Jewel
5/20/2000? to April 29, 2024
On April 29, 2024, Jewel was humanely euthanized due to the progression of degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis (DSLD), a degenerative condition from which there is no recovery. After an evaluation and thoughtful discussion with Dr. Jamie Peddy from Hess Equine Services, it was determined that Jewel was in the end stages and the kind thing would be to let her go. As a horseman, you always want to let them go on a good day. Today was a good day for our beloved Jewel to cross the Rainbow Bridge. She had a good breakfast, a thorough grooming, including a professional massage, and lots of peppermints.
Jewel was adopted from Omega Horse Rescue in August 2021. She spent most of her life as a broodmare on an Amish farm until her reproductive years were over. She probably did some work in harness and may have been a riding horse as well. Omega purchased her from a kill buyer in June 2021. She spent a couple of months rehabilitating and being evaluated before she was offered for adoption. We went to see her in July 2021 and immediately fell in love with her gentle nature and kind spirit.
On the day we brought her home to CTR, she stood on the ramp of the trailer and looked around the farm before descending the ramp. She spent the rest of the afternoon gazing around her pasture, looking at her soon to be herdmates. She yawned repeatedly, gradually relaxing and perhaps realizing that CTR was her new home.
She was a great horse for CTR, always steady and reliable. She got along really well with all of the horses too. Jewel was a favorite of anyone who had the pleasure of working with her. She never did anything wrong.
During Jewel's time at CTR, she helped our independent riders gain confidence in their riding skills. She provided many veterans with a safe and steady experience in learning basic horsemanship skills and adaptive riding lessons. Jewel was always willing to pack around any rider we placed on her back. One of Jewel's last duties was to help a teen in her grief journey after losing family members.
Jewel was a very special horse in so many ways. She was intelligent and intuitive. She was kind and gentle. She was big and beautiful. Our herd won't be the same without her.
Run free, sweet girl. You were such a great horse and will never be forgotten. You made a difference in so many lives, including ours.
"My ladies have promised that I shall never be sold, and so I have nothing to fear; and here my story ends. My troubles are all over, and I am at home; and often before I am quite awake, I fancy I am still in the orchard at Birtwick, standing with my old friends under the apple trees."
~ Anna Sewell, Black Beauty
