Do you REMEMBER that day? The day when you walked into my field for the last time? I came right up to you, EAGER for a treat and a quick pat on the neck, and was rewarded when you snapped my halter on and led me to the gate. I was CONFUSED; you had never had this look before, and I had never felt this EMOTION coming from you. What had happened?

I remember I had tossed my head as I saw a large truck pulled up beside my home. I had looked at you, WONDERING if we were going somewhere… perhaps another show? I used to jump for you all the time, but we hadn’t worked out for a long time, more than one cold season. I saw you shake hands with a large man who smelled of sweat and FEAR, and began to feel the tip of WORRY. You looked me in the eye and said “Be good, boy,” and turned away, shaking.

I was scared, but I OBEDIENTLY followed the man into a small, crowded trailer that was thick with DREAD and urine. I TRUSTED you, and knew you would never send me anywhere that I would be HARMED. There were others there, many larger than I, and I was immediately pushed up against a dirt stained wall.

I nickered NERVOUSLY, as I felt the truck lurch into motion. In an instant, I KNEW this was the last time I’d ever see the home… and the owner that I had known for my whole life- from the time I was a spindly little foal, just brought into this world to the time when I lay sick in my stall, continuing to fight colic, simply because you were THERE beside me.-

I would have done ANYTHING for you. I jumped for you, I did my best to make you happy, I always tried to win for you; I remember how ECSTATIC you were whenever we got one of those blue ribbons. I lived my LIFE for you. But most of all, I LOVED you. You were my EVERYTHING. I went to sleep at night thinking of you, and the FUN we had had, and would have the next morning. Whether it was sitting in the pasture sun or riding in the dirt of the arena, so long as we were TOGETHER, I was COMPLETE.

When we arrived at our destination, I froze. There were pens and men everywhere. Outside the trailer, it smelled of tension and SLAUGHTER. I was led ROUGHLY to a crowded pen with the other horses from my trailer, and there we stood, scared, shivering, and most of all ALONE. No kind word was spoken to us; no sweet treat offered in passing. There we were left to ourselves. It was then the REALIZATION hit me. I was NEVER going HOME. I had KNOWN all along, when it first dawned on me in the trailer, but now it was REAL. I hadn’t wanted to BELIEVE it before… I had never thought you would let this happen to me. I thought you LOVED me.

Now I’m NEXT in the QUEUE. Unwilling to look ahead at dying horses… my fate, I gaze back to the horses behind me, and I pray they were as fortunate as I, to have had an owner who ONCE cared for them; I hope they too were able to share the EXPERIENCES we shared.


I want to you know that I have NEVER once FORGOTTEN you, and that no matter what… I will ALWAYS LOVE you. Please PROMISE me that you’ll THINK of me. I KNOW you must have had your REASONS for doing this.