Most of the photos here at Rabbit Run Cottage
can be enlarged just by clicking on each one!
There you go...see? Easy!

Thursday, January 17, 2008

A Horse *With* A Name...

...Beau. His name was Beau. He was old with a sway back and not much use for farm work anymore. Still his owners loved him, as much for his gentle disposition as for the devotion he had shown them over the years. The old farm was sold off, a bit here, a piece there until it was almost entirely surrounded by roads and businesses. The family moved on leaving this old barn behind. Now old Beau was a creature of habit. The new barn just did not feel quite right. Oh, it smelled better and was a lot less drafty but it did not feel like home. Of course, living out on the new land meant he would not be able to watch the streams of cars that passed each day, some which held passengers that waved and shouted a friendly hello. Oh and how he missed the children from the near by Day Care Center. On nice days, group of giggling boys and girls would venture out to visit, always bringing a carrot, an apple and little hands that scratched where it itched. Nope, this new place was just not home. So Beau pined. He sulked. He refused to eat. In a desperate attempt to appease the old horse, his owners brought him back to the ramshackle barn on the corner of the busy intersection. Beau came back to life! He ate like a...a...well, a horse! He whinnied at passing cars. He gleefully trotted up to the fence when his friends came to call. He was happy. When it began to get dark, or when the skies threatened rain, Beau pushed the door to the barn aside with his nose and went into his stall. At night the owners came to visit and tuck him in, well, so to speak. Each morning they came to unlock the barn and bring the old horse his breakfast. Beau was happy. He was content. He was loved. One late November morning the owners came to unlock the barn door and Beau did not greet them. The old man had died in his sleep. He was laying on the sweet smelling hay surrounded by the home he loved so much. The owners told how it looked as if he was smiling. It was mid December and getting quite cold. Snow flakes were beginning to fall, mixed with icy pellets that bounced off the hood of my car and tapped at the windows. The over cast gloom matched my gray mood. I had enjoyed seeing Beau as I passed by his corner. He always lifted my spirits and I was now dreading the sight of that empty field. The lonely barn. I began to cry in anticipation of it. Then something caught my eye. There, flapping in the winter wind, were Christmas bows. 20 or 30 of them. Red, green, silver, gold. Bows of every size and shape tied to the fence. Beau's fence. The children, the sweet children from the Day Care Center had wanted to do something to remember their friend. Bows for Beau. Such a sweet and innocent gesture. The next morning there were 20 or 30 more. That evening, another 10. The next day 30 more appeared. Soon the rickety old fence would be covered in holiday finery. Bows for Beau. There were notes and children's drawings. Photographs and stuffed horses. It was a precious memorial for a horse that had come to mean so much to so many. You may be surprised at what can bring a community together. Sometimes all that is needed is the love of an animal. The love of a horse named Beau.

25 comments:

Rosie's Whimsy said...

What a bitter sweet story. My eyes are filled with tears. Our beloved 4 legged friends....large and small....leave a hole in our lives when they go........

Blessings to you...........Rosie

Donna said...

Oh my, that is SO sad. I am crying. Sweet Beau. What a wonderful story.
Hugs,
Donna

Janet said...

What an awesome story and beautifully written, I might add. brought a tear to these eyes.

Janet

Andi said...

What a lovely story. There was no place like home to Beau too.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Ok, now I am sobbing.....what a bitter sweet story! It is amazing how a gentle creature like Beau can win hundreds of hearts....
Hugs,
Penny

Gretchen said...

So poignant. So touching. I hope Beau found happiness over that rainbow bridge. Bless his owners' hearts for letting him die at "home".

Rosemary said...

How sweet! I loved that story. So sad, but sweet at the same time.
Thanks for sharing that one with us
Susie.
Have a nice night,
Rosemary

Carole Burant said...

I so loved reading the story of Beau...the fence must have looked awesome with all those bows on it! Animals certainly do leave a mark on our hearts. Beau will be missed by all who knew him but think of all the lives he touched:-) xoxo

Justabeachkat said...

Oh, what a sweet yet sad story! At least sweet Beau was "home" when he died. How sweet that the children remember him in that way.

Hugs!
Kat

LivingTheLife said...

Ok...THAT was a beautifully written story. I loved it...of course I've cried a tear or two...but it was really a lovely story...and "Bows for Beau"...gotta love that little touch of sweetness!

NOW...where the "heck" have I been that I have missed all the "hoopla"....geez...I don't know how I did that...b/c I try and read every new thing my "buddies in blogland" post...everyday...if possible...I guess I just got side-tracked and left in the dust...I must say...it sure was fun as heck catching up, though! You have such a way w/words...and ranting or not...I always LOVE what you have to say...AND you have the right to say it!

Thanks for stopping by my site...today...and asking about my hand...it's certainly still sore...but on the mend....NOW...how's your head after bumping it on the wall???

Blessings...
Teresa

P.S. George called and he's thinking about going to the Riveria soon...where bathing suits are optional...thought I would share that w/you...it can be our little secret!

Terri said...

What a sad, sweet story.

Alice said...

That we all could live out our lives exactly the way that pleases us most. Happy trails, Beau!

Sandi McBride said...

too beautiful...can't comment much, tears you know...please a picture of Beau's bows...
hugs
Sandi

oh, a little tag at my place...

PAT said...

Beautiful post Sue!! Beau lived a full and happy life and died where he had been happiest! He brought joy!

Loved this!! Pat

Deb said...

What an amazing story Susie - so beautifully written. Beautiful Beau.

BittersweetPunkin said...

That tugged at my heart...tears and coffee this morning. You wrote it so wonderfully too....
Hugs
Robin

Sheila said...

What a sweet, but sad story. (tears here). You have a wonderful way with stories. You write beautifully.

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness!! What an inspirational horse story!!
Thanks so much for sharing this!

Meggie said...

What a sweet, precious story. Thanks for telling it so beautifully, as always.

Sheila said...

This is a lovely account of Beau's final days. I'm glad his owners let him go back to the old barn, so he could live out his days in a place where he was happy.
Thanks for sharing his story Sue.
xx

Kari (GrannySkywalker) said...

Gosh - you even brought a grumpy old broad like myself to tears. What a sweet, sweet story. It truly touched me.

Pamela said...

now that is a wonderful post. wonderful.

Dawn Bibbs said...

Awww, what a nice story. Sad, but still very nice. Wow, you're such a great writer.

It seems that Beau will be very missed. Amazing how animals can do that to us, huh? You know, make us love them so much...and they never "say' a word.

Very sweet. Thanks for sharing.

angelsamoungus said...

What a great story. I just read it after our dinner date. We may all have cried together if I had read it sooner :)

Love you guys
Terri

Unknown said...

Oh goodness... that is a beautiful story.. our family adores horses. Beau sounds like he was a blessing for sure!