Obituary horse Koby
Our blind little Koby
Koby was a three-month-old filly when the horse breeder contacted Gut Aiderbichl and asked to take in Koby, a blind foal. Koby now lived at Gut Aiderbichl with her mum Marie-Gold for almost 13 years. And a long life would have been possible had a severe colic not ended Koby’s life.
Handicaps are quite normal for Gut Aiderbichl
The animals and the staff at Gut Aiderbichl agree: a handicap does not mean the end. All it takes is the right attitude and precautions to prevent a blind animal from injuring itself. Nature does the rest. Because where there is a weakness, other senses and powers develop more strongly.
Blindness does not make life unbearable for an animal. Nor does it suffer. Anyone who was able to experience Koby knows that her quality of life was unrestricted, because she was lucky. The horse breeder released Marie-Gold and so the mare and her eyeless, blind foal lived together at Gut Aiderbichl.
Koby learnt to live with the handicap and a weakness became a strength
Koby had no eyes, but “sharp ears” and nostrils for smelling and Marie-Gold looked after and protected her foal. Mare and foal lived together in a stable, which was lined with thick green padding to prevent Koby from injuring herself.
In the paddock, Koby first timidly ran small circles, which then got bigger and bigger. She learnt to move around the paddock without any problems. She also liked to snuggle up close to her mum, who patiently led her to the hay, water or straw, where the foal could lie down to sleep. Somehow, it was as if mum Marie-Gold was translating the movements and noises in the yard into horse language for her little one.
Is someone calling me?
When Koby heard her name, she tilted her head and tried to hear where the call or noise was coming from. With the help of knocks on the fence by the human, she was able to recognise in seconds where the person who had called her was standing. The best thing was always to stand head to head with Koby and stroke her silky soft fur. To feel her strength and the warm breath coming from her nostrils. That was a perfect world.
Koby loved the forces of nature: the sun, the wind and the snow
She loved standing in the sun and her beautiful fur shone with the sun’s rays. She held her head with its long, black mane up to the wind.
Together with her mum, she learnt to trudge through the snow in winter and had fun rolling around in the snow.
Carers brought food and treats and pigeons warned her of dangers
Koby knew the voices of her carers very well and knew who was coming to her box or looking after her in the paddock. She always orientated herself by the loud or quiet neighing of Marie-Gold and the horses around her, because it was the horses and the pigeons that signalled danger.
The colic was stronger than Koby's zest for life
A few weeks ago, Koby was plagued by severe colic. The vet did everything he could to help Koby. We took our Koby to the veterinary clinic and hoped for help for Koby.
The examinations unfortunately revealed that even an operation would not have been able to save Koby. The doctors shook their heads and we knew that we were losing Koby far too soon. She died far too early at just 13 years old. Marie-Gold and the animal carers stood there sadly and accompanied Koby to the gate of the Rainbow Bridge. And quietly and slowly, the light of our beloved Koby’s life was extinguished and the gate closed.
Dear Koby,
Thank you for letting us accompany you from an early age and for teaching us so much. A handicap is no reason to bury your head in the sand, as you assured us humans every day. Bursting with strength and joie de vivre – that was you!
And you always recognised your people, no matter how often they visited you. When I came to the A-Stable with guests, my first stop was always Larry and then you and your mum Marie-Gold. You immediately recognised my voice and came to the fence. When you found my hand holding out a piece of apple, carrot or a horse treat, you always scouted it out very quickly.
And then you wanted a cuddle and to be stroked very hard. How often I had my head between you and your mum and got strength and proof that animals never forget us, no matter how often we have contact with them.
Take care, dear Koby. You have gone too soon and leave behind many sad people and your mum Marie-Gold.
Memory is the only paradise from which we cannot be driven away.
– Jean Paul
By: Gisela Pschenitschnig, Gut Aiderbichl
