** Copper View Farm, In Memory **

Kadron

(MSA FOREVER BLUE)

Kadron was our beginning into the great Arabian horse world. His beauty and soft loving nature was prevalent for all to see. He was the true "in your tent" Arabian. Kadron has set very high standards for us to follow in the Arabian industry.

On Thursday September 5, 2002, we had to make the hardest decision of our lives. Kadron injured himself July 25th from a puncture wound. I am going to tell everyone to get an x-ray if it does not heal within a few weeks, or show great improvement. I will not go into details or bitter stories. I do not want to darken his image.

Kadron was an important part of the Michigan State Fair. People came from all over to see the three time winning Michigan State Fair Halter Champion. They came for his beauty and his love of people. When you were in his presence, you felt special. People would tell me, "I came all this way to see Kadron!", "I never get tired of looking at him and petting that big guy.", "I come to the fair every year just to see him."

Many people saw Kadron at the state fair with his many daily soaks. Always the gentlemen and kind soul he was. Children came up and petted him while he was soaking. People were always amazed he was a stallion. His beauty always took my breath away. I never took it for granted. Many times when I would drive up my driveway Kadron would come running. I would stop and stare at him for many minutes.

He was so beautiful.

People would love to watch him show not only for his beauty but his of love of people. He loved me and my girls. He showed it in everything he did with us.

After the fair we tried more soaks and antibiotics. We moved down to Wisconsin and I gave up on that. I was very frustrated and took him to the equine clinic. Never did I expect to hear the dreadful news. He had a bone infection in his sesmiod bone down by his ankle. So much for treating just a puncture wound. An x-ray as I asked would have save his life 3 weeks before that. We had him in the ICU at the Wisconsin Equine Clinic from Tuesday, 8-27-02 on 4 times daily of three different antibiotics to get the bone infection out. The penicillin we had and the Sulfa drug never touched it. He was scheduled for surgery on 9-5 to clean the bone the rest of the way and bone graft him. At the vet clinic they fell in love with him right from the start. His nick name was SWEET BOY and he did the U.P. proud. The vet and all of his staff could not believe Kadron was a stud. They had a hard time believing he was an ARAB! The office staff would call and tell me his progress and tell me he was one of a kind. We all knew that, those who ever came in contact with him.

Unfortunately his body could not take anymore antibiotics. He started in the morning of surgery with severe diarrhea. His surgery had to be postponed. He lost about 150lbs by 5pm. He no longer nickered or stood proud. His labs came back and he lost half of his body fluids. I have to give the doctor credit. He helped me make a very difficult decision without much doubt of what was best for Kadron. We knew if it was just diarrhea we could have fixed it. Unfortunately he had to be off his antibiotics for a period of time. This then made his ankle terminal. The doctor then helped us bring Kadron out to pasture were we put him down. My girls were very brave. They never wanted to leave his side even though we gave them that option. We held him and loved him all the way through . As Nicole told him "No more owies Kadron ". You can run free now. I am sure you can understand the pain it was. The Doctor cried right with us. No expense was spared on Kadron. The clinic knew I had not even started my new job yet. They did not care. They took care of him like the champion he deserved to be taken care of.

I have his son and we have his wonderful memories. Most of the people we showed with know what a great loss he is. Everyone loved him. He truly was what the Arab breed represented. They are to be in your tent animals. Kadron was in my heart and soul. He is missed immensely. I expect him to come around the barn when I go to feed.

We thank everyone for their thoughts and kind words. It has made the hurt less in a way to know he touched so many.

Thank you,

Cheryle