*This page has a Kleenex Warning*
The Saga
-~=Yankee=~-
~June 1, 1983 - August 8, 1999~
@}--}---}------
Once God has spoken
Twice I have heard this
That power belongs to God alone
And lovingkindness is thine
For thou dost recompence
A man for his work.
an excerpt from my diary dated August 8, 1999
Where do I begin? Yesterday? When Yankee got new shoes, and I was so excited I could ride anywhere now. Or today? I want to tell you everything, but I can't. I will tell you as much as I can. I wanted to jot my thoughts down on this, the very day. While everything is still sharp and haunting. I decided to ride Yankee after his bath. He had new shoes and we had to break them in! We were only ten minutes from home, on our way to a neighbor's house, rather horse (he loved to visit other horses). Well, Yankee spooked, and bolted, zig-zagging across the road and gaining speed. A witness turned her truck off hoping it would help get him under control. But, alas, it did not. He finally slowed, but lost traction. He fell! down to the hot pavement, to his knees. I was thrown out of the way. I was lucky, but I wasn't sure about Yankee. Quick thinking told me to check to see if he could stand. Upon seeing he couldn't, I pushed him back down and held him there. My dearest!
The witness went for help up the road. A young man who had missed his turn, happened upon the scene, and came to my aid. Thank you Joe! A handfull of neighbors and friends contributed greatly to making our wait for the vet as comfortable as could be. I was waiting for the vet to tell me that I had overreacted and it was nothing serious. I entrusted my horse to a dear friend who would assume responsibility if his leg was broken. After a few failed attempts to get up, it was looking that way. Thank you Earl! I used a neighbor's knife to cut the saddle free of Yankee. I used their cell phone to call my mom, the vet, and the police. They arrived in that order. The neighbors had water with them which my friend poured for Yankee one capfull at a time (he was afraid of water). Passer-bys helped to divert the traffic down a different street, since the cops never showed up. I want to thank everyone who was there to help us, whether I will remember their names tomorrow, or if I even asked for them.. Thank you!
any one who helped to reposition our saddle blanket under Yankee's head, and a pair of pants under me. The road was so hot it burned me thru my jeans and even boots! And my horse layed skin to road! If not for little Brittany saying "and horses go to heaven too"...
Thank you to everyone who helped! The vet did finally arrive. Yankee got a trank. The vet checked him out. I don't know how to describe for you the look in my horse's eyes. Every hand on my back felt like it was pushing me harder into Yankee as the vet handed down the verdict.. His femur is broken. "nothing more can be done for him". And I cried. But I didn't want him to suffer unneccesarily. I had already decided about that. I cut a braid from his mane, and said my final I love yous and good bye. I knew this would be the last time I looked in his eyes. On that note, I picked up my saddle and didn't look back; drove myself home, tear stained face, biting on Yankee's braid.
...thinking never again...
