Not a good day.

[Saturnalia]

I will never understand the type of horse ownership where you gush over your sparkly new pony when he passes his pre-purchase exam, but then leave without a goodbye carrot or even a glance back when the vet moves on to put down your former showhorse. (Who, let's face it, you probably haven't even looked at in months, having shoved him into the farthest pasture.)

At least some people there cared enough to give him his final carrots and scratches and love and mix Cheerios into his last dinner grain and sob into the mane of their own horses for him...

R.I.P, George, old man. I'll miss feeding your cute face, but I'm glad you won't have to limp sadly around the pasture any longer. At least she had the decency to finally (after much prodding) give you peace.

[springacres]

I will never understand that type of animal ownership, period.  *hugs you*

[Saturnalia]

Thanks. Yesterday, I was just so upset, and could not understand how anyone could just refuse to say goodbye. I think I've moved on to being angry, but also coming to the conclusion that the owner of the horse is very much a child in an adult's body, and as such, her reactions will never totally make sense to me.

[Keilin Alyr]

Some people treat pets as fashion accessories or status symbols rather than beloved companions, so they think nothing of surrendering their purebred cat to the shelter because it no longer matched the furniture (I actually heard about this when I was volunteering at the local animal shelter... just about made me sick) or losing interest in a pet they've had for years because it's no longer cute and tiny (happened too many times at the shelter to count... and it's not just the kids).

Sadly, it sounds like this person just wants something new and pretty to fawn over and not a forever friend in their horses, or at the very least doesn't have the maturity to face the challenges when a pet gets old and sick. I'm glad George had someone to love him and spoil him in his final moments though, every pet deserves affection from someone who cares about them. *snugs the Saturnalia*

[springacres]

What Keilin said.  I even saw a beautiful, sweet pit bull mix who had been surrendered just because "owner didn't want anymore."  The dog was fully grown, neutered, had a wonderful intelligent expression and I truly hope he made someone else a wonderful, deserving companion for life.  It makes me sick to think that there are people out there who view pets as essentially live toys or fashion accessories.

[Saturnalia]

Ug, yeah. It certainly happens to any 'pet' animal these days. And when you add something like showing and competing in, it gets even more baffling to me-- shouldn't you want a strong bond with your partner for that?
She took a lesson with the new horse last night and kept saying things like "he's so spoiled now!" "He's died and gone to heaven, coming here!" I had to bite my tongue from saying something like, "Oh, just like George, right? So spoiled! Oh, wait..."