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Gift/item in memory of a horse; Recommendations
Topic Started: Sep 28 2010, 09:17 AM (702 Views)
Trialbyfire
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One the young girls in our 4-h club bought a horse about 3 weeks ago. She had a budget of about $0, and found a flashy, promising mare for only $1000. Our trainer showed it in a tiny show the weekend before fabulous and the mare was fabulous. I even had a moment of jealousy as I imagined her beating my kids in everything next summer.

She was going to show her at a 4-h show on Sunday but mid-week she had a freak pasture accident....was probably being chased in turnout and attempted to jump the gate. Somehow got her foot stuck in the space between the gate and the post and basically spent the night upside down and trapped. Remarkably she didn't break anything but ended up in serious condition due to muscles tying up and releasing enzymes that can damage the kidneys [ :huh: not sure how that all works] .....but we got word that they had her euthanized this morning. The girl is 13 and just a wreck.

I am trying to find out if they saved tail hairs so I could have our 4-h group have a bracelet made for her. Does anyone have a good source? I know I've seen some but wondered if you had any recommendations. And if they didn't save hair, does anyone have any other suggestions? I'm so heartbroken for her. :no:
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Indy
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How horrible!

A tail hair bracelet would be great if they saved any of her tail. Or if they didn't save enough of her hair, if you have a few strands you could send it off to someone who does horsehair pottery, those are beautiful and don't require as much hair.
Otherwise, maybe have a portrait done? If you want it to be a gift from the whole 4H group you could probably get up a collection to pay for it. Our own Copper Leaf does beautiful work.
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MayaTy02
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oh that is heartbreaking :(
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FlashGordon
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Oh man that is awful. :( And how nice of you to want to do something for her.

A horsehair bracelet is a great idea if they have some tail hair. Or even those leather bracelets w/the nameplates might be a nice idea. Like this:

http://www.exactadesigns.com/products/Leather_Nameplate_Bracelet-33-0.html

Anyone happen to have any pics of the mare? If so maybe just a nice framed photo? Or a collage if you've got a bunch?

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MayaTy02
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Oh I love that idea Flash!
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Trialbyfire
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Thanks for the ideas. I guess I'm late to the party because hair was taken and a bracelet is already an idea on the table. We're hoping to find the vendor who will be at the Equine Affaire in MA this year...maybe we can have the hair sent ahead of time and surprise the girl when we get there. I love the idea of the leather bracelet with the name plate although she didn't even have time to decide on a show name so not sure it would be as nice with just her barn name. I will think about it, though. I was at the little show with them last week so I have pictures of the trainer on her but not the kid and mare together. :sigh: But might be enough to have a portrait done....let me look.

A very freak accident. The chances of getting stuck between a gate and a post seem pretty small to me. Obviously jumping the gate was probably a bad idea in the first place, but getting stuck like she did was nearly impossible and really bad. I think that even if she could have recovered physically, she might never have been truly sound again....I believe there was quite a lot of soft tissue damage to the leg in addition to the kidney issues. :no: Sigh.
Edited by Trialbyfire, Sep 28 2010, 10:51 AM.
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jillincolorado
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That's awful TBF. There are several places around that make really nice bracelets. I know I bought a silver engraveable bracelet once for someone who lost a pony, and had the horse's name engraved on it.
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Neighland
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That is terrible TBF!! My deepest condolences to her!! I LOVE my horse hair pottery...Ida did mine...here is her site... http://www.horsehairmemorypots.com/

I'm drawing a blank on the bracelet place that I drool over...I'll look when I get home on my other computer!!
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Twiceshy
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http://www.twistedtails.com/

Her poor broken heart - how awful. :candle:
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Copper Leaf
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Oh my gosh :,( That's so awful, and so sad for the girl who lost her mare.

The horse hair jewelry sounds like a great idea... I love this style... One day I hope to have something made with hair from all of my Arabians... http://www.suzannestorms.com/_Bracelet/Bracelet_Designs/Bracelet_Designs.htm

Indy... thanks for the plug... I'd be happy to do a memorial portrait of the mare if that's decided as an option.

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doubledare
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Just a word of caution. My friends had a bracelet made for me when one of my horses died and I have never been able to wear it. His death was so sad, discouraging, devastating etc. That I could not bear to look at it. Given that she will not have years of happy memories to look back on with her mare, something else might be more appropriate.

Maybe just a collection to help pay her vet/disposal bills? From what you posted, I doubt she had insurance on the horse and is probably facing a substantial vet bill. Another of my horses died unexpectedly and uninsured and left a large vet bill. Help with paying that bill would have been hugely appreciated.
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Black Tack
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What a sad story Trial, just horrible. Poor kid :no:
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Trialbyfire
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doubledare
Sep 28 2010, 12:45 PM
Just a word of caution. My friends had a bracelet made for me when one of my horses died and I have never been able to wear it. His death was so sad, discouraging, devastating etc. That I could not bear to look at it. Given that she will not have years of happy memories to look back on with her mare, something else might be more appropriate.

Maybe just a collection to help pay her vet/disposal bills? From what you posted, I doubt she had insurance on the horse and is probably facing a substantial vet bill. Another of my horses died unexpectedly and uninsured and left a large vet bill. Help with paying that bill would have been hugely appreciated.
Hmm... a really good point. I hadn't even thought of that. I will have to give that some thought.

Yes, we've definitely discussed the vet bills. I believe the barn owner is going to pick up a fair amount (if not all) of them; it was [most likely] his horse that chased hers and he feels really guilty, and also about the gate. It's not a big gap but it's apparently big enough to be a safety risk. But I have put it out there that we'd help out if they need it....not sure they even know what the totals are at this point so she may still have some big bills to pay afterwards.

I thought about this, too:

Posted Image

It's just a little thing but I like the expression and it could be taken in many different ways.

There is another one that said "Ride Like There's No Tomorrow" but I think that might be a little too close to the heart. :sigh:
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Delia
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Oh TBF, what a heartbreak. That poor child.

Yes, I agree that it's a close call as to whether a bracelet or portrait would be well received or send the girl into perpetual tears. Maybe you could ask her parents what they think?

If you do decide on a portrait, I second Copper Leaf. Last fall one of the BO's homebreds and my gelding's pasture mate had to be put down within a week of one another. I asked CL to do portraits of both horses and their owners absolutely cherish them.
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SnackPack
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I'm close to tears thinking of this poor little girl. What a sad, sad situation. :,(

I think any of the ideas posted would be great...especially if given some time to let the fresh hurt settle. I know it might take me a while to want a souvenir of one of my horses, but after time, I'd like the memory.
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