"Old Man"

This is my old Quarter Horse gelding, Fred, or more fondly known as Old Man. He passed on the 7th of August of this year to a severe case of colic. He was abused and starved before my dad bought him, and we believe he had coliced before (it is common for a horse to just have a simple colic once, then have a more severe case down the road). I could stick my fist about 4 inches between each rib when he came home five years ago. He had severe mental issues, flinched at the slightest movement from you, and his teeth for so bad from chewing wood that the vet couldn't even tell his age. We guessed him to be 25+ (the people told us he was 14). He was so sad I told my father I didn't care what it took, I wanted that horse home. I spent 4 years getting him to a sane mind, and by the end of that, I could put kids on him and know they'd be safe. The last year, his arthritis got so terrible, he was retired and spent the rest of his life getting fed twice a day, lots of brushing and cookies from children, and roaming the pasture with the rest of my horses. He helped raised my bay colt who had severe abandonment issues, and taught me many lessons. I'm glad I could spend the last years of his life with him. I wish the people wouldn't have lied to us so he could stay with me a bit longer. I could've been giving him stuff to prevent the colic if I would've known about it, but he was ready to go, I guess. And I spent the last 6 hours of his life doing everything I could to save him, and when he decided it was time to go, I hold his head in my lap and told him I loved him a million times. I couldn't say it enough, and I couldn't give him enough kisses. I know he's no longer hurting, and that he's watching over me, and he'll greet me with a soft nicker and a nuzzle again one day, but I still miss him so much. My heart just aches. I wish I could just kiss his nose and tell him I love him one more time...
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