Rambler

It never gets easier. Even though he was quite old, ailing and uncomfortable, it's still so hard when the end comes. Harder still when we are the ones that end up making the decision that the suffering has gone on long enough. But we took on this endeavor, of loving and caring for all these animals, and with it, the responsibility to see it through. Rambler gave us a run for our money. He had medical issues of sorts for years and needed nearly constant care for a leg injury that didn't want to heal. Yet he was good and steadfast friend for Dakota and then for Bandit. He came to live with us in his later years and we never really knew the history of his young life. He was a bit standoffish and wary and something told us there was probably a spell in his life when humans weren't so good to him. Yet he was gentle and tolerant of us. There wasn't kick or bite in this guy, no matter his past.

The morning after he died Iris asked us to write a story about him "and how he lived and died." It wasn't an easy thing to do with the sadness still so fresh, but this idea (all her own) was a wise one. And so we did.

One day a new horse named Rambler came to live at our house. He came to keep us and Dakota company. For many years he roamed the sweet pastures, ate green grass and fresh hay and was happy.
He was a big orange horse with a wide white blaze. He was gentle but a little afraid of being "messed with".
When Dakota died, Bandit came to keep us and Rambler company. Bandit and Rambler were good friends. One day in June Rambler laid down and didn't feel like getting back up. He was tired and ready to go back over the rainbow bridge. And so he did. We'll remember him always.

May your pastures always be green big guy. We miss you.