On His Own Terms

Reader Contribution by Cactus Jack Splash
Published on February 8, 2011
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I had no idea what that day would hold. I didn’t know that the horse that has amazed us all with his tenacity would be leaving us. I never wanted to make the choice to help him cross the rainbow bridge. I wanted his passing to be his own choice and on his own terms. Yesterday he made it – it was his choice and it was going to be on his terms. Freedom had always given us his best, did everything we asked him to do, and loved us deeply. Yesterday he asked me to listen to him and give him his request, help him cross the rainbow bridge … to give him my best and not question his choice.

This picture was taken in August of this year. Freedom and Mushboy were playing soccer with several other horses – Freedom is 48 years old in this photo. Freedom came to us so very thin and in such bad shape we wondered if he would survive. Not only did he survive, he thrived! He and I herded cows once – he did better once I just let him do what he knew how to do and just went along for the ride. He packed The Support Crew Chief down a trail and left the youngsters in his dust. He delighted in carrying Mushboy around the pasture. After he was fully retired he would take the ranch cats for pony rides. Freedom adopted a chicken named Trudy and would share his mush with her. He was quite the character: stealing calves, jumping fences when his pasture was changed, teaching young horses manners, and keeping watch over the ranch and its herd.

He taught me that age is a state of mind, that there are no excuses not to live your life to the fullest, and to suck it up when things are tough.

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