A Good Horse Story

[dellinger63]

This is from a blog of girl who is on the UW Mounted Police Force.


Last Friday while in Milwaukee I got a strange phone call from a horse mentor. "Kari do you have time to fill a request on Sunday Morning?" "A request?" I replied wondering what in the world this women who has given so much to Vegas and I could possibly need from us. You see she is heads and shoulders above me in her horsemanship and how she lives her life-what could I possibly offer her. She started in with words like last request and hospice-A man had a last request-to touch and smell a horse one last time before he passed. My eyes welled at the thought and nothing else crossed my mind but yes. I was exhausted from my week and Vegas was pretty well cooked on Friday afternoon-but if they would have asked to drive straight to Hospice Friday afternoon we would have been on the road. I ended up working unexpectedly all day Saturday and was still beat by the time Sunday morning rolled around. Perspective is the word that kept coming to the fore front of my brain. It was a brisk morning-we had had frost warnings the night before. I hoped in the truck and gassed it up. 11 MPG on the way to and from Milwaukee-good deal! I arrived at the barn and got Vegas out of the frost covered paddock. He was happy to come out and eat grass. He grazed for a bit while I hooked up the truck and trailer. I rinsed off his feet, brushed him and asked him in the trailer. He hoped right in as he always does! I didn't ask anything of him..he had a more important job to do today. The place we were headed was less than 15 minutes from the barn. On the way nervous thoughts passed through me-jeez he hasn't been out without another horse in a long time? He just spent a week with his herd of 20 co-workers? Will he be good? Stand still? Be all this man wanted for his last request and more? I knew my mentor and the amazing women who does body work on Vegas were also going to be present for this "request". Both have the most amazing energy-and calming affect on both Vegas and I. I knew we would be fine.

We were greeted by the front desk worker who knew why we were there and said I could take the truck and trailer down the hill where I would find turn around. Well no turn around-but a bit of room for me to maneuver. I got Vegas off the trailer and let him check the place out. He was ears up at first as he is at every new place-but eventually settled in to eat some grass while I cleaned out the trailer. I had him loosely wound around a low branch on a nearby tree. I then walked him back up to the driveway entrance to wait for the arrival of the rest of the crew. Vegas and I got many strange looks-we are used to that- but this time there was no police uniform to explain it away. Some asked-some just stared. The hospice worker and her husband were the first to arrive. The head of the nursing home also came out to wait with us. Vegas stood at the entrance to the driveway taking it all in. He asked to eat grass a few times-but a simple not now kept him on track. He knew he was there to accomplish something. My two calming angels arrived and we walked back toward the entrance to the nursing home. A few of the other occupants of the nursing home came out-but were asked to return inside until the man and his family were done.

I have to say I was still a bit nervous at how Vegas would react. The man was wheeled out and my Mentor had Vegas' rope. They were all introduced-but no introduction was necessary. Vegas stood there-with is head practically in the mans lap. One of his sons asked if it would be ok if his father fed Vegas some carrots-I said absolutely. The man fed Vegas carrots one by one-Vegas only slightly looking for another in the mans lap in between carrots. The man played with Vegas muzzle-Vegas would pick his head up and breath on the top of his head blowing his hair around. The man shared with me that he had a few horses growin up-a big draft that he road and a little pony that he drove. The pony was brown and the draft was grey. The family took pictures. I had had the rope back for awhile-but it wasn't needed. I spent most of the time trying to remove myself from the equation-hunched down at the end of his 12 foot lead barely hanging on to the leather popper. Vegas didn't move an inch. He just stood and hung out with the man. The wheelchair was repositioned several times and Vegas just watched as they moved it around him. I would guess in total time we were out there for a half an hour. It was so peaceful and wonderful. You could tell he was growing tired-I guess it was the first time he had been outside in a long time. The family was very thankful, his sons, their wives and the mans wife.

After they went back in a few employees and patients also came out to see Vegas. This one women who didn't stand up very well was so tickled by his presence she came out twice-using his halter to hold herself up. Again-it was as if Vegas knew-he didn't move at all-simply supported her with his head. The group that was there took some pictures with Vegas. At this point I wasn't bothering to hang on to the rope. Everyone involved gave hugs and said there goodbyes. Vegas and I walked back down the hill to the trailer and he hoped in. Back to barn we went where he spent the rest of the afternoon grazing.

This morning around 10:30am I got a phone call from the director of the nursing home telling me the man had passed this morning around 12:30am.... rest in peace Ed...I hope Vegas was all you hoped and your horses met you at the gate!

[TheSpyder]

Very Nice. There is something magical about a horse and although we play this sport for many reasons, behind it all, I believe is the love of the horse.

Spyder

[chucklestheclown]

Bad spelling but good story. RIP old guy.

[DerbyCat]

Really nice story, to me there is nothing more calming than being in the presence of a horse. I think I would have a very similar request if I was near the end...

[cowgirlintexas]

Thanks for sharing. Sweet story