11/22/2025
This morning we said goodbye to sweet Riley at the ripe old age of 33 years & 8 months old (because at his age, he deserves to have the months counted too). Over the past year we've slowly watched him look more tired, spend more time self isolating, and at times act far grumpier of an old man than he's ever shown towards the other horses. So we made the hard decision for him; to let him go while his body was still holding decent weight despite having hardly any teeth left making it impossible to eat hay, and his creaky arthritic joints hadn't quite given out just yet, and while his vision was mostly gone in one eye but was still just a little shadowy in the other, and to an outsider he may have looked like a healthy elderly horse but we knew any decline would quickly become the end for him, especially when facing a New England winter with a stubborn Haflinger who insisted on living outside. As caretakers of our animals sometimes the greatest kindness we can give them is a death with dignity before their body is failing, before something traumatic & painful happens, and while they're still having good days ❤️🩹
RIP Riley 3/31/1992 - 11/22/25, thank you for kindly tolerating babysitting my youngsters these past five years, even the rowdy obnoxious ones.🕊
What does it really mean to "let them go on a good day?"
It means it will be your hardest day. It won't matter if you've never done it before, or if you're gifted a dozen good days, each good day is always the hardest one.
It means they won't know what the fuss is about, why they're getting so many treats and extra belly scratches and hugs.
It means you will second guess your decision right up to the very last moment, the very last breath. You'll second guess yourself afterwards.
They'll knicker at you when you arrive, just like any other day.
The weather, perfect. They are content. They look sound today. They are breathing well, eating well, they get up easily enough from a nap in the sun....the list goes on. Whatever issue they struggle with, today they aren't.
Today you euthanize them.
This is what going on a good day means: sending them out while they are happy, while they are healthy, while they are eating well, walking well, etc. You make the choice to do it before an emergency takes the choice away from you, before your horse has to experience any more trauma or pain.
Their last memory will be filled with love.
It'll rip your heart out every time.
We can see the patterns and the increasing trends. We can predict it a little. We can obsess over the past and worry about the future.
Fortunately, horses, all animals, live in the moment. They don't worry about those things. They aren't worried about winter. They aren't worried about July, or allergies, or progressive diseases like Cushings or DSLD. They don't think about the close calls they've had before, and they certainly aren't thinking about the close calls that are destined to come, as their body continues to age and break down. They just are. They are happy and healthy, or fearful and in pain, on that day, in that moment.
It is the most difficult, most loving gift we are blessed to be able to give.
And that first ice storm will come, that first deep snow, that first heat wave....and you will find a little relief, no longer doubting the choice you made.
They were happy, and safe, and loved. That is all that matters.
It is never easy. ~ Kelly Meister, author
