When I posted yesterday morning, I was cautiously optimistic about Kroni’s health. Unfortunately, when I came to check him mid-day, he was down and not able to get up.

With the help of many people, including an extraordinary team from the MSPCA, we transported Kroni to Tufts for emergency care. I have never been to an emergency veterinary center before and I was completely impressed by both the professional standards and care. The team that worked on him was amazing. I hope never again to participate in such an event, but they were great.

The preliminary results from his blood work and spinal fluid were still inconclusive. There was no glaringly obvious explanation to what was making him so sick. I stayed until he came out of anesthesia so that he knew I was there. I tried to explain to him that we were trying to help. Sadly, whatever afflicted him was more than he could recover from. They called me at 8:30 this morning to tell me he had just passed.

Kroni was an important part of my family for the past 12 years. He provided an extraodinary amount of fun and pleasure. He was a fantastic hunt horse, a brave and curious trail horse, and a horse that was safe enough to take my husband for some rides.

I found him through some friends in upstate New York where he was bred. His future at that time was uncertain; he was owned by a 15 year old girl who had run away from home. The barn where he was boarded was going to sell him to pay for back board. A mutual friend paid the bill and brought him to her barn. When I first sat on him, I knew he was “the one.” I’d been looking for a new horse for close to a year at that time and he was everything I wanted.

Of course, he was a few more things, too. Kroni had some training issues that made him a difficult ride at the beginning. He had a tendency to rear and he could be stubborn as all get out. With the help of a few great trainers and a lot of patience, he overcame those issues. Eventually, I found a job that he loved — as a hunt horse — and he excelled at it. I could hunt him first flight in a bitless bridle and always feel completely in control. He could anticipate what I wanted and was always game for every fence and every type of terrain .

I only had the chance to hunt him once this fall as he had just come back into work after growing out his front feet. It was just 10 days ago and it was one of the most beautiful hunts of the season. It’s an exceptionally nice territory, especially at this time of year when the fall colors were at their full glory. It was a splendid day and a very nice hunt. I will treasure that last ride with him. For him to die just 10 days later is almost incomprehensible.

For me, Kroni was probably my horse of a lifetime. I had always envisioned watching him graze contentedly into his retirement and I’m so sorry that will not come to pass. I know he had the best of all possible care at the end, which is a small comfort. I just hope he knew we were trying to help him.

The Rainbow Bridge Story

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal who has been especially close to someone dies, that pet goes to the Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food and water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

Animals who were ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them from days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one thing: they miss someone very special to them; the person they left behind.

All of the animals run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; his eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to break away from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. Happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together…