Oh dear Carol…
We will miss you!
About 10 years ago when we moved into our new house, we learned to know you as our curious but loyal neighbour. Soon you became our friend! Even though you were the horse of our neigbours, little by little you became a part of our family. You learned us how to understand you and how to love you.
Not so long before we moved in, you lost your companion and sweet friend mare ‘Happy’ and probably you were looking for some new friends.
When you heard the sound of opening our backdoor or when you recognized our voices, you started to whinny, as to let us know that you were actually there and that you could appreciate a little bit of attention. You were so grateful every time we brought you some carrots or a piece of bread, even though your owners spoiled you and gave you more than enough to eat!
Yes dear Carol, you became our sweet and beloved friend!
Carol – Summer 2009
Day after day, year after year, I saw you grazing through the window of my home office. I was used to see you there in the meadow and never thought of the day you wouldn’t be there anymore. Until this morning…
This morning, your owners called me with that terrible news… We wouldn’t see you any longer… You passed away the day before…the day of my birthday… Our neighbours finally decided to wait to call me until this morning as they knew that the news would make me very sad and confused.
Dear friends, I do feel so sad. It hurts to have lost Carol. She was my friend. I loved her too, even she was not my own horse.
She brought me joy and gave me friendship. I will miss her so very much.
I had never thought that I should write about the loss of Carol, this as my first blogpost of this new year.
Carol – Summer 2011
I am so very thankful to our neighbours, and Carol’s owners, Marie-Jeanne and Serge, who loved her so much and gave her a wonderful life at the countryside. They took care of her for about 25 years and gave her all the love a horse could ever wish. And I am grateful that our family had the opportunity to enjoy Carol’s presence and to notice how wonderful it is to experience the love and friendship of a horse.
Carol in the middle of cows, ducks and geese – Summer 2013
Carol – Summer 2014
Because our garden hedges are quite high, my husband had shaped a niche, in order to able us to communicate with Carol when bringing her some horse sweets from time to time.
Carol – Summer 2015
I really don’t know, which one of us, Carol or me, was the most happy, when suddenly (some 2 years ago), mini horse ‘Rakker’ came to accompany Carol! What a joyful day it was!
Carol and Rakker – Summer 2016
I have always loved this picture of Carol and Rakker who enjoyed watching the farmers bringing in hay. – Summer 2016
Carol in the background. This is the last picture I took of Carol – September 2-2017
.
What is more expressive than a horse’s eye?
Dear Carol, I am so thankful to have known you…
.
Although you are not longer physically here, I will see you forever standing on the meadow, when looking through my window…
And I am sure that within a certain time, this memory of you will put a smile on my face.
I would love to end this post with a beautiful poem dedicated to all horses.
Here I stand…
always ready to share an adventure.
always ready to make you smile.
Here I stand…
Firm and strong
always willing to let
you lean on me when
life gets too rough.
Here I stand…
never wavering.
always here so you’ll
never be alone.
Here I stand
forever faithfull.
unknown
.
This post is dedicated to our sweet neighbours Marie-Jeanne & Serge, who cared of Carol for about 25 years.
xx
Greet
Thank you for sharing this sad but beautiful story. The photos are nice to see, right into the eye of Carol who died of old age perhaps. I too get very attached to animals big and small. Losing them is very painful.
Dear Lady M.,
Thank you so much for your kind words. Indeed losing our beloved animals is so very painful.
Warm regards,
Greet
Dear Greet, so very sorry to read your first 2018 blog with such a moving and loving story. Horses are indeed something special.I love animals and my husband specially horses, which he had the fortune of having a few. Loving them makes it so easy, because it’s only feelings, no explanation needed, no words….just the heart speaking for all those things that humans need. I understand and share what you felt. May her soul and spirit find everending fields in which to display her energy and happiness among other of her kind. Fondest regards from Buenos Aires, Maria
Dear Maria, thank you so much for your nice words! Very much appreciated your thoughts.
Warm regards,
Greet
Thanks for sharing this lovely story …..sorry about Carol’s passing. We just moved to Belgium, from the US what area is this picture taken if I may ask?
Dear Franck, we live in Brakel, situated in the Flemish Ardennes region.
Thank you so much for your comment.
Warm regards,
Greet
Greet, I am sorry that you are hurting with missing your friend! The bond we make with animals is a very special thing for us. it is based on mutual trust and caring and is exquisite in its sweetness, and pain when it has ended.
Your blog is always elegant in your selection of design choices and honest words.
Regards, Deborah – Melbourne, Australia
Thank you dear Deborah for your nice and kinds words!
Warm regards, Greet
I’m weeping like a baby…it really is an ache in your heart. We drive through the countryside, a road taken by Lafayette himself and I look for “my” palomino grazing in pastureland. “THERE SHE IS!!” There really is something about a horse. franki
Dear Greet:
When I am faced with the loss of one of my beloved animals, especially my horses, I try to comfort myself with the thought that the heartache I feel is such a small price to pay for the love they gave. I hope this of some comfort to you now.
My sincerest condolences on the loss your dear friend and neighbour, Carol.
Lola xo
How nice that you have had time with such a wonderful animal. You were both lucky.
A loving tribute to beautiful friend. It is a very special thing to give an animal your love and have it returned. The human-animal bond is undeniable and how fortunate for you to have experienced it.
A reader in Tiburon, California
Dear Greet,
I’m saddened by the passing of your equine neighbor and friend, and I shared your post with my daughter who owns a horse and has opened my eyes to the strong attachment that humans can have with horses. They are much more like us than I would ever have imagined.
You write a beautiful blog which I enjoy from the state of Florida.
Thanks for sharing,
Paula
Horses are such a presence, once you know them – they’re not like any other being. I’ve ridden since I was a child, but only experienced the death of a horse in my care a couple of years ago. It makes me feel grateful and mournful every day, and I wouldn’t trade it. Such lovely memories, I hope everyone has the opportunity to know that connection.
Greet, I join you in the grief you feel after this loss and do understand this ache you feel. What a beautiful tribute to a beloved creature who brought so much comfort and peace. Thank you for sharing the tenderness in your heart and reflecting the beauty you found within this friendship. Sending you a little extra light this morning and wishing you love which heals all things. xox