A tribute to Quest

I was blessed to have had Quest for 16 years.  He left me on January 29, 2007 at 20 years old.  This gelding was the most amazing horse I could ever have been lucky enough to own.  He and I connected in a way that many did not believe...an amazing listener he had an affinity for helping people learn to love horses. 

He and I had many terrific memories...he even moved to Ohio with me, and then back again when I became too homesick.  He helped me thru bad times and was there for the good times.  Everyone that met Quest loved him.  He was not your typical arab...he was quiet and calm.  Boy was he fast too!  In Ohio we would frequently race cowboys there and we would most always win...of course they would say we cheated...but the reality was Quest was fast as all get out and he liked to win.  :) 

I miss him more than I can explain and am comforted knowing he will always be with me and that his visits in my dreams will never leave me.  I can only wish everyone would be as lucky as I was in finding a horse as terrific as the amazing Quest.  

May 26, 1986 - January 29, 2007

It is with an incredibly heavy heart that I send this email today. Last night my beloved Quest was laid to rest. He was 20 years old.

Mark came home to find Quest down in the field. The vet was called and was able to get to us within 45 mins. We originally thought Quest had injured his rear right leg (chasing the new pony boarder we introduced to the herd on Saturday). Upon closer inspection we started to suspect colic. My vet arrived and we got Quest to the barn. He had one very bad episode. We administered heavy tranquilizers to make him comfortable and pumped oil and warm water into his stomach and started IV fluids. Our hopes were that his gut would start to do its job and his condition would improve. Mark and I walked him for nearly 4 hours. We put 3 bags of warm fluids into him.

After several hours Quest's condition did not show any signs of improvement. My vet was terrific. He drew blood and ran back to his lab and ran tests. The bloodwork did not come back with positive results. The outcome was not looking good. We gave Quest more tranquilizers to ease his pain. I did not want him to suffer. After much discussion my vet believed that Quest likely had tumors in his belly. Quest's age, the sudden onset and severity of the pain led him to believe this. My vet was honest with me and this was very much appreciated. He told me the prognosis was not good. He did let me make my own decision. We could continue with the tranqs and see what happened, but I knew in my heart of hearts that this was not going to work out in our favor. Quest's belly had become very large and distended...he was showing increasing signs of discomfort. I could not let my best friend suffer. I made the decision to end his pain.

He passed easily. I held him for as long as I could. I told him how many people loved him and how much I loved him and how good of a friend he had been to me. We had been together for 16 years. We shared many great memories. I still remember when I saw him for the first time. He was adorable..so sweet and shy. He peeked at me through the board fencing of the roundpen where he was being worked. It was all over. I was in love. After only having him two weeks, he put enough trust in me to get on a trailer...a huge feat for Quest and something we would struggle with for many, many years. This Fall he finally put all of his trust in me and got in my new trailer. We even got to go for a ride. He was so proud of himself...I swear he knew he had done a good job. I told him that when he got to heaven to make sure to let the angels know that he would trailer for them...I knew that would mean he would make a friend and they would share many good times together.

I am a realistic person, I knew this day would eventually come...I just did not know it would come this soon. I'm not ready to let him go...I whispered to him to visit me in my dreams...and last night in my few minutes of sleep, he did just that. Just like he always did...Quest was always a good listener and good boy. The horse I never worried about putting people on. Children, new riders, scared adults...Quest knew how to take care of them. He has fan mail on his stall door. I know that it will take me a long time to feel the good things...right now I just miss him so much.

You are each receiving this because you are someone that will understand how much Quest meant to me...and I am confident that you will all say a prayer for my dearest friend and you will summon all loved pets you have lost and ask them to greet him in heaven. I need him to be taken care of. I want him to not be scared. I want him to be free of pain and running happily amongst the clouds.

I loved that horse more than I can ever explain...he was my best friend, he will be terribly missed and I look forward to the day when we are reunited. I will look for him in my dreams and welcome any and all memories he brings to me.

Interested in seeing more pictures of Quest?  Feel free to visit his photo album here.