I thought I would share with a group that understands what its like to go through this.
This morning when I went out to feed my biggest and favorite horse did not come to the barn. I started searching and when I found him I knew I was in trouble. He was down and from the semi circle of dirt he had smoothed out with his legs I could tell he had been there awhile. I tried to get him up be he really wouldn't even try. I called my vet who thankfully only lives 2 houses down and he came up. He evaluated him and we knew it wasn't good. As we were talking and deciding to put him down he passed. He was a blue roan belgian that was as honest as the day is long. He was 12 1/2 years old and had never even offered to run in harness, I don't know how many kids and adults sat on him. At one time it was a rite of passage for the vets new assistants to sit on Atlas.