In Memory of Max and Royal Vanidor

The year of 2008 hasn't started out as I had hoped. I was feeling confident about my path and my goals for the year and my future. Unfortunately, with everything going so well I experienced my first personal loss of a horse. That first tragedy was Max. Then not even a month later I lost a horse that I had trained since a foal, my beloved Vanidor. Max had to be put down due to a severe case of colic. It looked like he had a basic impaction colic that normally is easily cured. But after 4 days the vet confirmed that he had an underlying problem such as a tumor or growth in his small intestine that was causing the impaction. There would have been nothing we could have done besides surgery early on and then that might not even have been successful. My beloved Vanidor was looking a little under the weather and so he was examined for colic. During the examination the vet accidentally caused a rectal tear that caused his death 6 days later because of severe infection. The autopsy confirmed that his organs were healthy and the cause of his death was the very large, deep rectal tear. I still can't believe it has happened and I have never had such tragic things happen to me before. Max and I were schooling the Grand Prix test to show this summer and that would have been my first time showing Grand Prix. Vanidor is the only horse I have ever said was my favorite and he was truly a gentle, kind spirit. I am still have not yet come to terms with his death and it happened while I was teaching in Florida. I am glad that I wasn't there because I think that would have killed me since I stayed with Max so many long nights. I am able to remember him healthy and beautiful. I will have each of their life stories and videos of them on my website in the future but for now I can only look forward and try to focus on my other horses because it is too painful to dwell on.

If anyone would like to send me their memories of my horses please email me at: sandrabee11@hotmail.com. I would love to have any little memory that I can cherish and keep their spirit alive with.

If anyone would like a beautiful photograph to remember them by please email me or call me and I will send one.