My friend has passed on.

[Tami Pinell]

Just to let you all know, Chaparron Estelar has passed on. His fight with cancer has ended and he is now running in God's green pastures.
I will miss my friend.
Tami

[DebbieS]

So sorry to hear that, Tami.
:hug

[Terry Wallace]

Oh no..... I'm so sorry..... was it related to the eye cancer?
Gee whiz...how old was he?

[Moniece Dickerson]

Oh sweetie I am SO sorry!!!!My heart is breaking for you :cry: .I am truely so sorry.I've not had to lose a horse yet and honestly I can't immagine the extent of how much it must hurt,losing the other animals I have in my life was hard enough.We are here for you sweetie!Your friend,Moniece

[PasoJoy]

:( So sorry...(((((((((big hugs)))))))))).... :(

[paintedhorizon]

Oh Tammy! I'm so sorry to hear that!

[PASOFAN]

(((hugs))) sorry to hear he is gone, but yes he is running in great fields of heaven now..

[TrueStepPaso]

Tami...you poor thing! You seem to have been going through alot right now.....I'm so sorry to hear that....(((hugs!)))

[Terry Wallace]

Tami....if you are up to it..please post a few of those beautiful photos Darlene took that appeared in your ad in PFH World some years back...
He was such a beautiful and unusual marked Paso...

[Linda Y]

Oh, Tami. I am so very sorry. :cry:
Just what you didn't need at this time. My heart breaks for you.

[SandyMM]

Our condolences - never an easy thing whether sudden or expected. Hopefully, your good memories will ease your loss.

[ErinC]

thinking of you, and the heard.
hugs!

[Beth Worden]

Oh Tammi. One more blow to your heart. I am very sorry for your loss.

[appyday]

:( :( :(

[appyday]

http://appyday.com/images/Paso%20Finos/New%20arrivals/Chaparron.jpg

http://appyday.com/images/Paso%20Finos/New%20arrivals/Chaparron3.jpg

http://appyday.com/images/Paso%20Finos/New%20arrivals/Chaparron2.jpg

[appyday]

His daughter

http://appyday.com/images/Paso%20Finos/New%20arrivals/vetfeb12006411.jpg

[Tami Pinell]

Chaparron Estelar PFHA#31802 known to all that came to the farm and to me as "Cowboy"
born: Feb. 12, 1997
parted: Oct. 4, 2006
Chaparron was diagnosed approximately 6 years ago with squamous cell carcinoma on the lower eye lids of both eyes (biospied). He was started on a treatment to enhance his own immune system to try and fight this off. Personally this is a step that I feel did more damage to his treatment than anything else. It should have been treated agressively with chemo. When this treatment did not respond, he was taken to the University of Tennessee where he was treated with radiation and 5Fu cream - borders and margins were clean at the time (They gave me a prognosis of 3 years for him to live.) Cowboy has lived inside and treated all of his life with me. When I saw a reoccurance, I contacted UT again and they gave me their options, at this time I also contacted VaTech and discussed this with them. I felt that VaTech had a better management and treatment for Cowboy. He was taken there and discovered that there was a metastatic tumor in his face but the cancer had not invaded his eye. Surgery was done and chemotherapy treatment was given - this added several more years to his life. Last year, I saw that the cancer had returned. I contacted VaTech for a consult - the cancer had come back. Possible mets to the brain and other organs - lymph nodes were not enlarged so we felt it was only in his head at that time. VaTech contacted UT and discussed radiation again - surgery was not an option at this point. They felt that the quality of life for the beads of radiation was poor for Cowboy. They said that other than that there was not much to be done but to support his care. I contacted at that time a group I know and decided to use an anti-cancer drug on him that has not been used on horses - The use of Aldera was given and monitored. We feel that this treatment gave Cowboy 6 months more. After this treatment, he remained healthy and happy, playful and in great spirit until about 4 weeks ago.... One could tell - he was sick, he hurt, he had stopped eating and drinking at times, he would have really bad days and then days when he looked better. We saw the cancer had taken him physically so we decided to let him have the life which would make he really happy. We put him outside - across from mares and let him enjoy his life. Last week - I saw that his life was ending - the cancer was taking over and it was nasty (squamous cell is a nasty cancer) - his face and head was hurting. I thought about calling the vet last week but decided that I would just really closely watch him. This morning he was dying - I could not let him suffer for he only had a few more days at best. I walked him down to the barn. The Cowboy we all knew, the prance, the presence, the I love to be looked at was gone - he was dragging, he was going and he knew it - it was in his eyes - there was pain. I stood with him while we gave him the meds to sleep and I held his head until he was a sleep - then we let him go. No more pain. No more fighting, no more being sick from the drugs. He knew and did not fight - it was time.
I WILL miss him. My friend.
Many tears are being spread.

http://www.morningstarpasofino.com/stallion/stallion/cowboy/photoalbum/begging.jpg
http://www.morningstarpasofino.com/stallion/stallion/cowboy/photoalbum/buck.jpg
http://www.morningstarpasofino.com/stallion/stallion/cowboy/photoalbum/gaiting.jpg
http://www.morningstarpasofino.com/stallion/stallion/cowboy/photoalbum/gallop.jpg
http://www.morningstarpasofino.com/stallion/stallion/cowboy/photoalbum/corto.jpg

[Terry Wallace]

Thanks so much for that post Tami... I know I often sound like a broken record when I say this....but you did the right thing... nobody knew that horse as well as you...I'm sure he looked upon you as his keeper and friend.

Will there be anymore offspring in spring 2007 from him? I sure hope so... a bit of "legacy" in the form of foals would be a fitting tribute... ;-)

[onie s]

Oh Tammy, I am soo sorry. As you know several of us have just gone through the same thing. I, too, miss my old man so much, but am at peace knowing what I did was the one last way to show how much I loved him. You, too, loved your Cowboy to the end. Just know that you did everything right to keep his life good for as long as you did. We will see them all again.

[motorgypsy]

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[moonrize]

So very sorry for your loss of such a great friend. :cry: You certainly did everything right by that horse and that includes sending him over the rainbow bridge without making him suffer.

[Jasfino]

:cry: ...wiping tears while reading your post... I am so sorry Tami...(((hugs)))

[PasoPerson38]

Wow Tami he is breathtaking.
Praying for your comfort and healing. I have no doubt that he is in a wonderful place and you two will be united again one day.

[CarolU]

Tami, I am heart broken for you. I know how hard it is to make such a decision, but it is the right and only decision to make for a beloved horse.

May he run in green pastures forever.

[PasoJoy]

:cry: :cry: :cry:

[Camilla]

How very sad. My condolences on the loss of your beautiful friend. :cry:

[baileyholc]

I'm so sorry :(

[Wendy]

The passing of Cowboy is terrible to all who ever knew him. He had a special place in my heart and I will always remember him prancing in field so everyone could enjoy his regal beauty. Thankfully, I have my own Little Cowboy (Starry) that inherited his father spirit and beauty. And hopefully come April another offspring will bless our family and help fill the void left by Cowboy's passing. We will miss you Cowboy but I hope you and Devino play eternally in God's presence.




http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f282/wendy4mini/STARRY.jpg

[Carol Nelson]

Oh, my God, how much more are you going to have to endure, Tami. My heart is breaking for you. That is all I can say....you have my deepest condolences.

[Pasogirlz]

What a sad day. :( He was certainly a beautiful boy. My condolences.

[Heidi]

Oh, my God, how much more are you going to have to endure, Tami.
You seem to be getting hit from all sides; left, right, left! Sincere condolences to you.
Heidi

[Brigitte]

I'm so sorry for your loss, he was a beautiful horse

[Barbwire]

Tami, I am so sorry to read of your loss.

[hanita]

What a beautiful friend...the heavens will be blessed as he graces the skies with his handsomness.....I too lost my very best friend and I know what it feels like to have to say goodbye to a horse so near to your heart, but with death comes life and new opportunities so face the horizon and listen to the sound of thundering hooves...

Hannah

[JennLM]

I am so sorry for the passing of such a wonderful looking Paso who meant so much to you and others.

[PasoVicki]

He was beautiful, Tami, and so young.
I'm sorry for your loss.

[Monty]

:cry :hug Good Lord - what next ?
He was gorgeous - and now running and prancing through green meadows with no more pain !

[Tami Pinell]

Maybe it is just my way of thinking but the more I think of Cowboy today, the more I count the blessing that he gave to me. Through out the years, I have cared for him in both his good times and bad - I have always told him that I would spare nothing to give him the help he needed and today I realize that every time I did, he gave me something wonderful back.
When I took him to VaTech for his surgery, brought him home, cared for him, loaned him to a friend whom also gave him the upmost care so they could have a baby - this is what Cowboy gave me....
Celine is now a two year old ready to be started - she is black and white and homozygous!
http://www.morningstarpasofino.com/mare/celine/oct406face.jpg
Celine has Cowboys beautiful gait and wonderful personality - I am blessed to have her.
The following year Cowboy was having a reoccurance and I took him back to Tech where they worked on him again - he came home to be in my care again - days of medication and treatment to his face and eye. For this he blessed me with Pintada Dos -
http://www.morningstarpasofino.com/mare/dos/oct406face.jpg
She also has his wonderful gait and loving disposition.
http://www.morningstarpasofino.com/mare/dos/kissme.jpg
She would rather be with me than eat - loves to have all the attention.
This last trip to VaTech was a return trip with the terrible news - I promised Cowboy that I would do my best for him - today it has dawned on me that he has blessed me with himself - I weaned his last 2006 foal today and I will name her "Cowgirl". She is 3 1/2 months old and as I took her and her mother from the pasture (the back 40) I had not noticed with all that is going on, just how much she is of her sire. She is his same chocolate color - she is homozygous for the tobiano gene and I will have her tested to see if she is also homozygous black. He blessed me with himself. They look and act alike. She has Cowboy's sweet nature and curious, let me get into everything behavior.
http://www.morningstarpasofino.com/mare/cowgirl/100406a.jpg
http://www.morningstarpasofino.com/mare/cowgirl/100406b.jpg
http://www.morningstarpasofino.com/mare/cowgirl/100406c.jpg
I see in her what I saw in him when I first met him years ago.
Thank you Cowboy, I will take care of them as I did you - forever!

[Pasomom]

Oh, Tami, I am so sorry for your loss of such an important part of your life, but as you say, Cowboy has given you so many things in return for your love and care. He will indeed be running in green pastures waiting for you to come to the rainbow bridge to meet up with him and others that will be eargerly waiting for your arrival.


We are thinking of you Tami. Hang in there lady!

Those youngsters are beautiful!

[tinomino]

Tami, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Cowboy sounds like he was an amzing horse who touched a lot of hearts. I am crying from your posts. I will have you in my prayers during this hard time.

[Moniece Dickerson]

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: .Your friend,Moniece

[Mellifluous]

What an amazing legacy he left! You are very blessed to have such lovely babies from him. He wanted to make sure that you had plenty of gorgeous pintos to remind you of him.

I am so sorry that his life was cut short by such a tragic illness.

[GeorgeGuns]

Tami I am so sorry to hear of this loss, and glad to see that Cowboy left you some very special gifts in return for your loving care. Its imposible to actually replace a great horse, but a legacy is lasting and touchable. Everytime you hug those youngn's he'll be hugging you right back.

That Cowgirl is PRECIOUS!!!

[Andrea G.]

Tami, I am so sorry for your loss - you have had way more than your share of losses and grief - I am so sorry to hear about Cowboy - he was a beauty! You gave him a great life! So sorry :cry:

[jodiTowne]

Good thing I have allergies...that was the excuse I used for the tears in my eyes after reading this. I am soo sorry!! He was beautiful!!

[Donelle]

I too am wiping tears. He was gorgeous. You did the right thing.

[echo]

Tami,
I am so sorry. He was a gorgeous animal, and I know you loved him very much.

[PattiB]

It is never an easy decision but it was the right one and the best for Cowboy. He is happier and free of pain. No one can ever say you don't everything possible for your "friends" you have shown it time and time again.