Just sitting here missing Cowboy.  We lost him in 2004, and I thought it was the end of the world!  I wanted a horse, at that time, Hubby's business was booming.  I could have had any horse I wanted.  The horse I wanted turned out to be-----an old one eyed Quarter horse.  Cowboy could do anything you wanted, even with one eye.  My riding instructor told me, "This horse has some Dressage."    He took excellent care of his aged, novice rider.  He's buried on a the hill where he liked to look over his pasture.  I'll never get over it.  I loved him so.  I love my other horses and animals, but every now and then, one comes along that's special.  Crying as I type this, sometimes I just cry, can't help it.  Yha'll may laugh at me, but one day I looked out toward the pasture, Cowboy was standing at the gate.  Was my mind playing tricks------or did he come back to let me know he's ok?  I looked again, he was gone.  Oh well, time to go feed.

                                                                 sandy

Sandy, no one here is laughing.

But a lot of us have tears in are eyes.

My first dog was an Irish Setter named Guiness.

At one time or another have called every dog I have had, Guiness, when not thinking.

Something in all of them has reminded me of him.

Sandy I repeat what Dram said NO one hear is laughing....many of us will have tears in our eyes.

Reading your sweet post a sense of melancholy swept over me for my heart dog baby Waylyn who was taken with grief for her (and mine) boy Clark's loss. He was poisoned by a subhuman ------ who was mad at me. 

Goodness I still miss them so much so please know you have empathetic friends here.

Patt

Thanks guys for the kind words.  I do want to clarify one thing, I lost Cowboy in 2004, after having him ten years.  When I first got him, we didn't have this place, he was at a boarding stable.  He was so much fun to ride, everyone wanted to ride him.  Lots of times I had to say no when people wanted to ride him,  poor Cowboy would've been exhausted!  LOL!  I moved him to a better, smaller place, then we got our own place.  From a tiny rider, to grandma's he took care of them all.  He had the speed if 'ya wanted it, but always knew the level of his rider, and adjusted to it.  There will never be another Cowboy!  We lost him to a freak accident, he was running in the pasture, fell down the wrong way, pulled a big ligament loose.  I told my vet, "I'll take him to UC Davis, or the New Bolton Center!"  MY vet put his arms around me and said, "Honey, you can't even get him on the trailer."  He was unable to stand.  Several friends were with me when we put him down, .  Next to the day my Aunt died who raised me, the darkest day of my life.  Oh well, I believe he did come back to let me know he's ok, and I'm grateful for that.  I just keep thinking maybe there was something that could've been done, but all my research on the net and elsewhere says no.  I believe he's running in lush pastures now, young, with two eyes, waiting for me.  I believe I'll see him again, he'll nicker and come running to his Mama.  Sorry so long.  Thanks.

I can relate to the post here, I lost my beloved Great perynesse to poisoning. I lived in the country and had a dog pool in the back yard that my boy, Big, loved to swim and play in. The farmer that had leased the land behind me used my water hose without my permission and stuck it in his chemical tank and then placed it back into Big's pool. Big went missing and 2 days latter we found him in a stream in the woods. My vet told me he had been poisoned. When my husband and I looked into it is when we found out what the farmer had done. What made it even worse was he was not sorry and expressed no concern for my precious Big.  This angered my husband to no end and he chased the farmer down with an UNloaded shotgun until he apoligized.

I think of my gentle giant everyday and he visits me in my dreams.

I know how you feel, Sandy. This June 17 it will have been a year that we lost our young Lab. Although it's gotten better, there is at least a day every week now when something I see reminds me of him and I tear up. But I know now that just means I was/am blessed to have shared those four years with him- and I know that he's at peace now.

OH SANDY !!

MY HEART BREAKS FOR YOUR LOSS.  REALLY, I AM SERIOUS. I BELIEVE THAT OUR LOVED ONES, BE THEY ANIMAL OR PEOPLE, ARE STILL IN THIS WORLD IN SPIRIT.  AND, WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOU SAW COWBOY, I BELIEVE HE WAS THERE FOR YOU FOR A SPLIT SECOND.  HE PROBABLY NEEDED YOU TOO!.  I BELIEVE THEY ARE WITH US ALL THE TIME. 

NO ONE LAUGHS AT THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE.   I HAVE A BLACK LAB MIX 13 YEARS OLD.  I DREAD THE DAY I LOSE HER !!.  I WILL NOT KNOW HOW TO LIVE WITHOUT HER BESIDE ME.  I ONLY GET OUT OF BED EVERY DAY FOR HER.  ANYWAY, I BETTER STOP, CAUSE I FEEL A CRY COMING ON !!. 

KEEP SEEING COWBOY, AND THE NEXT TIME YOU THINK YOU SEE HIM, WHISPER, THAT YOU LOVE HIM. 

KEEP THE FAITH,

MIVIDASOPHIE 

 (THAT IS SPANISH FOR MY LIFE SOPHIE).

Sandy,

Our animals are our family. Don't ever question your sorrow for your loved Cowboy. My Addy came into my life with her brother, Yogi. They both had distemper-as we got them from the pound. Addy is almost 6 and we only had Yogi for about a month and a half. I still miss him, and sometimes think that Addy does too. When I think about him and get a bit sad, Addy comes over and gives a little lick....I think just to say, "me too Mommy!" 

Thanks for sharing.

Breck