by Niga out of a Ferzon daughter. She was a dream mare, for what I was looking for.

Memories Of Mine said...

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. She sounds like she was a beautiful mother and took care of the other horse at your farm.

I think the reason why I can't own so many animals is saying goodbye to them is very hard.

Sandra said...

Liss, yes it is. It's going to get worse before it gets better. I have a number of aging horses. If you keep them, they will die in your company. It's a hard fact and not one anyone wants to face. I'd like to pull the covers over my head and let someone else take care of it for awhile. But it doesn't work that way. I'm the one.

JeanRDH said...

Very sorry for your loss, Sandra.
She sounds like she was a wonderful mama.
Colic is frightful.

Renee, your family farrier said...

Sandra, this is so sad. It hits me where I live, I've been going through this with Star and thought I was going to have to put him down a couple times. He is finally pulling through, seems pretty much back to normal for the past few days. But I said that before and then he takes a turn again. I feel your pain, your horses are all so special. They find a permanent place in the hearts of all who meet them.
Renee

Sandra said...

Thank you Jean. She was a wonderful mama and she turned into a wonderful horse as well. It was a sad day and I still wonder what happened.

Renee, it's great to hear from you. I have followed your posts about Star. I have had so much colic over the years that it has almost become routine, but not quite. Gut pain can be so many different things. This is the first time in all these years it resulted in death. Babe was about 60 seconds away from euthanasia in Jan. due to colic and she pulled out of it just before she was to be put down. It was and is an unbelievable experience. Ellie was not as lucky, she was not coming out of this.

Ellie had a very distinct voice, loud, deep and demanding. I have four of her daughters and it is a family trait. They all sound the same. They all look different, except they are all bay and pretty, but they all sound the same and they are all very strong-willed. I called her family my women of substance. I kept more of hers than any of my other mares foals. They are kind of tough broads. I like that.

Look at her mouth in the photo. It tells you a lot.

Susan said...

So sorry to hear about your lovely girl!

Sandra said...

Thanks Susan.