Today’s not a great day. Not for me, anyway. Soon the Veterinarian will arrive and assist the last of my horses to a better place where there is no more pain and suffering.

Sending my animals off to heaven is one of the hardest things I have to do. If it wasn’t, I’d have no business bringing them into my life. But I’m glad to have known every one of the many I have loved and cared for over the years, and I’m honored to have been loved by them — always heart-broken to let them go.

Today Jack Daniels and I spent the early morning hours together beneath the trees. He’s almost 30-years-old and suffers from arthritis that came from working hard on a ranch for most of his life. When they were finished with him, I was lucky to adopt him and we meandered many easy trails together for the next twelve years. His last year was spent with no demands but to be a horse hanging out and grazing among other senior horses who loved his company. I’m glad I could give him that.

Farewell, sweet boy.