My horse, Bear, came to me as a 13 year old with a terrible past. I didn't know this until my vet looked him over. He had horrible issues from previous abuse. But I loved him instantly. He was to be the horse for me to start using in rodeos. But after learning of his former abuse, I chose to retire him. He was only ridden my me when I went out to the pasture to catch him. I would hop up on him and ride him bareback with only a halter. He was such a sweet horse. He never lost his desire to be loved and trust humans. He loved anyone who came near him and gave him an ounce of attention. When under saddle for a brief time, he was ready to go and I spent hours trying to get him to stand still for me when I was ready to climb aboard. That never worked! He was always ready to "get going". Once fully retired, at least from heavy riding, I could put small children on him bareback and he took such care of them. It was like he "knew" they were inexperienced and so he took special care to make sure that they felt comfortable. He was truly a king amongst horses. He loved to follow me in the pasture when I was looking for something. All of a sudden, I would feel this "nudge" in my back to let me know he had seen me and was coming along for the journey. We would play "tag" too. I would chase him and "tag" him. Then turn to run and he would run up behind me and "tag" me and turn with a swish of his tail for the game to continue. He as never sick a day in the 14 years I had him. I thought he would live to be 35 to 40 years old. On September 16, 2005, I got a call at work from my vet. She was out at the barn and treating him for colic. I left work immediately and flew out to the barn. Sweet Bear was laying down. It took a lot of work to get him on his feet again. I walked and walked and walked him. A second vet was summoned and he treated Bear with pain killers and we hoped for a turnaround. The following day, September 17, 2005, I was at the barn by 7 a.m. Bear was up and eating. Yea!!! I went home and came back in the early afternoon with high hopes that all was well. He was standing then but when I walked up to him, I saw the depression in the grass and knew he had been laying down a lot. He just didn't have that "spark" in his eyes anymore. I knew it was time. I called my vet to come out and check him for what turned out to be the last time. He was deteriorating quickly. She said he was less than an hour away from going into toxic shock. I looked at my Dad and started to cry as I knew the only thing left to do for him was to ease him into a gentle sleep and send him to the Bridge. He passed gently at 2:20 pm that afternoon. Against all city regulations, we had him buried in HIS pasture. He was the best horse I ever had and the BEST one I have ever known. Such a gentle, sweet soul. How I wish he were still with me but I know that God needed a new steed in Heaven and HE picked Bear to join the rest. Bear is forever loved and missed by all who knew him. But, most of all, he is loved and missed by me...the lucky one who was able, for a brief period in time, to have the love of a wonderful horse named Bear. I love you, my Brown Bomber! Mom