Day 1 I grew up around horses. When one keeps laying down, experienced horse owners see the truth others miss. Earlier in that day, before our vet recommended retirement, Robbie laid down twice in places and situations where he never would normally, and getting up was slow and difficult. Now, Robbie isn't a horse. Nonetheless, we knew. Getting the news from the vet that his shoulder tendons were basically shot was a gut punch that I knew was coming. I knew something was wrong, and now it had a name. Within 20 minutes, my world got turned upside-down. My independence was gone, my functionality and progress was swept backwards, and I felt immensely vulnerable. Looking down at the floor, my once invincible partner looked gaunt and tired. His world was turned upside-down now too. His purpose swept away. Did he know something was wrong, too?
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When I was a little girl, I loved Breyer Horses. I would give each of my horses names, make up stories about them, and strategically place them high up on shelves around my room to mimic wild horses on mountain ranges. Every so often, I'd take each one down very carefully and wipe away the dust, whispering kind words as if it were real, and dreaming of one day when I would have my own horses to name, groom, train, ride, and love. As my love for animals expanded beyond horses, this collection grew to include the Stablemate Breyer horses, plastic Breyer dogs, and ceramic dogs. Each got a name, a backstory, gently played with from time to time, occasionally had the dust wiped away, and held a treasured spot in my heart. As an adult, I no longer play with my Breyer horses or ceramic dogs, but I still cherish them. It's a remembrance to the past. They all have names, are placed with great care, and are kept clean, mostly. They are a piece of my story, who I am, and what I love. They can live on a shelf, though, because despite having names and holding a realistic place in the vivid imagination of a child at one time, they are not actually living, breathing animals with souls, feelings, depth, character, and needs. Retired working dogs are. |
My Name is Sally...I have a condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. This blog is about my journey training Robbie, a dog who helped me regain independence, confidence, and achieve the impossible in the face of my disability. It continues on with the training of Austin, Robbie's successor. Check Out... - "More than a Dog" was published on a site called The Mighty Categories
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