Dear friends,
I have been so fortunate these past 13 years to have my horse PJ in my life, and yesterday I had to let him go. He was 25. He loved to roll and has had trouble these past few years getting back up off the ground. It's been a stress but I thought I could keep him going with hock injections and bute
for at least a couple more years. But yesterday he was done--it was clear he was ready to go. He made it easy for me, really, in death just like he did in life. It's a real blessing that he went so deliberately and quickly.

PJ was a very special horse. Strong survival instinct. Smart as a whip. A stoic leader. A willing, hard-working, and patient partner and schoolmaster. He was always happy and had tons of personality--very transparent and honest. I learned so much from him. He taught me to know what I want and ask for it clearly. He taught me about respect--that it has to go both ways and that you can't ask a horse (or a person) to do something and get a response without also listening to and understanding what's going on with him. He taught me that communication is what the recipient hears, not what you think you said. He taught me to slow down, and not rush or push or force things so much, to go for the connection between human and animal (or human and human) instead of control over him. Probably most fulfilling is that in the last years of our partnership, he grew to trust me more, which I consider a huge honor.  I'll miss the way he always greeted me with soft eyes and a warm nicker--always--and the way, after I finished tacking him up, he'd just walk behind me to the arena whether I had hold of the reins or not.

You may not have known PJ, but I hope you'll say a little prayer for him or send him good thoughts as he goes to his next life. Thanks.
Charlotte