The End of an Era

The end of an era at Shooting Star Farm. Carol and I made the decision to euthanize Orchis this week. She injured her back a few years ago, which caused her suspensories to weaken. Over the last couple of years she’s had more and more trouble getting up. In the past couple weeks, it could take her as much as an hour to get back onto her feet. For decades, she has been among the 10 highest indexed KWPN dressage-breeding mares worldwide, and the highest ever outside of Holland. She leaves a legacy of multiple keur mares, sport horses, and top breeding horses. Her influence on our program will be here long after we pass on our program to Michaela and Keagan. It was a teary morning for Carol and me on Wednesday as we led her to the edge of the woods and stood with her while she was euthanized. She died gracefully and in complete balance to the end. Our heartbreak is juxtaposed with the joy she and her offspring have brought to our lives.