The first time I met Shane, I didn't like him. He was owned by another girl at my stable and they let me use him for my riding lessons. As I learned the art of English riding and jumping Shane was my guide. He had much more experience than I. Quickly, we formed a bond that would never be broken. When I found out that Shane was going to be sold, I was very upset. I couldn't imagine not having him around anymore. To my surprise, my parents purchased Shane for me on October 30, 1983. It is a day I will never forget. A day that changed my life.
I started taking Shane to local shows and we cleaned house. We were unbeatable. It was like magic when we were together. All that was shattered when Shane had to have an operation on the tendons in both of his back legs which left him in a great deal of pain and permanently disabled. I was unable to ride him for six months while he recuperated. During that time, my parents purchased another horse for me, Dee, so that I could continue with my riding and showing. Dee and I had success as well, both on the Paint circuit and the Hunter/Jumper circuit. Shane did eventually get well enough to make a come back at a couple of local shows, but soon, my competitve level increased past that point. I liked jumping and Shane's injuries just could not sustain that type of pressure.
We moved to another stable were jumping was the focus and Shane just didn't have the strength to do it. We kept him at the barn too, but he was not ridden very often (which I don't think he minded too much). However, whenever I needed a shoulder to cry on, he was the one I went to. He would nuzzle me and rub on me as if to say "don't worry about it, you still have me". There was something comforting about putting on his halter, walking him to the field and letting him graze. I can still remember watching the wind blow through his magnificent mane and tail. Just sitting in the pasture in silence, watching him. Tears streaming down my face, it's like he knew something was wrong. As he would graze closer to me he would walk up to me and nudge my chest with his nose, almost pushing me over. I would laugh and he would start to graze again. He knew just what to do to make me snap out of it. He was so beautiful.
When I graduated from high school, my parents moved up to their farm and brought Shane and Dee with them. They were in heaven. Eighty acres of green pasture to eat whenever they wanted. For all intents and purposes, they were now retired. Shane and Dee already had a bond, but now it was even stronger since it was just the two of them. They loved each other so much. If they got separated, the other one would whinny until they found each other. Very cute! They had a happy life.
May 25, 1999 is a day I will never forget. It was the day I lost one of my best friends, Shane. The morning of May 24, I was awoken to find out that Shane had injured his leg sometime during the night and I needed to come out to see him. The vet was already on her way out. When I got to him, he didn't seem that bad. He was standing in the pasture and my father was holding up his front left leg. I took over for a little while, but it got very hot. We moved him under a tree, but you could tell it was very painful for him to walk. The vet came a few hours later and took x-rays and did an exam. She said that it did not feel broken, but that the x-rays would be able to show more information. We moved Shane and Dee into the barnyard area and mom and I drove the x-ray film to an equine hospital in Ocala. They came back inconclusive. There was not a break in his leg, but he was still unable to put any weight on it. This put a lot of extra pressure on his rear legs, which were already not as strong as they should be.
When we got back from Ocala, Shane was lying down under a tree, Dee grazing close to him. Mom called the vet in Ocala and asked her to come out and see him. She reluctantly agreed. We waited for hours. Shane got up and ate his dinner, but was in a lot of pain. He laid back down by the fence, facing the sun. It was early evening when the vet finally made it out. We were sitting with Shane. She examined his leg and asked if we could get him to stand up. He could not. I could feel my heart breaking. She said that if he could not stand up, it would be most humane to put him to sleep. She did not have the medication to do it, but suggested that we arrange something for first thing the next morning. I could not believe this was happening. My mom had been taking such good care of him and his health had just recently taken a turn towards the postitive. This wasn't fair. We left Shane facing the sunset and went to the house for the night. When I awoke the next morning, I was hoping it was all a bad dream. It was not....I got dressed and me, my mom, and my dad went down to check on him. Somehow, he had turned himself around during the night and was now facing the sunrise. It was as if he knew it would be the last he would ever see. He struggled to get up, but still could not. We tried to keep him calm until the vet arrived. Tears streamed down my face, I hated to see him in pain, struggling. I leaned down to give him a kiss and he lifted his head and nudged my chest, almost knocking me over. Even in his final hours, he was trying to comfort me. I never told anybody that story, but it seems fitting for his tribute. My mom prepared his favorite breakfast....AppleZaps and sweet feed. He ate it all. The vet arrived around 8:15 am and explained the procedure to us. He then asked if we were ready, which looking back seems like a stupid question...how are you ever ready for something like this? He inserted the needle into Shane's vein and then injected two syringes of liquid. I was holding Shane's head sobbing and telling him how sorry I was and how much I loved him. He slowly took three deep breaths and exhaled for the last time. The vet checked his vitals and pronounced, "He's gone." My mom and dad were there with me. As I looked at Shane's lifeless body, I lost it. How can he be gone when I'm looking right at him? What am I going to do when I need a nudge?
Well, it's been a little over two years now and it still makes me sad. Dee has a new stablemate, but he will never be able to replace Shane and the bond that they shared. I miss him very much and often think about the times we shared together. I truly believe that my life experiences with him have helped to form who I am. For that, I am glad. I love you Shane!