[Coreene]

I was going through some old photos today (who knew Yahoo saved all the photos you sent?), and I found this one of Copper and Millie.

Then I realized it was two years ago today that Copper was put to sleep. I can't help but remember, because it's my parents' anniversary.

Before she passed away - Millie died six months before him from the ravages of recurring breast cancer - she had made us promise that no heroics would be entered into vis a vis Copper. She had also, unknown to all of us except the vet, prepaid for him to be cremated.

So that day fateful day two years ago, it became time. You could just tell. And it was a blanket decision: no fannying about trying different crap to keep an almost-35-year-old Thoroughbred going.

This was one of the last photos taken of Copper and Millie together, and I just wanted to share it with you. Well, especially I wanted to share it with Risk-Averse Rider and Mypaintwattie; R-AR being one of the queens of This It Be Right and Wattie now having her beautiful mare Sierra in Copper's stall. Which will, after all, forever be a Special Stall.

Well, I feel like the Trader Joe's commercials now. Thanks for listening.

[Melelio]

Awww, the love just pours out of that photo; thanks for sharing....

[BasqueMom]

Thanks, too, for sharing. I'd like to thank they are together now, young and healthy and exploring new trials....

[Rodeio]

What a gorgeous elderly woman she was! Nice photo Coreene.

[citydog]

Great photo, Coreene.

[Coreene]

She was a real trouper. Forever leaving out carrots for the bunnies, the squirrels etc.

Millie passed just shy of turning 80. When she began riding at 60+, she did hunters but also took polo, saddleseat and dressage lessons. She so wanted Willem to get better so she could finally ride him, and passed without having had the chance to ride Oliver. Well, didn't have the cojones for it either, but it would have looked great, her up on that big black horse.

I miss all three of them today. Miss them very much.

[Chef Jade]

What a beautiful pai. I am sure they are galloping around somewhere in heaven.

[citydog]

*raises a drink to good horses and good friends*

[sketcher]

That's a beautiful photo.

[Home Again Farm]

Beautiful photo of a beautiful woman and her horse. I would like to have known her. I am sure that you miss them tremendously.

[seabreeze]

Perhaps because I read your touching tribute first, it seems to me that you can see loving resignation and contentment in both horse and human gaze.

I'm not too much of a softie, but that one brought a tear to my eye.

Beautiful.

[TBMaggie]

That was beautiful. Sometimes it's overwhelming when a photo evokes so many powerful memories.....
I think the world 'tilts' when those special people/horses leave us...and never spins correctly again.

[FlashGordon]

What a beautiful photo.

Pretty awesome she started riding so late in life-- but then, she looks like someone who had horses in her heart all along...

While I've no doubt you miss the three of them dearly, bet they are up there trading stories and having a great time. Two big chestnuts and a stunning woman now free of this life's limitations.

[BaroquePony]

What a majestic photo. Didn't know either of them, but do know the love for a horse. Thanks for sharing.

[Sugarbrook]

I, also, love the photo (which I have seen before). Lets hope they are together again. I am also not one to cry, but oh gosh, I got all choked up.

[canyonoak]

So that next whisper of a laugh, that next ghost's tickle--it could be Willem--or it could be Millie.

hugs to you, Coreene.

[Quinn]

Coreene, beautiful photo and a beautiful tribute. If ever a picture tells a story.....

xox

http://community.webshots.com/user/ballyduff

[suz]

wow, to even think about starting to ride at sixty---wonderful.

[larosa90]

Thanks for sharing the joy Coreene. We miss the ones deep in our hearts that touch us the most.

[foundationmare]

Peace to you both, Copper and Millie. Hope you are grazing the big, green, lush fields together, which is as it should be.