Obituary Hilde
She came to Gut Aiderbichl many years ago as a wet nurse
As a four-year-old mare, Hilde lost her own foal immediately after giving birth in 2005 and was deeply saddened. She suffered, but her sad fate was about to change. Gut Aiderbichl was urgently looking for a wet nurse for an orphaned foal named Lori.
Lori’s mum died of a uterine rupture and a bleak future loomed for the foal. Gut Aiderbichl works in a solution-oriented manner in the interests of the animals and looked for a wet nurse for the little foal, which whinnied for its mum all day long.
Hilde was on her way to Gut Aiderbichl. Her previous owners had released her to replace the mother of an orphaned foal. The excitement grew as Hilde was led out of the transporter. Hilde approached the new task in her life in a very relaxed manner. Everything was new to her: suddenly there was a small, curious foal in front of her. The air and the whole environment were different and people were standing all around the paddock waiting to see what would happen.
Little Lori was a little stubborn and refused Hilde’s milk for the first few hours. It wouldn’t be Gut Aiderbichl if our animal carers hadn’t managed to get Lori to accept Hilde as a surrogate mum. Everything turned out well, and Hilde and Lori became a really great team.
For many years, the two of them stood in their stable in the horse stable aisle and for just as many years, the reunion of Hilde and Lori was told to visitors. Lori had also got into the habit of standing protectively in front of Hilde when some human hands became too intrusive with their stroking.
Lori unfortunately developed problems with her hooves and, alongside Hilde, the farrier became Lori’s closest friend. He endeavoured to improve Lori’s situation with his hoof constructions. Hilde carefully observed everything that was done to her Lori. If a trip to the horse clinic was necessary, the two of them were of course together in the horsebox.
Unfortunately, we had to put Lori to sleep almost exactly a year ago. She spent another beautiful, sunny evening with her Hilde in the meadow until she fell asleep peacefully and forever. A sad Hilde remained behind. Slowly, she let herself be led into the horse box that she had lived in with Lori for many years.
Hilde had been suffering from a gastric emptying disorder for some time. Unfortunately, all the efforts of the animal carers and the vet were to fail. The medical support could not save Hilde. As in a shock situation, we knew that we had to act quickly to save Hilde from disaster.
We took our Hilde to a large meadow. She hadn’t wanted to eat for the last few days, but suddenly she started sniffing the grass and seemed to like it. She was calm – as if she knew that she could soon be with Lori. Like in a film, all the situations she had experienced with Hilde played out before her eyes. She herself slowly closed her eyes and let us know with a deep, final sigh that she had reached the Rainbow Bridge. Many tears accompanied Hilde. It became quiet around her. All her people, who had accompanied her for so many years, wept quietly for the wonderful horse Hilde.
Hilde should leave with the same thought that accompanied Lori:
We would like to have the time that everyone claims can heal all wounds. With every animal that dies, a part of the heart goes with it.
Dear Hilde,
you leave behind a long lifehistory. If there are kind and loving horse mums in this world, then you certainly belong to this circle of the best horse mums.
The sky now has two new stars: Hilde and Lori. Don’t forget us!
