RIP Buddy - SMMI's Sheldon Mustang Mascot

[tireddog]

This is a very sad time for Darla (Strawberry Mountain Mustangs Inc.) Yesterday she lost Buddy to colic. Buddy is the Sheldon Mustang who started it all for her. She honestly does not know how she is going to go on. She needs our love and attention. Please say a prayer for Darla and Buddy. Buddy was truly her first child. He will be so missed.

[quatzie]

I am so Sorry... Darla that you lost your best friend Buddy, our thoughts and prayers are with you.
God Speed

[atticus]

I saw her email today and I am so sad. Buddy was a great horse and Darla's soulmate. Very sad....

[dcsmmi]

Because I can't bear to go to the barn yet - I'm reading instead. Thank you all for the kinds words.

Buddy changed my life. Now it's changed again, and I don't know how to go on the same way. Somewhere I read something about "what it takes to run a rescue". Here you go. It takes sacrifice. Maybe I'm bitter. Maybe just tired. But you sacrifice your time, your money, your own love of your life because you are always stretched too thin. You never have enough time. There's never enough money to buy the BETTER hay, and even though your hay is ok when you get it, you don't have the storage for all you need - and soon it molds. You are so tired most days that you think you've got your horse through that little colic bout - and an hour later - he's down. And too far gone to save. Because you had to go "sit down" for a few. (He was standing calmly and defecating when I left him.) He was only 5 years old, and we had a bond like no other.

He would come to me through a crowd (people or horses) off line - if I simply put my hand up. We worked at liberty alot - no ropes - he just stuck to me. He felt he needed to protect me from other people and horses - and would often position himself between us and them. I miss him so much.










This is the hardest thing I've ever had to write. Please bear with me
if some of it kind of rambles or is hard for you to understand. I just
lost my best friend.

I lost my boy today, my Buddy. The one in a million horse of your
dreams, although some would have said he's "only" a mustang. He was a
mutt, a Heinz 57, a palomino with a dirty sorrel tail and not so
perfect conformation, but was the horse that changed my life. He was
perfect to me. As I write this now, it hurts so much that I don't know
how I will go on.

Buddy came from the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge as a foal. He was
the first wild horse I gentled, and later, started under saddle. Buddy
turned out to be bombproof - and I often told people about giving
riding lessons on him to tiny kids and full grown men who would often
end up on the ground under his belly. Buddy was patient and kind to
all of them.

Buddy was the REASON for the attention on the things happening at
Sheldon. HE was the reason the people finally started listening. I
hope he saved many lives. I know he saved mine. He taught me what
true passion was. He showed me there was more to life than just a
"job" - day in and day out - working only for a pay check. Unless you
have known that kind of passion you will have no idea what I'm talking
about now.

Buddy saved lives through the creation of Strawberry Mountain Mustangs.
He made me aware of the "underdog" - the horses that are not
protected, and those that are beaten, abused and neglected. And he put
up with me giving them all of my attention. Bumping him from pasture
to pasture to make room for one more.

Buddy was recently featured on the news - KVAL - and they may still
have the link there on their website. It was for the Meet A Mustang
event in Cottage Grove on Saturday the 25th. People there were amazed
at his size, his affection, his kindness. He lowered his head and held
it there for a small girl - maybe 4 yrs old to pet him. He gave an
even younger boy a ride. He was also featured in the News Review - and
I think you can still find the article if you search their site for
Strawberry Mountain Mustangs.

Buddy was the horse that changed my life. Losing him hurts so much
right now that I don't know what I will ever do. As I write this, he
is being buried on our property. I feel like a failure because I can't
be with him. I can't watch the heavy equipment move my sweet golden
boy from the trailer. Unless you have felt that kind of love, you
probably have no idea what I'm saying - but I can tell you it's the
worst pain I have ever felt.

Please, give your horse a kiss tonight. They can be lost so fast...
colic killed Buddy today in a very short time. I keep replaying the
horrible images in my mind, trying to think of what I did wrong, how I
could have prevented it.

I hope that Buddy changed a few lives.. maybe the people he visited at
Rose Haven Assisted Living Center, maybe people who never thought they
could gentle a wild one - but tried and succeeded because of him, maybe
people who met him here and got that famous Buddy lick. Please say a
prayer for him today.

I will be off email for a while. It will take me some time before I
can return calls or emails.

Darla

[jessiegirl1981]

Much love your way

[barbpurple]

so sorry to hear about buddy lost of your love is hard to bear no matter how...sending all my love from all my palominos to your heart.. rip buddy running free

[paintedlady]

OhDarla My heart breaks for you. My tears are falling for you and Sweet Buddy. Bless you both. He has done alot of good for all who knew him. I know this just by reading your message. You were his angel and he was your life. What a gift for both of you. Take care. RIP Sweet Boy. Darla, you are a true angel to ALL the horses PL

[Admin]

We are all so sorry for your great loss Darla. His legacy will live on.

You are in our thoughts and prayers

[piopico]

God bless, Darla. You 2 had a very special relationship and it WILL take a long time to recover. But you have many, many friends here who are thinking of you today and sending wishes your way.

[cybercat]

Darla, we're ready to talk whenever you want...take all the time you need...

[kidznhorses]

Darla, words cannot express how sorry I am that you have lost your dear Buddy. Praying for you.

[halfwayhome]

Darla, my heart goes out to you and I am more sorry than you can know about the loss of your beloved Buddy. Please know that you have many friends you have never met thinking of your and wishing you strength and peace in this time.

[djrepp]

RIP Buddy. Darla, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

[swissgrl]

Darla, I'm so sorry that you lost your wonderful boy! My thoughts are with you!
Only time can heal, take all the time you need, but know we all are here for you, and feel for you.
RIP sweet face!

[lauras]

I am so sorry...
I often feel that guilt about not being able to "get the best" or spend more time with my Belle. She is a "good for nothing" that changed my life. I bring in the wildlife babies and goats... other horses take my time and I can't buy her the treats she likes... and I know my time with her is finite.
But I will spend time on the key board spreading the word about slaughter or my latest mission "Passion." It will be late... sometimes after midnight before I can sit and scratch her sweet neck.
BUt she looks at me and she knows what I'm trying to do. She changed me for a reason and she forgives every scratch not given...
Buddy changed you so you could change others. He knows how commited in your love you are that is why he would protect you... somebody had to 'cause you spend your time protecting others...
Your pain is from the depth of your love... so is your strength. YOu will reach other souls... horses and people and Buddy will be so proud of you when you see him again...
Big hug and I know all this dosen't help much now...
So sorry.

[apache]

(((((((hugs)))))))

Words mean nothing now, I know. My heart aches still for the horse I began my rescue in honor of. It does not get easier, his spirit flows through your veins. You are one now...on earth. In heaven you will be two and be able to walk together for eternity. I will name our next "save" in his honor...Buddy lives on. Obviously he was bigger than life. Your sorrow is felt across the country. My prayers are with you and I already prayed for him.

[hytyme]

We were just smiling about Buddy making his media debut, and what a great ambassador for rescues and mustangs he was....Now this.....Words cannot express how sorry we are.

[wendyp]

Darla,

So sorry for your loss..........

WendyP/Bend, OR

[lorsadoon]

I am so sorry for the loss of your horse Buddy.
I know that most of us have had that "one special" horse, that has touched our soul like no other one ever will. I had one, so I know the pain you are feeling over this loss. Time will make it a little better. But it will weigh heavy on your heart for a long time.
Take care, go ahead and cry. We will cry with you.
Laurie

[leosolis]

I am so very sorry that you have lost a very special horse. I completely understand, I lost "Spendy" on the 18th of August in a tragic accident. If you need someone to listen, please feel free to contact me. Time hasn't made it any better for me, but it has made it more bearable. I am truly sorry for your loss.
Shawna

[buddee86]

I am so sorry for your loss. Just know that many thoughts and well wishes are being sent your way. Your horse may be gone from this world but he will live on through your wonderful memories.

www.hoofbeats-in-heaven.com/praise/Just_A_Horse/

[penny/pals]

Darla I'm sooo sorry for your loss I have shed many tiers for you and your Buddy. There is nothing I can say but my prayers are with you and Buddy.

[April]

I'm so very, very sorry Darla. You have brought back a flood of memories for me. Just over a year ago I lost Frankie to colic. He died on the operating table. I was depressed for weeks, I could barely eat, I cried myself to sleep. I blamed myself too. The day before he got sick, I was riding him, I should have known something was up. I could have walked him more, I could have found a way to get him to surgery quicker....

We were having such fun together too. The kind that feels like it will last forever. Like, the I'm going to have this horse forever kind of love. People were always making fun of him for his gigantic head and weaving on the trail. I loved him so much.

I somehow found a way, though right now I don't know how, to let him go. I still think that in some way he helped me find Bandit....

Please know that you are in my thoughts, and I have cried for you and Buddy today.

[sundancer]

I am so sorry for your loss of your very special friend and horse.

[Tate]

I'm sorry for your loss of Buddy, I know how devastating the loss of a beloved horse can be. Buddy's spirit will always remain with you, tucked away in the pocket of your heart where love stays.

[countrygirl]

Darla, I am so sorry to hear about Buddy. I know what a terrible loss you feel right now. My thoughts are with you and Buddy. You are obviously a very special person and I hope that you can find comfort in the days and weeks ahead.

[sunlightslady]

I am so sorry for your loss.... My thoughts and prayer are with you

[ljbrooks]

Darla, what a hard, horrible time for you. I will pray for you and your rescue, for it's present and future. You will go on, and it will be dreadful for a long time. I so, so wish I could help with the pain of your loss. We will continue to think of Buddy and his gorgeous self. Hugs coming your way...

[beejoyfulmk]

we are all here for you to lean on, you are greatly loved and cared about. Hugs to you and your family.

[tfrancis]

Darla is having a terrible time with Buddy's passing and is needing to take a break from rescuing.

What I thought would be nice, is if anyone interested could make a donation to her rescue in Buddy's honor. This will help with any expenses she has and help to take a worry off her shoulders during her grieving. Just a thought.

Maybe we could even get a collection together to purchase a marker for Buddy.