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Now There Are Six
Written By: Sue Blair - Carpe Diem Farms | Issue: December 2024
Sweet Mercedes, loved by her herd and all the people she met, leaves us far too soon.
It is with sadness that I share with you the passing of our magnificent, 17-year-old Mercedes.
A card-carrying member of the American Quarter Horse registry, She was laid to rest November 6, with the 16 others she joins in the Blair Family Cemetery at CDF. A quintessential mare, she was calm, friendly and eager to participate with all who came to Carpe Diem.
She spent the past 12 years with us. Mercedes was the one horse out of the 24 I have been privileged to share my life with who was always steady, dependable and had a consistent loving temperament. Never once did she exhibit any disfavor to her herd members or any of the humans who ever worked with her.
My personal sadness comes from the reason she was lost at such a young age. She was born to Heather Johnson, a four-times National Reining Horse champion who showed Mercedes as a two-year-old in the National Reining Competition.
A horse does not complete its growth – bone and muscle structure or spinal column development – to at least five to six years old. Mercedes probably began her training at 18 months to be ready for competition. She competed, as far as I know, until she came to us at five. Two years ago, her hind end began displaying structural changes and she exhibited pain. I retired her immediately and began PEMF treatments, massage therapy, red-light therapy as well as heat and cold pack. I gave her every homeopathic and even prescription medication the veterinarians could offer. She was pampered by all the children who would visit and groom her with loving care. She went out with her herd to graze by day and slept in her extra bedded stall at night. She reached the point where she could no longer leave the stables or walk more than a few feet. I had tried everything there was, now it was time to let her be pain-free and, in my mind’s eye, allow her to fly with the angels.
The herd is quiet and will remain so for a while as they process their loss and her passing. Now there are six.
From all of us at CDF, may you and yours have a blessed holiday season and a wonderful 2025!
