Every moment spent with a horse is precious. We never know how much time we’ll have with them, and we always hope the good days outnumber the hard ones.
We are deeply grateful to Christina, Rae’s adopter, who stepped up and welcomed Trixie into her home as an official SAFE alumna after having been Trixie’s foster mom for a number of months. When Christina first took Trixie home as a foster, we had an open and honest conversation about Trixie’s health—especially her knee, which had long been a concern. We knew that, in time, a difficult decision might have to be made. By choosing to adopt Trixie, Christina also took on the responsibility of making that decision when the time came, and we assured her that she would have our full support when that moment arrived.
Recently, Trixie’s condition worsened. We stayed in close contact with Christina throughout, carefully discussing every step. Her veterinarian evaluated Trixie and administered a joint injection, hoping to bring her some relief, along with additional pain management. Sadly, the improvement was minimal. At 23 years old, Trixie’s body was letting us know that every step was a struggle, and that her quality of life was slipping away. Together, we agreed that waiting until summer’s end was no longer an option. Christina spoke with her vet to make arrangements for Trixie’s peaceful passing.
Trixie was laid to rest on her property, next to Christina’s other mare, Mocha. Since joining their family in August of last year, Trixie knew nearly 300 days of love, care, and gentle kindness. As their final gift to her, Christina and her husband Kris lovingly said goodbye and released her from a body that could no longer carry her without pain.
To support Rae—who is losing a dear companion—we have placed Mirana in foster with Christina’s family. Mirana has settled in beautifully, showing minimal signs of stress. She has a quiet space of her own outside, along with her own stall at night.
Trixie and Rae share a strong bond, and while no horse can replace another, we hope Mirana will offer Rae some comfort and friendship during this difficult time.
