Help us cremate Barry Boi for Britney
Donation protected
How do you find the courage to break your daughters heart?
How do you tell her that her friend, the greatest horse she'll ever know, had to leave this world?
We've known it was coming for a while, but no matter how many times you tell yourself it is just around the corner, you're still never prepared.
Our BarryBoi - an angel on earth - now belongs to the heavens.
He was a 20 something year old stallion with an old fracture in his knee when HiCaliber found him at auction. It was August of 2017, he had big studdy jowls, the biggest balls we had ever seen, and an even bigger heart. With his little doe eyes, antenna ears, and old man wisdom, he quickly became the love of our lives.
My daughter adopted him in December of 2017 as part of the One Last Good Home program. A "hospice home" if you will for older horses who just need a soft place to land.
She didn't care if he was rideable or not, they just had a connection and she wanted to be his little girl.
Thankfully, with injections and supplements and lots of love and prayers - Brit did get to ride him. He sounded right up and they were off and run...er, walking. He taught her lessons only a senior horse can.
He's the only horse in the world I would ever trust to let her just get on and go. They would go and toot around by themselves sharing a friendship that was undeniable. You could see the love from a mile away. A mutual appreciation - they both rescued each other.
Barry got her through the darkest time of her young life as she battled with self harm, depression, and was recovering from a suicide attempt after internet bullies wreaked havoc on our lives.
I truly believe he kept my kid alive that year in more ways than just in the saddle. Their secret adventures together was the best therapy there was.
How we got so lucky to be his family; how blessed we were to be his last stop in this life, I'll forever be thankful.
The lessons and love he gave my little girl, the gentle and intentional safety he bestowed upon her, always keeping her safe was a once in a lifetime find.
It didn't matter that he had been a stallion for over two decades, there was no mare or any other horse who could make him reactive - his beloved job was taking care of his girl. He had twenty years to do stallion things, his golden years? They belonged to Britney.
While she was on him, other riders would pass by. Some would be on horses acting up - rearing, backing etc - he wouldn't pay any mind to their tomfoolery, he would just get his kid outta there. It was all very intentional, incredible to watch really. I never had to worry.
His manners and gentle nature extended beyond just kids. When he began having trouble getting up from naps we would try to help him. The refined gentleman he was, he refused our attempts and didn't want any fuss over him. He would mumble to himself about how he could do it himself and refused to budge until we were out of the way, and only then would he get up. "I can do it mydamnself!" He was always very aware of us and so respectful of our space as smaller beings...even when he thought we were ridiculous.
His lip smacking was our favorite little quirk, he would sit and flap his lips together anytime he wanted to tell us something good. You could hear it down the barn aisle and he became quite gossipy with us.
His eyes would light up for carrots and he never lost the excited youthful look on his face.
He had a stroke in the fall of 2018 so he was retired from riding and became our "free hugs" billboard and got his masters in psychiatry. He was our safest of places to spill our fears, soak up our tears and let us know it would all be ok. As the months passed his mind stayed sharp while his body continued to fail him. We all became a bit more protective of him which only pissed the old codger off.
We had a few false alarms, letting Britney know he might be leaving us soon, so she has had these strange moments of an attempted goodbye...but she just couldn't ever really give in to the grief. She's just been through too much loss this year.
There are days in my pain and sadness that I've regretted ever getting involved in rescue. But as I hugged Barry yesterday and wrapped my arms around his neck, I buried my face in his mane and cried. I would do it all a thousand times over just to save him again. He made it all worth it.
I received the most incredible goodbye I've ever gotten from a horse. The most tangible, powerful, soul rocking experience that I wouldn't have believed if someone else didn't see it. He knew we are safe now.
At some point I will share the story with you all, but for now, I just need it to be mine. Something to hang on to that will get me through the tears. Something to draw strength from to tell my daughter he is gone.
In all the pain, all of the loss we've had this last year, I had been hoping and praying he would hang on long enough for me to save the money to get him cremated.
I don't what his life was like for the first twenty years but his last year and a half he was family. The patriarch of our herd. The wise old man we all loved so very much.
We want him home with us where he belongs, with Britney and all of his family who love him.
Can you help us?
We've called a few places and received various quotes from 1200-2000. We went with the high end to include getting a few photos and frames made etc. If there is any money left over it will go towards helping a horse in his honor.
*This is not a donation, not tax deductible, and would be a gift to Britney and family. This has nothing to do with HiCaliber Horse Rescue outside of the fact that they rescued him.
How do you tell her that her friend, the greatest horse she'll ever know, had to leave this world?
We've known it was coming for a while, but no matter how many times you tell yourself it is just around the corner, you're still never prepared.
Our BarryBoi - an angel on earth - now belongs to the heavens.
He was a 20 something year old stallion with an old fracture in his knee when HiCaliber found him at auction. It was August of 2017, he had big studdy jowls, the biggest balls we had ever seen, and an even bigger heart. With his little doe eyes, antenna ears, and old man wisdom, he quickly became the love of our lives.
My daughter adopted him in December of 2017 as part of the One Last Good Home program. A "hospice home" if you will for older horses who just need a soft place to land.
She didn't care if he was rideable or not, they just had a connection and she wanted to be his little girl.
Thankfully, with injections and supplements and lots of love and prayers - Brit did get to ride him. He sounded right up and they were off and run...er, walking. He taught her lessons only a senior horse can.
He's the only horse in the world I would ever trust to let her just get on and go. They would go and toot around by themselves sharing a friendship that was undeniable. You could see the love from a mile away. A mutual appreciation - they both rescued each other.
Barry got her through the darkest time of her young life as she battled with self harm, depression, and was recovering from a suicide attempt after internet bullies wreaked havoc on our lives.
I truly believe he kept my kid alive that year in more ways than just in the saddle. Their secret adventures together was the best therapy there was.
How we got so lucky to be his family; how blessed we were to be his last stop in this life, I'll forever be thankful.
The lessons and love he gave my little girl, the gentle and intentional safety he bestowed upon her, always keeping her safe was a once in a lifetime find.
It didn't matter that he had been a stallion for over two decades, there was no mare or any other horse who could make him reactive - his beloved job was taking care of his girl. He had twenty years to do stallion things, his golden years? They belonged to Britney.
While she was on him, other riders would pass by. Some would be on horses acting up - rearing, backing etc - he wouldn't pay any mind to their tomfoolery, he would just get his kid outta there. It was all very intentional, incredible to watch really. I never had to worry.
His manners and gentle nature extended beyond just kids. When he began having trouble getting up from naps we would try to help him. The refined gentleman he was, he refused our attempts and didn't want any fuss over him. He would mumble to himself about how he could do it himself and refused to budge until we were out of the way, and only then would he get up. "I can do it mydamnself!" He was always very aware of us and so respectful of our space as smaller beings...even when he thought we were ridiculous.
His lip smacking was our favorite little quirk, he would sit and flap his lips together anytime he wanted to tell us something good. You could hear it down the barn aisle and he became quite gossipy with us.
His eyes would light up for carrots and he never lost the excited youthful look on his face.
He had a stroke in the fall of 2018 so he was retired from riding and became our "free hugs" billboard and got his masters in psychiatry. He was our safest of places to spill our fears, soak up our tears and let us know it would all be ok. As the months passed his mind stayed sharp while his body continued to fail him. We all became a bit more protective of him which only pissed the old codger off.
We had a few false alarms, letting Britney know he might be leaving us soon, so she has had these strange moments of an attempted goodbye...but she just couldn't ever really give in to the grief. She's just been through too much loss this year.
There are days in my pain and sadness that I've regretted ever getting involved in rescue. But as I hugged Barry yesterday and wrapped my arms around his neck, I buried my face in his mane and cried. I would do it all a thousand times over just to save him again. He made it all worth it.
I received the most incredible goodbye I've ever gotten from a horse. The most tangible, powerful, soul rocking experience that I wouldn't have believed if someone else didn't see it. He knew we are safe now.
At some point I will share the story with you all, but for now, I just need it to be mine. Something to hang on to that will get me through the tears. Something to draw strength from to tell my daughter he is gone.
In all the pain, all of the loss we've had this last year, I had been hoping and praying he would hang on long enough for me to save the money to get him cremated.
I don't what his life was like for the first twenty years but his last year and a half he was family. The patriarch of our herd. The wise old man we all loved so very much.
We want him home with us where he belongs, with Britney and all of his family who love him.
Can you help us?
We've called a few places and received various quotes from 1200-2000. We went with the high end to include getting a few photos and frames made etc. If there is any money left over it will go towards helping a horse in his honor.
*This is not a donation, not tax deductible, and would be a gift to Britney and family. This has nothing to do with HiCaliber Horse Rescue outside of the fact that they rescued him.
Organizer
Michelle Knuttila
Organizer
Valley Center, CA