My lovely Tetley was very poorly yesterday and the vet put him to sleep. He was 27 and we would have owned one another for 17 years come September 16th although I had known and loved him for 23 years.
He was a full chestnut, 16.2hands and went in side saddle and astride and anyone could ride him safely, from a Master of Hounds (Drag hunting) to a 3 year old held on by its mother. He hated showing as much I do - he once got fed up with the rigmarole in a show arena and jumped into the next arena. The teenager riding him was mortified but I couldn't be cross with him.
We both enjoyed hacking around the countryside and just sitting in the hay in his stable - me with a book and him lying fast asleep.
He was active to the last, playing chase with all the horses in the meadow, supervising at the gate at bringing in time in the afternoon. He never kicked or bit the pushing and shoving horses at the gate he just was a Presence and, they deferred to him and behaved themselves, he still had his girlfriends (despite being a gelding).
Very sad and bereft without him.
RIP my lovely boy.
I fear that I'll be going through the same thing before too long with my 17 year old Blackee kitty. It's hard, but there's some comfort in knowing they've had a good long life with lots of loving. 
