by Lorraine Nogle
Rosie was a beautiful quarter horse, whose eyes and heart were filled with love. She came into my sons life when he was struggling with an alcohol problem. As he struggled to stay sober she accepted him each day for exactly how he was and she gave him a reason to try to stay sober. The love and bond grew between them. After owning her while Rosie developed a bone disease and could no longer be ridden. My son tried everything possible for her and got to a point where he no longer rode her because he knew it would shorten her life. Knowing her time was short he decided to breed her and a baby horse was born. Unforuately it was born blind and with retardation due to the genetics of the father. The baby horse, he named Faith, had to be destroyed at about a week. By this time my son was a recovering alocholic and this was truly a test for him and for Rosie. They reached out to each other once again and healed as best they could. He decided once more to breed her, wanting so much to have a piece of her left behind. A year later, a beautiful filly, named Stormy, was born in a rainstorm. Hence the name. Oh what a gift she was. We all watched Rosie as she mothered this bundle of energy that looked, thank goodness, just like her mother. A year passed, the baby grew bigger and Rosie grew worse. Soon the decision had to be made to let Rosie go. With love my son made the only decision he could. After lots of tears, phone calls and talks with his vet the day arrived. Even the vet cried as Rosie said her last goodbyes to us all. He soon moved the baby from that farm for we all saw her standing there every time we went. She no longer is with us in body but oh her spirt and a beautiful baby horse lives on. Stormy looks just like mom, has her eyes of love and her heart. My son will teach her to love and trust just as Rosie did. He will teach her not to be afraid of her owner or the world. He will touch her with love and dignity. She will not be just his horse, she will forever be part of Rosie. The best friend he ever had. As his mother I thank Rosie for helping him heal and become the man he has. She will live in my heart too. I know that he made the only decision he could but his heart still hurts. One day, he told me he wished he knew that she forgave him. Rosie's life was complete, even though short. And she will live on forever. Someday, maybe my son will get to ride Rosie again in heaven, where she no longer has pain and her eyes of love tell him that she forgave. We miss you Rosie, thank you for your life and thank you for Stormy, a wonderful gift.