Cowboy

But when a soul, 

by choice and conscience, 

doth throw out 

her full force 

on another soul,

the conscience 

and the concentration both 

make mere life, 

Love.

Four years ago I had photos taken with Cowboy, thinking that would be his last year. It wasn't. But it was his last year on the trail. Since then, he has been fully retired.

I had made a decision in spring to give Cowboy one more summer, and then put him down before winter. It's almost November, and I don't want to do it. Instead, I blanket him at night, and I've given him the large stall with big turnout, and I plan to take it day by day. 

I understand that love, sometimes, has to make hard decisions for the better good, but I haven't tipped to the point of seeing the better good yet. He still has life in him, and so much love! 

But it is like he also knows our time is short. 

Whenever I go out to tend to him, he stops and stays with me for as long as I will allow. He refuses to leave, until I leave. If I walk by the fence, he always comes to me. 

They always say you will know when the time is right, and I am abiding by that wisdom.

Day by day, and enjoy each day he is here to greet me in the barn or pasture.