We lost a darling horse in our barn this weekend. Patty, a beautiful Percheron cross gelding who boards with my own horse at a stable here in Massachusetts, began to show signs of colic heading into the weekend. Sadly, he didn’t survive the weekend.

My fellow boarders and I did our best to keep Patty’s owner occupied during one very long, stressful evening. That is one of the most brutal waiting games ever played – will he get better or will he get worse? Every hour is an exercise in human patience, hope, and fear. It was a constant fight between faith and practicality. I still don’t know if the two can peacefully co-exist.

If you read this post, please promise me you’ll hug your horse the next time you head out to the barn. Smell his smell, feel his softness, smoothness, and then step back and look at him. Really look at him. Appreciate him for what he is; a non-perfect being who is totally perfect in his ability to soothe you. When you finally leave him and head back to the house, breathe deeply and thank your stars, your god, your mother or father, or just yourself, for the blessing of this animal. Create the memory in your heart of your beloved horse and he will be with you forever. And ever.