My sweet Harley

Well, I have to tell you all about Harley. He was a 20 year old TB gelding (past racer) who was surrendered to me by a woman who couldnt afford him. Actually the story is that she had him about 10 years ago and then let him go to a family with an autistic boy who rode him. They had him for years. Then the husband died and the wife didnt know how to care for Harley and his companion. He ended up getting pretty skinny. The woman who had him before got wind about Harley and took him back and actually got some good weight on him even though he needed more. He had a back leg injury which took some care from her and our vet (we both have the same vet). She then lost her job and then contacted me to see if I could take him. Funny thing is- I was pretty full up but this woman and I both do rescue work and she needed to find him a home. 1 month later, I got Baby Breeze back from his owners and I might have said no to Harley if I knew I was getting Breeze back. Sometimes I do believe in fate. So in the winter of 2008 I got Harley. He had a wonderful calm about him. He was also very tall. 16.2 hands. He was a bay and just wanted to do his own thing. He wasnt all that close to the horses but he liked to be around them. The next year after the winter, Harley got to have the lawn to himself to eat at his leisure. But the boy just couldnt get over 1075 pounds. He really needed at least another 100 pounds if not 150 pounds put on! But i just couldnt get it on him. He ate, he ate like a pig! But anything like weight builders and other stuff - he wouldnt eat it. He just liked his sweet feed and senior feed along with grass and hay. I spent hundreds of dollars and had people donate tons of stuff to try to add or just feed separately to him. He never ate it. I guess I could have just left it there for when he got really hungry to eat it, but I couldnt do that to him. He couldnt go without even one feeding in my book! And he was happy, not in pain although he had some pretty mild to advanced arthritis in his back hips. But he loved his life i think! Jean, my vet came out and did blood work on him, all normal. Fecal was done, teeth good, all normal. He loved carrots, didnt like apples much. But i just couldnt get him over that 1075 mark! I got called in to the Iowa County Humane officer about him this year. She came out and i explained about him, she called my vet and she knew everything that could be done with Harley was being done. First time anyone has ever called me in. Any time someone comes over, I make sure to explain about Harley so they know that he isnt being neglected. But someone called me in. I guess I shouldnt have been so upset, but i was. But i guess i would rather people call in about horses that they are worried about than not. I have called authorities myself. But only after I have spoken to the owners. Most times its just a matter of education, sometimes not. Anyways, that part was taken care of.
Since i had to move, i was worried about my Harley. He was just too unstable to take a trip, even 7 miles up the road! I also knew that Harley wasnt going to be able to take another winter so I wanted him to have a great summer doing what he wanted. He was so spoiled, he would knock into people to make them pet him! He would go wherever, whenever he wanted. I feel bad that I couldnt take him, but he also wouldnt have been able to get his normal feeding in with the other horses. I couldnt chance him to get knocked over by running horses. So I made the decision to put him down the week after the other horses left. He was with me at my old house for a week by himself. I was also worried that he would have a big fit that he didnt have the other horses, but he went on like normal. We had a great week together, he got probably way more grain, way more carrots than any horse should. And still he had not gained any more weight. But he loved the time we had together. Jean came out to help me with Harley on June 23, 2010. I had the tough time, Harley did not. It was very peaceful. Jean even commented on how it went. I dont want to say it went smooth or well, because those arent the right terms or words. I think Harley was ready. I wasnt ready, but I am never ready to put a horse down. Harley just knew. And he was a great boy. Totally different than any horse i have had. He was a beautiful boy. I loved him so.