20120223: Saying Goodbye to Pancho

Pancho the Horse
1982-2012

23 February 2012: Pancho, a Mustang born in Mexico around 1982, came to us in 1992 as a skinny, skittish horse wearing rebar horseshoes and not wanting anyone to get near his ears. His ears had apparently been used as a "handle" to be lead around with by his former owners.

Nadine nursed Pancho into a fine horse over the years...taking him on many trail rides around the area sharing many adventures.

Our last visit with Pancho was on the afternoon of the 22nd of February, a windy and cold Wednesday...the prelude to hurricane force winds that night. The morning of the 23rd, a Thursday, was greeted with high winds and an additional 8" of snow. Pancho had managed to eat and drink a little overnight, but his liver enzymes remained a problem, were not coming down as they should.

On the 23rd of February, 2012, Pancho, just turned 30, succumbed as a result of an impacted colon and an accompanying bout of colitis. He had been a member of our family for 20 years. He led a good life, was a great pal, and brought much joy into our lives. He "co-authored" our Christmas letters for years. He managed to get our two dogs excited with each visit to our back yard where they could visit with him as he ate unmown grass. His "whinny," greeting us as we visited him at the Hampden Equestrian Center, will never be heard again. He will be missed.

This video was originally intended as a documentary of his experience, his recovery, and all the events that would bring that about. However, it ended up being a memorial video instead. Pancho's last days with us...along with some photos of memorable moments in his life, are all a part of this video.

The original of this video had received 51 visits as this replacement was being uploaded.