by Jane Nicklin
From the first day I saw him I was struck by just how beautiful he was. We drove down to the dealers that summer's day not expecting to see anything special. He was in the end box and as we rounded the corner his ears pricked and I noticed what an alert, special horse he was. We got to know him quite well over the month that followed; he injured his leg in the field and we could not vet him until he was sound.
Something clicked right from the start between Billy and I. It was so exciting collecting him from the dealers and loading him onto our trailer, all wrapped up in the brand sparkling new red travel boots I had brought him. I couldnt wait to get him back and introduce him to his new home, a place he would grow to love.
Within the firt few months I developed a close relationship with him. The tragic accident that occured only brought us closer together. We became inseparable. I watched him have the operation on his tendon that day at the hospital and saw him come round in his little padded cell. He spenct three days there and was so pleased to get home on the day we collected him. After that I was with him twice a day, nursing him back to heatlth and Im glad I put in so much effort or he may not have got through it.
The years that followed rushed away with me. We shared happy and sad times. He connected to me in a way that most horses cant, for example if he had an itch he would point to it with his nose and I would scratch it, when he wanted a carrot he lifted his leg to say please and so on. The spiritual connection between us was one that nobody else could touch.
When I felt down in the dumps about something I could always live safe in the knowledge that I could drive up to see him. On arriving at the stable he would whinny softly as I got out of the car and everything that was troubling me would melt away and it were just he and I. I could tell him things that I told no one else and he would know when I was upset cos he would nudge me with this nose or just simply let me cuddle his neck.
Billy was diagnose with Diabetes Mellitus about a year ago. It is a very rare condition in horses and is difficult to treat as there is not much yet known about it. At first things seemed quite hopeful as there were drugs and herbal alternatives on the market to control his blood sugar levels. However, no matter what we tried everything failed, even after consulting the professionals. His condition became so advanced that we had to consider euthansia for the first time. Our vet said that it was the only fair way. It still never makes the process of saying goodbye any easier to grasp. I went up and said a long farewell to him this evening, I only hope that he understands that it is because I love him so much that I have to do this. I just cant believe that I am never going to see him again; never going to see his bright eyes or hear his whinny.
I love you Billy old pal; you were and still are one in a million and you wont ever be forgotten.