Critters past

[3equines]

I have been able to scan some of my old pictures from the Dark Ages that preceded digital photography;)

My life is chronicled by the animals who have accompanied me along the way. Some of the furry friends in the pictures have crossed the Rainbow Bridge, others have moved on to homes where they fit better with the families who adopted them than they did with me.

Before I had horses, my first real livestock were Capri and Cornelius, a set of Toggenburg/Saanan cross goats. They taught me how to build fences, give shots, trim hooves, and store hay - there's a learning curve involved. They accompanied me on hikes in the National Park (illegal;) but there's no Rangers out there in April when the snow melts)
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/Pictures%20Past/CCF10292010_00003.jpg

and were the main feature for many children who visited the grass-roots farm we inhabited
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/Pictures%20Past/CCF10292010_00009.jpg

The goats crossed the Rainbow Bridge after being diagnosed with a crippling disease known as C.A.E.

Alley was a little Shetland pony who taught me the basics of owning a horse. She was a free to good home pony, and her trust was limited but she tolerated being led in hand. I would hop on and ride her around but we never really did come to complete agreement on left, right, and whoa. She was good company for the goats and a star among the kids.

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/Pictures%20Past/CCF10292010_00007.jpg

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/Pictures%20Past/CCF10292010_00016.jpg

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/Pictures%20Past/CCF10292010_00015.jpg
(that's my Malamute dog under the girl's right arm)

Alley always had a little screw loose and died in a tragic accident when she took off bucking her saddle loose and caught her lead rope under a hind horseshoe. She broke her neck at the poll and broke my heart to pieces. She taught me that I needed to learn how to train horses before getting another one.

Akela was my constant companion for eight years. He was a huge, loving Malamute cross. Here he is playing with the neighbor's Jack Russel.
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/Pictures%20Past/CCF10292010_00000.jpg

Akela hiked with me in the backcountry, before I had horses. He's deflated himself in this picture after a long ascent.
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/Pictures%20Past/CCF10292010_00004.jpg

Akela developed hip dysplasia when he was 4 years old. By the time he was 8 it was too much to bear. Akela has crossed the rainbow bridge and I have been dog-less for several years.

After Alley passed a co-worker talked me into adopting a rescued Shetland pony named Calypso. She was a 22-year old bag of bones with several teeth missing and coliced two or three times a week. But she was sweet, and had those old, sad eyes. She had taken kids to the State finals as a gaming pony but had fallen to neglect and ruin. Calypso taught me how to feed horses who need more than just hay. She also played a special role for a little girl with a troubled life, and healed my heart from the loss of Alley. I may have quit horses forever if Calypso hadn't come along.

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/Pictures%20Past/CCF10292010_00013.jpg

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/Pictures%20Past/CCF10292010_00010.jpg

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/Pictures%20Past/CCF10292010_00011.jpg

Once folks knew I was in the business of taking on pity cases, Brew the Donkey showed up in my life. He had been rescued by a lady with too many horses and a young family, but she couldn't leave him at the abandoned lot where his owners had left him when the bank foreclosed on their home.

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/Pictures%20Past/CCF10292010_00008.jpg

Brew and I spent several years together. He was a nasty, agressive boy but turned around for me. I taught him to lead, and even started riding him, and ponied him all over the place after I got my Arabian, Taz.

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/Pictures%20Past/bw2.jpg

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/Pictures%20Past/bw1.jpg

In the end, I was asking too much of Brew to keep up with horses. He has a forever home with a family that home-schools. He is now a saddle donkey for two school-age children, no kidding. Brew LOVES his kids.

At last, there was Taz. A real horse. Taz and I covered thousands of trail miles together. There is not enough that can be said about my magnificent Arabian gentleman. I lost Taz to a terrible and tragic accident on the trail, he remained noble even in his last moments of life. The grief and shock were bottomless to me. Taz taught me humility.

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/Pictures%20Past/CCF10292010_00012.jpg


And among the larger companions have always been the cats. One very special kitty was Rosemary. She was a tiny thing, all fluff, but the most ferocious hunter I have ever had. She would dispatch rats that outweighed her, and periodically leave for a walkabout during the late summer season, returning with the first frost. Allthough a ferocious hunter, Rosemary was the sweetest, most feminine little feline around the home. She was cute, sweet, and had a purr that shook the walls. Rosemary crossed the Rainbow Bridge the same year as Akela.

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/Pictures%20Past/rm1.jpg

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/Pictures%20Past/rm2.jpg


Well, there they are. My album of Creatures Past.

[CaddoCinnamon]

Those are beautiful animals. All that have helped you in one way or another.

[dame_wolf]

None of us would be who we are today if not for our beloved friends that passed before us.

[Bessie13]

I like the way you share things. I almost feel as if I knew them by your words. Thanks for taking the time to share with us.

[Dakota Sunrise]

Reading this made me sad, but in a very touching kind of way. I too of had many animals growing up who passed away years ago, but they really played a major part in my life and will never be forgotten.
And I agree with Bessie- you wrote about them beautifully.

[shewasmyshadow]

That was very fitting that they should have been beautiful mile stones on your journey through this world.

I have been blessed to have many special animals in my life, especially Rashad. They brought great joy in life and sorrow in death, but I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. They were worth the heart ache. I also find they are wonderful reminders to me of God's love.

[YAorNEIGH]

I cried through this whole post, lol. -sniff- I get so emotional about animals. This was a beautiful way to honor the connections we have with our animals. :)