Askepot's page
This page was last updated: 2004-10-30
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In memoriam:
My TB/Frederiksborger mare "Askepot".
24th of September, 2002:
Today was one of the worst days in my life, as Askepot had to
be put down. She wasn't ill, but her legs had been troubling her for quite some
time now, so already at the beginning of the year, I decided that she shouldn't
have to live through another winter, as it was very clear that the cold winter
weather wasn't exactly making things better for her. This decision I made
regarding Askepot, was also my reason for looking for another horse this summer,
as I needed one to keep Carmen with company, when Askepot was gone, and thus my
reason for buying Epona.
But even though, I have made the decision long ago, the day of today wasn't any
easier to get through... It is always very hard to say goodbye to an animal that
has been your friend for such a long time (I've owned her for 9 years, ridden
her for 11), who has taught you so much about horsemanship and riding, and who
has been there every day for you, as the first one to greet you in the mornings,
when you stepped out of the house... But she has had a wonderful summer with the
two "girls", the weather has been wonderful right up to last week,
where it was getting colder - especially at nights - and already she was
starting getting troubles again, so I am sure, I made the right decision, even
though it was a very hard one.
Now the two girls have to make their own little herd of two, I always thought
that horses could "sense" death instinctively, but today showed me
that they have to learn it first... Last year, when Rico and Kazmir were put
down, I let Askepot sniff at them and "be" with them for a little
while, and that was perfectly enough to convince her, they were dead. But, back
then, it was the older and more experienced horse that was left back... Today, I
also let Carmen and Epona "be" around Askepot for a while, and they
also seemed to accept things very well. But, as I then drove them off the
paddock, where she is laying, into the next one, Carmen started running around
like crazy, crying out for her, and looking very intensively to the spot, where
she is laying, as if she still expects Askepot to get on her feet and answer
her. She hasn't obviously any "sense" for death - yet. She will
probably have more knowledge, should there ever come a next time for her. Funny
to watch, how Epona automatically leans to Carmen for guidance now. It is
clearly that before, she was relying on Askepot as their herd leader, but now
she looks to Carmen for a leader. I am wondering, whether Carmen is ready to
take on that responsibility, she is still fairly young. But, I guess she really
has no choice.
Anyway, Askepot you were a much beloved horse, and you will be greatly missed,
but being an elderly lady as you were, I really think, it was time for you to
go....
January 2002:
I have known and ridden Askepot since September 1991, where
she was bought as a schooling horse for the riding school, where I had just
shortly started taking lessons. Very soon after, I choose her as "my"
horse in the stable, as her temperament seemed to match what I like about
horses: She is intelligent, friendly, very sensitive, not nervous and very much
"forward going"....
Over the years, we have had lots of wonderful experiences with each other, and
lots of wonderful rides... At the beginning, when I brought her home, she really
had a lot of steam to blow off, after having been kept in a stable for a couple
of years and only been ridden in the hall and riding court. But after having
lived in my open stable for some time, and after we started riding out more -
and I changed my approach to her to a more gentle and "natural
horsemanship" like way, she calmed down and became a wonderful companion
and friend.
For the past few years I haven't been riding her as much as before, as her legs
have begun to trouble her a bit if we go too far too often. But she still loves
her occasional walks - and I enjoy them too.
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