Please help me to bring Cosi's ashes home...

Hi friends. Ally here. As some of you know, my heart was shredded tonight with the sudden, unexpected death of my beloved Cosi, due to complications of colic.

Many years ago, Cosi saved my life. I had just lost my wonderful Dad to cancer, and was not coping.

As a little girl, all I ever wanted was a horse. I collected horse birthday cards. Cutouts from magazines. Climbing our back fence to be near the stables for the Morphettville race track, breathing in the aroma of fresh horse poo, was my idea of heaven.

So, I totally believe that my Dad knew I needed something to occupy me.

And so he sent me Cosi.

A mate in Kalgoorlie contacted me about a horse who had been shot through the neck on a station. To cut a long story short, we brought her into town.

I found her owners, but as they were moving to Perth, said she was mine if I wanted her.

She was 10 at the time. "Blondie" became my very first horse. I was in a local theatre production of the play "Cosi" at the time, and it just fit her....

And so it began. The realisation of a dream. A perfect dream, for me. Not so much for her! I was clueless, and she was a "typical mare", but eventually she just gave in to the overwhelming all encompassing love and adoration I had for this incredible creature, a love that lasted our 26 years together.

Cosi was 36 when she left this earth. Always in good health, until the past few weeks with a mystery lameness that drained the account. It sucks when you keep handing over the $ without answers and a "let's just wait and see what happens".

But tonight, heading in to the horses earlier than expected, a new drama.

Not just a sore foot.

As soon as I saw the colic signs, I knew what the end of this would bring. She was rolling, pawing the ground. Unsettled. Sweating.

Urgent callout, pain relief, but the vet said she needed to into the surgery for scans and a critical blood test.

The news was the worst kind. Irreparable damage that you might attempt surgery on a young, strong horse.

But not a 36 year old mare.

And so, today, I have lived the day that I have dreaded for 26 years. My worst nightmare.

The shattering of my soul.

My horses have been my life. I have lost most of them in the past to colic, a few even to murder. As much as it breaks me to do so, they have been buried... sometimes where I know. Sometimes not.

But I simply cannot bury Cosi.

I just can't. She has been too precious to me for too long. I simply must have her cremated, and her ashes brought home.

My own funeral plans involve my ashes, together with those of my animals, being interred at the base of a tree at Wellington Dam. (It had better be a bloody big tree!).

Cosi must be with me. She simply must. She's my heart and soul.

The last time I heard, Lawnswood charge $1500 to cremate a horse. Adjustments will be made to the total tomorrow if Im wrong. All funds raised will be sent directly to them to bring my precious girl home. If there is any excess it will go towards paying back the generosity of friends for the emergency downpayments for tonight's callout.

Please, please help me bring Cosi's ashes back to where she belongs... With me. After the recent costs of removalists, paying a bond, Cosi's vet bills to date.... I simply have nothing left. Your help in bringing my girl back to me will be more appreciated than you will ever know.