Loving Memory

GEORGIE
Arrived at Triple "L" Horse Rescue
September 3, 2006

easterlily

Crossed the Rainbow Bridge
October 19, 2007
3 Year Old Quarter Horse

We said goodbye to Georgie today (10/19/2007) and let him cross the rainbow bridge. The last couple days had been extremely hard on the poor boy. His leg was getting worse and he didn't want to walk. We had his feet done yesterday and it pained him more than usual so later in the day our vet and his partner (equine vet) came out to evaluate Georgie.It was time. Arrangements would be made and we would say goodbye to a wonderful, loving horse.

I spent the last couple hours with Georgie and he would not leave my side. He would push up against me, nuzzle me and he decided that my shoe would taste good. He took a bite but I think he found out that it didn't taste so good after all. Around 2:30 today my vet showed up to pick him up. I led him through the pasture, he did pretty good, but at times got stubborn and wouldn't move. When I got him to the trailer he loaded without any hesitation. Maybe he knew, I don't know. But tears were in his eyes as we walked. I hugged him and kissed him, told him I loved him and I would see him again. It was the hardest thing I have done but I know the time was right for him. He will run again and play again. He will never feel pain again.

Georgie: You are out of pain. You are free to run and play in the fields again. God has healed your leg. You are very much loved here on earth, but we know you were only given to us for a short time. This last year with you has been a blessing. You will forever be in my heart. I love you and will miss you dearly - Thank you for being a part of our lives. God Bless You! ~ Sherry ~

From Sherry's Husband, Dave
Georgie was gallant to the end. He instantly became my Favorite horse the day Sherry welcomed him to her Rescue. He amazed me at his zest for life and it seemed that his leg did not slow him down at all. However in the end, the leg was starting to take a toll. I believe he knew that his time was near and Georgie also knew that his loving mistress Sherry would take care of him until his time. She loved him very much. My wife is a special person and she cares so much for her "babies". Please take a moment to reflect on how God gives us these caring people like my wife and be thankful that we have her in our world. I am extremely lucky and grateful to have her as my wife. ~ David ~

Crossed the Rainbow Bridge
April 27, 2008
38 Year Old Welsh/Shetland Pony

Jocko came to TLHR September 2005 at the age of 35, he was our first and became one of the family from the very start. You couldn't help but love him and want to just cuddle up with him. Jocko was a Welsh/Shetland pony.

The years caught up to him rather quickly, he had arthritis which made it difficult for him to walk at times. He loved his little pasture, and he loved Grace. Grace spent the last year with Jocko and she took wonderful care of him. She would walk around the pasture and Jocko would follow, if she thought he needed to eat, she would nudge him and he would listen. Wherever you seen Grace you seen Jocko and visa versa. It was like watching mommy with her little boy.

The last month was very hard for Jocko, he wouldn't feel much like eating, he lost weight and we just couldn't get it back on him. Jocko wouldn't even eat his oatmeal cookies, he loved them so much and for him not to want them you knew he wasn't feeling good. When we had our vet come out, he said that it was time. We knew it was, but we were still hoping that maybe we wouldn't have to do it.

Our vet picked up Jocko and took him to a nice farm to be buried at. Upon loading him into the trailer Grace ran full speed around the pasture only 1 time - as if she was doing it for Jocko. I think it was her way of telling him goodbye and that he would soon run again himself.

I am sure Jocko was met at the gate by Georgie. Georgie will show him around, introduce him to all the other horses that all of us have lost. And Jocko will again be able to eat anything he wants and he will be able to run and play again.

Jocko: I love you so very much and it broke my heart to have to let you go. I know it was for the best and your time to go. I can't be selfish, that's not why I chose this path in life. I thank God for lending you to me to care for you and to love you for 3 wonderful years. Until we see each other again. I love you!
~ Your Earth Mommy ~

For Jocko
From David (Sherry's Husband)

As I tried to comfort Sherry, watching the trailer slowly going down our driveway carrying her beloved Jocko toward his final resting place, I found tears also running down my face. We watched Grace run one final lap for him for all of the laps that he followed her in his slow walk of his. I thought about how this wonderful Woman, my wife, who blended, and pretty much hand-fed this pony twice a day, every day, for almost three years, could have a heart this huge, and still have the courage to let him go when it was time. She is truly an amazing woman and I believe God picked the right person to handle this kind of work for Him.

Though I do not know about his former life before coming to us, I do know that his last couple years, he got to be a real pony. He was the first Horse our Grandson sat on, he was able to have his own pasture, his own pasture mate (Grace), and a Mistress who loved him dearly and took care of him until the end.
Thanks Jocko, you will be in our hearts forever. ~ David ~

SALLY BELLE
Arrived at Triple "L" Horse Rescue
May 10, 2008

easterlily

Crossed the Rainbow Bridge
November 15, 2008
20+ Quarter Horse

We had just said our goodbyes to our beloved Jocko a couple weeks before we rescued Sally, I never thought that I would bring another horse in to the rescue so soon. Saying goodbye to Jocko was the hardest thing I had ever done and I felt like I was in mourning, but being in the rescue business it goes with the job. You have to take the good with the bad, thank God there are more good days than bad.

On Friday, May 9th I could not shake the feeling that I had to go to the horse auction in Hazelhurst, Georgia. Whenever I go to the auction I always walk around and look at all the horses, write down the numbers of the ones that may need me then go sit and wait. At the time that I walked around, Sally Belle was not one that had arrived yet so her number was not on my list. One by one they came in, the few numbers that I had written down came and went, bids were to high and I noticed that they did go to homes, not to the meat buyers. Then in came Sally Belle, not her name at that time, she was just #9. She looked so sad coming into the arena, who would want her, no family would. But I did! This is what we do! We take the starving, neglected, abused and the unwanted. Her bidding started at $300, I waited. Then it was $100, $75, $50, then finally $30. The auctioneer said "Come on people, I said $30.00 not $300. I raised my bidder number, was acknowledged and no one bid against me. She was ours, she was coming home to TLHR. That is when I knew "why" I had to go to the auction. God works in mysterious ways and He was not letting up on making me go. Thank you God - for making me go and for giving her to us - if only for a short time.

My husband and I drove back out to Hazelhurst on Saturday, May 10th to bring our new baby home. David had no idea what she looked like, only that she was severely underweight. Once we got there and David seen her he immediately understood why I had to get her. I told Dave I didn't know what to call her, but I knew something would come to mind. Well leave it to hubby to come through. He said "She looks like a Sally to me". I agreed, she certainly did. We both thought of "Belle", after "Eight Belles" from the Kentucky Derby. I cried that day, I think all horse lovers and rescues did and that was our way of paying a tribute to her. So we loaded our Sally Belle on the trailer and headed home. We were so worried about her, worried that she wouldn't do good on a 2 hour drive. We pulled over several times on the way home just to check her. She did great, she might have known she was going someplace that was safe and loving.

Once home I weighed her and found out she only weighed 632 pounds. Poor little girl, who could do such a terrible thing to one of God's beautiful creatures. We had her vet checked, feet done, worming regimen and put her on her feed regimen. Sally was doing great, the time November came she had gained 85 pounds. Not as much as I had hoped but she was gaining. It would take her a long time to gain the weight that she needed to, she was over 20 (per the auction), I believe closer to 30 if not over.

We didn't get the chance to get Sally Belle to her desired weight. We didn't get the chance to see what she would have looked like. But we did get a chance to love her, spoil her, watch her as she got stronger and took her first run around the pasture. We did get to hear her make her first whinny after months of being here. And we have memories. She was a beautiful and loving horse. She fought hard to live, but her body just couldn't do it any longer. Circulation had stopped and organs were shutting down, we had to do what was best for her. We all miss her deeply and loved her with all our hearts. She is now happy, healthy and running free. We'll see each other again. "Sally, I love you! And I miss you everyday! Run free and be happy Baby Girl."

TAG
Arrived at Triple "L" Horse Rescue
December 6, 2008

easterlily

Crossed the Rainbow Bridge
December 17, 2008
35 year old Quarter Horse

TLHR did not have Tag for very long but we fell in love with him instantly. He loved attention, loved his buddy Jumper and loved getting treats, especially pears.

Tag had a hard time getting around due to his arthritis. Whenever he walked you could hear his legs creak so we put him on bute twice a day. It seemed to help him quite a bit, he moved around more easily and seemed to be comfortable.

There were days when Tag would lay down but he would be back up within an hour. Not so on December 17th, he laid down and an hour later he was still down. I tried to get him up, talked to him trying to coax him up - he would try but just couldn't do it. My heart broke as I watched him trying to do what his new master wanted of him. I sat beside him, rubbed his head and told him it was okay. I didn't want him to hurt himself and it was his time to rest. As I sat with Tag I called the vet, he would be out soon. It was not good news for the poor baby - it was his time to Cross the Rainbow Bridge. Tag was worn out, tired and in pain. But no longer, he runs free and is young again - romping with more playmates than he has ever known. He can now eat beautiful green grass, get all the carrots, apples and other goodies that he could ever want.

We miss him deeply and think of him often, but we know that he is happy, healthy and young again. We were not meant to have Tag for very long and that is sad, but we know he is having the time of his life right now and I will get to see him and play with him again someday.