Tribute to GUARDIAN

Jade's first foal, Geneva, was born on 30 May 2008.  Geneva has been a miracle from Day One.  He was born around 2:30am in the morning (between the 2am and 3am foal watch).  He was a red-bag birth.  This means the placenta detaches, and for vital seconds, the foal does not get oxygen.  The membrane is not easily torn, usually requiring scissors or a knife to open the placental membrane.  A red-bag birth requires immediate vet attention.

By some miracle that still leaves me incredulous ... not only did Geneva make it through a red-bag birth without human assistance .. he is growing into an incredible young stallion.

At 2 months old, Geneva attended the Rheinland Pfalz Saar International Inspection where he earned the status of PREMIUM SILVER Colt.

At 4 months old, Geneva attended the American Warmblood Inspection where he earned BLUE PREFERRED Status, Site Champion and a Bronze Medal for the AWS Year End Inspection 2008.

Geneva is out of Jade, my beautiful, registered Dutch Warmblood Mare (also listed in the RPSI Main Mare book).  Jade is out of a Anriejetto (a dressage superstar).

Geneva's sire is G Walkabout.

I bred Jade back to G Walkabout in 2008.  We had such high expectations for Jade's next baby. 

With love, pride and anticipation - myself, my staff, students, family and friends watched the little foal grow inside of Jade.  We began foal watch around 27 April 2009 as Jade was showing all signs that she was ready to give birth.

On 20 May 2009, we were sure that Jade was going to have her foal that very afternoon.  We watched over her closely all day and night. 

On 21 May 2009, Jade waited until my staff did their checks around 7pm.  20 minutes later, when my staff returned to her stall ... a little colt was on the ground.

My staff, Joe and Cyndi, noticed there was a problem immediately.  The little colt was not breathing.  They immediately began resuscitation procedures ...text book perfect.  As I drove frantically the 30 miles from my house to the barn (it felt like 300 miles), dispatched the emergency vet to the farm... I called upon my friends.  My wonderful friend and student, Karen, lived minutes from the farm.  Without hesitation, Karen sped to the barn to assist in the resuscitation efforts.

Karen first called me, whilst I was still en-route, to say it was not looking good.  She then put me on speaker phone so I could hear their efforts to save the colt.  Crying, praying and driving as fast as I could ... I listened to my amazing team doing everything within their power to save this precious life.  She told me his eyes were half open, there was a faint heart beat, there was gurgling in the lungs.  I called the vet and told him to be ready to aspirate the baby.  I also called one of my best friends, Angie ..who sped to the barn from downtown Orlando. Angie was the one who was there when Geneva was born -- both she and I wanted her there for this foal, too.

I arrived within 25 minutes of being notified of the birth. I sprinted into the stall --- Joe's brother was vigorously rubbing the foal with a large towel, Joe had the foal's neck outstretched and was giving mouth to nose resuscitation, Karen was doing compressions, Cyndi was holding Jade.  Jade stood patiently back, I swear that mare knew we were trying to save the baby's life.

Ten minutes after my arrival, and almost 40 minutes of administering the CPR ..the emergency vet turned up. He placed the stethoscope on the little colt and declared him dead.  We all stood in disbelief and shock. Absolutely numb.  The foal was so perfect in every way - he looked so peaceful, as if he was sleeping.  For sure, a miracle would happen in front of us and he would take a deep breath ..... we all stared at him, for what seemed eternity....just waiting for this miracle.  Of course, it did not come.

The vet began to tend to Jade. 

Everything from then on was a blur. Everybody was crying.  The vet said that the birth was normal, the foal was perfectly developed.  He was simply still born.  It was just not meant to be.  I declined the offer of an autopsy.  It would change nothing ...it would not bring the colt back.  He was too pretty and looked so peaceful.  An autopsy seemed so cold, clinical and ...well, wrong.

Jade was sedated, given banamine for the pain and another medication for the contractions.  She was starting to get restless.  We gently took the little colt away from Jade, knowing the sooner.. the better.  Jade was absolutely frantic - it was even more heart-wrenching to watch.  The other horses got upset and started to run around,  hearing Jade cry out for her foal.  Jade's first colt, one year old Geneva, was so desperate to get to her, he tried to climb a fence with metal no-climb wire ... it literally caused blue sparks to light up the evening, such was his desperation to get to his mother.  Jade charged around, desperately looking for her baby and calling out for him.  It was hell for all of us to see this.  We wanted so desperately to be able to help her more, but we had done all we could.

Angie chose the name GUARDIAN for our little beauty. He was an angel now... a Guardian Angel. It was the most perfect name and suited him perfectly.

We all lovingly buried the colt and said a prayer for him.  We were in disbelief that what should have been a miracle of life only a few short hours ago ... was this terrible tragedy.  No words can express the sorrow and heaviness in all of our hearts.

The only way I could make myself feel any better was to remember that Jade is so loved by all. This tiny foal had been loved and wanted by so many as he grew for 11 months.  He had an amazing team lovingly fighting for his tiny life.  He was lovingly buried.  Compared to some of the cruelty I have seen through horse rescue and rehab, watching the news daily whereby innocent children are murdered and dumped .... this colt had nothing but total unwaivering love ... even though he never lived to experience just how much we loved him.  We just hope that somehow he sensed this.

This perfect, beautiful little colt was a gorgeous bay.  A white star and a snip.  A dainty, refined head with huge liquid brown eyes from his Momma. The longest and strongest legs I have ever seen on a newborn.  Two perfect, matching white socks on his hind legs.  He would have been all dressage.

We have all been taken aback by just how much the grief has affected us all ...we never even got to know him.  But so many tears were shed, by so many! 

It had been my dream to let my close friend and talented student, Renee, have this young colt as her future FEI partner.  Renee is also wracked with sadness.  In her search for the answer "why?" .. Renee found this beautiful answer:

I had put an advert out just in the, one-in--a-million chance, there was an orphan foal who needed a nurse mare. Knowing that the chance to find a local match, in time, that Jade might accept would be highly unlikely. I just felt I had to try even harder for her.

In my heart, I don't ever want to breed Jade again.  I don't ever want to put my girl through this again.  I will keep Jade forever -- we have just been through so much together. 

I remain thankful and grateful for everybody that worked so hard to save Guardian's life.  It was nobody's fault---it was just not meant to be.

Rest In Peace, Our Beautiful Boy - GUARDIAN

5/21/2009 - 5/21/2009

Above:  Goodnight, Guardian.  He was as beautiful as his mother .. he most definitely had her huge brown eyes.

Above:  Devon and Jade

Above:  Guardian's Older Brother - GENEVA

Above:  Guardian's Sire ... G Walkabout

Messages of Condolences:

My Dearest Devon,

How absolutely heart breaking. There is nothing I can think of to say or
try to alleviate the sorry. I am so sad for all of you.  Love, Your Dad
 

"Oh Devon I am so sorry...you are in my prayers."  Michelle Smith

Dear Devon:
 
I am very sorry for your loss.  I now how much you love animals and how difficult this must be for you.  My thoughts and prayers are with you.  May you find peace during this difficult period.
 
Best wishes, Gary