Meet Tex
Tex
Arrived 20th June 2012
Passed 5th December 2020
Loving a horse means going through whatever is necessary together and including through having to lay your equine friend to rest. Alan had to put TEX down on December 5, 2020, and TEX was certainly loved. It’s been a bit more than a week ago and it’s been a long one for sure. We want to share Alan’s reflection on TEX’s life and also appreciate that life and caretaking of the rest of the Calan horses must go on with as much kindness, gratitude and positivity that we can gather.
Alan, accompanied by Carol, made the trip to first pick up 17 year-old TEX and bring him to the sanctuary on June 6, 2012. Over the years TEX suffered from a case of what we eventually came to understand as ‘fistulous wither’ and there was very little knowledge about what to do about it. Friends and supporters would offer concerned comments like ‘all the best with this’ and ‘ be thinking of you and your dear horse’ as old TEX’s wither would erupt with a yellow substance of blood and pus as it ran down his shoulders and front legs all the way to his hooves.
It was this time last December 2019, nearly a year ago, that a supporter and equine healer named Jacqui Addison, performed bodywork treatments on old TEX and a few of our other sanctuary horses. “I noticed TEX had a blockage of flow around the withers area and started fascia release treatment throughout his whole body. I was pleased to be advised by Alan that TEX had significantly improved. I treated TEX again in August of 2020 and his response was extremely gratifying. I am very pleased that I was able to provide comfort and relief to a dear old soul.”
In the end, whatever blocks were in old TEX’s body and soul, were too much for him to release. In late November of this year, 2020, he was urinating blood although still enjoyed his tucker. Alan suspected kidney trouble just like Beriah (aka Lightening Jack) and our beloved late Topaz.
Alan found TEX down on the morning of Saturday, December 12, 2020 and it was obvious he was in real trouble and tremendous pain. After multiple attempts to get him standing on all fours, Alan realized it was not possible and that TEX was at the end of his life. TEX became the 12th horse to be buried at Calan Horse Sanctuary. The blessedness comes from understanding that in every way each horse comes with its own history and issues yet despite that, each horse brings so much joy and love amidst their pain and issues. TEX was a model horse, never kicked and remained still for trims and for the dentist who said it was a pleasure to work on him.
Alan gave TEX, as he did the others, a proper soldier’s goodbye- in that he covered TEXs entire head, nose and ears with a chaffe bag and wrapped his soft body in 3 old horse rugs to protect it as much as possible from being dug up at night by wandering and feral animals. Alan’s helpful neighbour Vince assisted him in the burial.
Being the man that Alan is, he takes every passing hard and more so when he has had no options other than to do this deed himself. Yet he wakes up every morning and with a gracious and kind heart, feeds and tends to the needs and nature of each horse here and appreciates the subtle gestures they make toward him. Big Irish the other day gave Alan 50 extra licks to start the day as little Brodie stood by and watched.