Kelly Green
Member
I was in the pasture this afternoon mending fence when I heard a rifle shot. I was concerned because my wife, Leeann, was out riding her galiceno horse "Chico". She doesn't normally carry a rifle with her when she rides. If she does any shooting, it's us hunting or she's out back on the range we set up. I didn't hear another shot so I began to get worried. I set out in the direction of the shot and saw my wife walk out of the tree line about a hundred yards in front of me. She was holding a rifle and looking dazed. I became alarmed. When I reached her, she just handed over the rifle, held on to me, and sobbed.
She kept mumbling that she had to do it. I was panicking. She turned and quickly made her way back the way she had come. I followed. When we reached the boulder-strewn ravine, I saw her horse lying at the bottom with his left foreleg shattered and one bullet wound that had ended its life.
She had been riding when, for some reason, Chico spooked, losing footing. She lost rein, fell free of the horse and he tumbled into the ravine. She wasn't hurt but the horse was badly injured. She raced to the house and took the .30-.30 out of the rack. She knew what had to be done and done quickly. She didn't hesitate even though it broke her heart into a million pieces.
Chico was her pride and joy. It was her horse form the day he was born. She bit-broke and saddle-broke Chico all by herself and trained him to be a champion barrel horse.
This evening, she told me with tears: I didn't even rub his nose, scratch his ears, pet his cheek or tell him that I loved him. I just stood there and shot him.
I feel utterly helpless and so sorry for what she is going through.
I told her that I was thinking about posting what happened on the forum. She said that it would be ok and could I post a picture in memory of Chico. Leeann didn't eat supper and is now off to bed early. I hope she can get some sleep. My wife's a strong lady but I can feel that this will be hard for her to get over.
She kept mumbling that she had to do it. I was panicking. She turned and quickly made her way back the way she had come. I followed. When we reached the boulder-strewn ravine, I saw her horse lying at the bottom with his left foreleg shattered and one bullet wound that had ended its life.
She had been riding when, for some reason, Chico spooked, losing footing. She lost rein, fell free of the horse and he tumbled into the ravine. She wasn't hurt but the horse was badly injured. She raced to the house and took the .30-.30 out of the rack. She knew what had to be done and done quickly. She didn't hesitate even though it broke her heart into a million pieces.
Chico was her pride and joy. It was her horse form the day he was born. She bit-broke and saddle-broke Chico all by herself and trained him to be a champion barrel horse.
This evening, she told me with tears: I didn't even rub his nose, scratch his ears, pet his cheek or tell him that I loved him. I just stood there and shot him.
I feel utterly helpless and so sorry for what she is going through.
I told her that I was thinking about posting what happened on the forum. She said that it would be ok and could I post a picture in memory of Chico. Leeann didn't eat supper and is now off to bed early. I hope she can get some sleep. My wife's a strong lady but I can feel that this will be hard for her to get over.
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