I had to put down my elderly horse Tara today, very unexpectedly.

She was fine last night when I fed her. This morning, I found her lying down in the pasture, unwilling to get up. I called the vet immediately, and he arrived within an hour or two. She had colic — not an impaction but a twisted gut. Nothing could be done for her, other than to end her suffering. She died quickly and quietly.

Tara was about 28, and that’s very, very old for a horse her size. Colic is often the way that such horses die, even if they’ve never had any history thereof.

I’m very sad that she’s gone. I knew that her death was coming, but I just didn’t know that it would be today. So I’m in a bit of shock.

I’m so grateful that she gave me so many good years as a horse to ride and then as a companion to Lila. In return, she was well-cared for until the very end.