Sunny was 28 years old when he found himself unwanted, neglected, and homeless. When he was taken in by SAFE, he was pitifully thin, his hooves overgrown, his chestnut coat dull. His teeth had not been cared for in several years, making it hard for him to chew his hay. His right knee was terribly enlarged from an old untreated injury, and he couldn’t move too quickly on it. He was in sad shape.
Sunny’s recovery over the summer months was slow and steady. There were some setbacks— a loose tooth that needed to be pulled, a scary episode of choke — but he seemed to be regaining his strength.
Despite his neglect, Sunny was still a proud horse who tried his best to keep the upper hand over his much younger companions. I kept him safely in his own paddock where he could still believe he was the top dog without letting him come to any harm.
He was also very vocal, and he nickered loudly and often…whether asking for food or just saying hello. Some days, when he felt especially good, he’d transform into a beautiful Arab steed…head high, ears pricked, nostrils flared, and tail flagging. In those moments, I caught a glimpse of the magnificent horse he’d been in his youth.
But as winter crept closer, Sunny began to slow down. His bad knee seemed to bother him more, and I often saw him limping. Then his good knee started to fail him, making movement even more difficult. He began to seem distant. And it didn’t help that the weather was becoming miserable, wet and cold.
It was time to let Sunny go.
It rained that day, but when my vet arrived, the clouds suddenly parted and the sun shined down, as if to reassure us that we were doing the right thing. I held his head, told him not to be afraid and cried for him as he passed away. And although I’m glad I was there for him, I couldn’t help but feel that it shouldn’t have been me. Sunny spent his life serving someone, and that someone wasn’t there at the end to comfort him, to say goodbye. Sunny deserved to pass away in a comfortable, familiar setting, surrounded by the people who loved him best. But whoever had owned him had thrown him away, so in the end, there was only me.
So please, in memory of Sunny, think very hard before you decide to get rid of your senior horse because they’re no longer “useful” to you or they become unrideable. Think about this: whose face do you want your horse to see as he leaves this world? Whose voice should he hear? If the answer is yours, then do the right thing: don’t send an old horse off to live with strangers. Care for him the best you can until the end, and when the end comes, face it with him. It’s the last gift you can give to a horse that has given everything to you.
Thank god for SAFE. Every horse should leave this world feeling loved. A very good message to all animal owners regarding senior pets. Death with dignity and with those you loved around you.
Bonnie, thank you for being there for him when he needed someone the most. What a beautifully written tribute to Sunny. I got very emotional reading this, I am glad he saw a person that truly cared for him when he left this world. Thank you, I applaud you for staying with him. Thank you.
Thanks for posting this. I have a “Sunny” at home. Nearly 29 years old. I am close to having to make the decision to have to let her go and although it is gut wrenching, I know it will be the kind thing to do. I really needed to read this today!
I got very emotional reading this too, even though I know it’s a memory, it’s still a deeply touching story.
This brings tears to my eyes as it brings back memories of saying goodbye to beloved animals. It’s a mystery to me why humans discard their animals when they become “unusable.” Perhaps it’s because they ARE just using them. Thank you for being there for Sunny.
Bonnie, you write so beautifully. Your talent is only surpassed by your generous spirit — thank you for sharing both with us. I’m going out to the barn to kiss my horses goodnight now — and I’m looking forward to doing so for the next twenty years or so.
My best friend Sheri owner of Lost creek Stables had her (sunny) for 36 yrs his name was Davy the best Morgan gelding in the world and Davy would be here today but cancer took him from us last Year .I my self had my sunny too and have many life long heart horses that will never leave my home that have been thrown away by there owners and have never had trust in people or that have lost there people along the way as one of the mares I have inherited but no matter how You end up with your best friends in the end you should be the one holding there heads and stroking there face while they take there last breath And you Bonnie do a most wonderful thing
My horse is 25 and i rescued her 3 yrs ago…the racing barn got rid of her after she could no longer have babies for them.…i would never ever get rid of her.i tell her everyday that she is my baby.…i will hold her head as she leaves this earth and it will kill me ..but i feel i owe her that to be with her when she takes her last breath…
Oh my gosh, wonderful post. So valid and so true. God Bless these oldsters who valiantly served all those years. And God Bless you guys for helping them in their greatest hour. RIP sweet boy.
please can you tell me more about sunny I had to give up my sunny due to taking care of my mother full time and working. this was 4 years year,s ago . I could not find him I looked all the time hoping to find him. he was an Arabian also. can you tell me about his markings I did not just send him away because of age I missed him everyday I had to make a choice. he was so good to me. If this was my sunny his name was RF Suncatcher and he was my bestfreind.
Suncatcher was liver Chestnut with 2 white stockings and white on cornet band also star strip snip and flaxen mane and tale. please let me know. Also thank u for what you do in given love to the lost or even forgotten horse. You know why im looking on this site because to this day im still looking for him and hope he is well 🙁
also please note he was sound and no knee injury when I gave him to a good home Then the people who adopted him told me they gave him away and they did not know who had him.so I have been looking for him ever since. if this was him my search has ended I wish I was there to hold his head because I loved him so much but thank u for your loving hands holding him until the end bless u
Hello Tina,
I’m so sorry that you’ve lost your horse — that’s so sad. But I don’t think that Sunny is Suncatcher…Sunny had three white socks and a blaze. Also his knee injury really looked like it happened a long time ago. But I have some photos that I’d be happy to send to you if you want to take a look. You can contact me at bonnie@safehorses.org.
any way to get this wonderful story published in the newspaper? it’s such the truth and people need to be reminded that those old guys need to be cared for until the end!