Rest in Peace, special friend!

Sid, you will be in my heart and soul forever! You were loved and cared for deeply. thank you for what you have taught me.

Sincerely,
Darla

A Sad Day!

Sid is now "in greener pastures". Sid was put to sleep today around noon. Sid was diagnosed with a very bad heart murmur and possible heart disease. He had continued to lose weight despite his great appetite. Due to the slower blood flow affecting him, his body would not allow him to absorb the needed nutrition to keep weight on.

Sid was surrounded by those who loved him at the end. Sid was a special boy who taught me a great deal. Thank you sid!

I do have to keep telling myself that at least he didn't have to make that "awful trip to Mexico" and end up at the slaughter plant. He was only with us a short time, but he had touched the lives of many around him. Rest in Peace my special old soul! You will always be remembered for the great horse you were!

Sid

Well, Sid is really fitting into the family. He has started to nicker at me when he hears me come out the back door. He has a soft, low nicker..how cute!
I have completely "fell" for this ol' boy! He is such a gentleman.

Sid is getting along great with the two other "boys". I put him in the pasture with my two Arab geldings, Magic and Que. They get along great except feeding times..but we work that out!:)

I am so happy that Sid has came into our lives!

New Pictures of Sid

Here is the newest pictures of Sid...taken July 20th, 2008. I have noticed some growth, but I am hoping that he will continue to thrive..and gain weight! I guess I am was just thinking he would gain faster than he has...but I guess it all takes time. He continues to be fed three times a day...3x a day he gets Alfalfa hay (great quality stuff), and then I also feed him some Orchard grass pellets (Standlee Company) topped with a half of scoop of "Cool Calories". I will be adding some Bran Oil to his feed to help his coat to become shinier...plus I have heard that there was other benefits of adding Bran Oil to their feed. I will gradually add this as to not upset his tummy.

Thanks for reading about Sid. I have learned a great deal of things with him. He is now beginning to show that he trusts me and will allow me to walk right up to him in the pasture without showing any fear or flinching. His nickname now is "Mr. Sidney"....among others as Pumpkin and Sweetie! He is so great.

Sid...one month later

Well, Sid has been here for a month now. He continues to thrive and has a great appetite. He greets me at the fence each feeding, and waits patiently as the other boys get theirs first. I have moved him with my Arabs and getting along great, other than he is at the "bottom" of the ladder. He is patient and kind to the other horses. Magic and Que have seemed to accept him, other than feeding time..and they have to have theirs first or else they will chase him away and eat his food. We have adapted to that though!! :)

Sid has began to trust me more and more with grooming him. At first, he wasn't too sure about how to "take" it. He was a bit nervous about someone fawning over him. But he is more relaxed and knows that I would never harm him! He even lets me come out to the pasture and brush him out ..and he loves it! I have even done this without a halter or rope. He is such a kind, gentle old soul! I love his whole demeanor.
I can tell that he wasn't used to a lot of grooming so it has taken time.
I will take more pictures and post soon!!

A week in..and Sid is doing great!

Well, yesterday was a week that I have had Sid now. He continues to do great! I have him on Alfalfa grass hay. The morning he gets Orchard Grass pellets with 1/2 dose of "Cool Calories" on top. And now at night I have been giving him some sweet cob grain with the other 1/2 dose of Cool Calories on top. He has done great with this. I can't see much of a difference in his weight yet..but my neighbor seems to think he has picked some weight up since i have brought him home.

The missing patches of hair that was along his backbone is filling in great. I brush him out everytime I bring him to the yard..which is just about everyday. I think this has helped with the hair filling in.

Sid still is cautious of me "loving" on him. It is like he is not used to having someone show him much affection. He seems to really keep an eye on me as I go around his body to brush...it isn't like he is scared..just cautios. I have noticed that quicker movements make him nervous..but I was told that if he had been used as a roping horse, he could be not liking the fast moves, since he was so used to "getting" back quickly when he was roping a calf (or cow!). He does continue to show trust in me, which I will never break that! He is coming along really great! I am going to take more pictures and p0st soon!

PS: Next Wednesday is his vet check! I hope all is good with Sid!~

Sid's is here!

We went to Shawna's ranch yesterday and picked Sid up. WOW, he is a gorgeous boy! I came with my neighbor, Larry, who had a two-horse straightload trailer. The wind was blowing and making the doors "wiggle". At first Sid was a little skiddish about getting into the trailer, but with a little sweet talk and a cup of yummy treats, he hopped right in. What a good boy!
The ride home was about an hour and half long. We stopped twice to pull over and peek in at Sid. He seemed quite content and relaxed.
We got home. I opened up the doors to back Sid out and he wasn't too sure about backing out of the trailer..he tried to peer around to see if he could turn and come out. I talked him slowly and we waited patiently for him...he got the hang of it and stepped right out..what a trooper!

Sid did very well overnight. He wasn't too sure why he couldn't be with the other horses since he could see them from his side of the pasture. We "discussed" this and I am sure he knows that he has to get strong and feeling better before meeting his new "brothers".

Today I brought Sid up into the yard for some "luvin". I spent most of the day out brushing him and just "hanging out" with him. Late this afternoon, I decided to see how he did with the saddle. I saddled him using our light saddle and he didn't seem to mind at all. I hopped on him and we walked around the yard a few minutes. I decided to see how he did down the dirt road so we walked out and he really seemed happy to be riding again. He had perked up ears and a "spring" in his step...he was a dream to ride. He seems to have been really trained well. He knew all of his leg ques and worked off of leg pressure. What a good boy!
After we got back from our little "neighborhood" ride, I unsaddled him, brushed him out and we hung out in the lawn - eating the sweet little alfalfa buttons...he was in heaven.

There is something very special about this "old" boy...he has found his forever home! Thanks to all of the SOS Equine Rescue board members who made this possible for me to bring him home...I love him!