Dear Cotton,
I loved you since the moment I saw you. I always thought you were a beautiful mare behind your dirty coat. I was told you used to be a show mare but was thrown out into the pasture because you didn't like people. I begged to ride you anyway. I was so excited when you walked up to me in the pasture to put your halter on. Everybody could tell youu liked me from the start. Whenever I rode you, you always gave 110% and seemed to enjoy yourself doing it.
It broke my heart when we walked out into the pasture to get you and your legs were swollen and you had a 105 fever. The vet didn't think you would survive. I thought you would. Slowly, you recovered with lots of tender loving care. But the happiness was short lived. Soon afterwards, you foundered. We tried everything we could. I kept telling the vet to keep putting off putting you down because I was so sure you would get better. Eventually, your coffin bone rotated all the way around and was shoved through your hoof. I knew I had kept you around too long for my old selfishness. Your eyes always shined bright with life until the last second.
I love you so much,
Carlie
