Lost a friend today.

I'm sad to report that we had to put my beloved horse Adam to sleep today. Adam had been diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat, and even with medication wouldn't have had much time left.

Adam was a grand show horse, a five-gaited horse who was a fireball in the show ring and a lap-dog in the stall. In his retirement the same go-forward attitude that made him such a good show horse made him wonderful trail horse: there was no obstacle he wouldn't bounce over with his ears up and politely chomping at the bit for more - fallen logs, creeks, bridges, steep hills, he did them all without backing an ear. People we met on the trails didn't know what to make of him, racking along with his head and tail up, lifting his legs like he was in the show ring. He lived up to his registered name, Havin' Fun, every time we went out.

I know I made the right decision to let him go before his health failed more, and that he'd had a grand long and pampered life with my family, but I'll still miss him more than words can express.

I'm an Atheist and don't believe in an afterlife, but part of me really hopes that there's a heaven for horses, and that its full of carrots and geraniums for Adam to munch on.