Help please, my barn is haunted! And no, I am not crazy!!!?

Question

6 months ago, we kept 3 horses at home. My TB hunter gelding, my moms old mare Molly and 1 boarder Sally, a retiree.
4 months ago, I moved my gelding to my trainers barn.
Molly and Sally were constant companions. Out together during the day and in adjoining stalls at night. Each morning they had a routine that my mom used to watch from the kitchen window. Molly would rise, stick her head out the stall door and whinny for breakfast. Then Sally would wake up, stick her head out the stall door and whinny too. This continued until breakfast was served, each day, every day for the past several years.
In Sept. Sallys' owners took her home to the new barn they just built. Molly was inconsolable over the loss of Sally, so we got her a goat for company. (Poor company in Mollys opinion).
3 Days ago Molly died in her sleep of natural causes.
There is the familiar whinny coming from the barn each morning, and I know its not the goat.
I'm freaked out.
How can I help Molly rest in peace?

Answer 1

Keep her in her prayer. Remember her for all the good times you had. Know that she will always be with you. Maybe her soul lives on because she doesn't want to go<3

Answer 2

OK, just so I understand this.

Molly was your Moms horse right?

You're horse is living at another barn, is fine and really has nothing to do with the relationship between Molly and Sally and is basically out of the picture.

You're family still has the goat that Molly never really took to in the first place, because she was mourning the loss of Sally.

OK I think I see whats happening here.
Let me as you some questions now....

Does the rest of the family hear the morning whinny or just you?
How upset is your mom over the loss of her old mare?
Have you had a family discussion about this if everyone is disconcerted?

You might also consider bringing your gelding home from the trainers barn for a bit and see if the addition of another horse doesn't change things.

I would be curious to know what happens.

Answer 3

I don't think you are crazy. And I don't think your barn is haunted either! I lost my horse years ago, when I was 19, at home in my barn. She died an horrific death from an internal haemorrhage and took 4 hours before my dumb vet finally put her out of her horrific suffering. I was utterly devastated.

I hated her stable, where she suffered and died. And I hated the barn too! Her stable still smelt like her. My old mare (was my very 1st pony as a kid) was quiet and shocked. The barn had a bad associative meaning for me.

My mum was great. We bought Holly some lovely flowers from the supermarket and put the with Holly's picture in the lounge, so I could see her picture when we sat in there. (I chose deep blue Irises, now, every time I see deep blue irises I automatically think of Holly, which I'm pleased about).

When time had passed and the rawness of the situation had wained I revamped the barn. I repaired the damage done by Holly's desperate attempts to stand up, and repainted everything I could, especially the faded bits where we had scrub the stains away.

The whole atmosphere changed and I felt differently about the barn.

Your mare probably grieved for her mate, and it possibly contributed to her death. (The ILPH recently carried out extensive studies under the heading "Do Horses Grieve?" and the overwhelming conclusion was yes).

Things might feel better when you eventually have new horses in the barn.

Answer 4

If Molly died of natural causes from old age, then maybe she is at peace.
Maybe she's just sticking around because the grass really isn't greener on the other side.
Sounds like she has no need to move on because she feels that she is already at home.
Although it may be weird to you, it's also an interesting thing to contemplate.
Nothing happens without a reason. Try to meditate on the situation and see if the bigger picture doesn't become apparent to you.

Answer 5

I have horses also, but I experienced the same sort of thing when my Dachshund died. When I was in bed I could hear her walking through the hall and into my bedroom. Her toe-nails.
My husband also after thinking I was nuts finally heard the same.
This happened every night.
I finally spoke out-loud " Bridget, It is time for you to go now, and I told her how sorry I was as to having to put her sleep. (she broke her back).
Never heard the foot-steps again, BUT I did hear her, there is absolutely no doubt in that

Answer 6

just pray,and give yourself time to griev
the whinny may indeed be there - molly's spirit may be there because she was not ready to go
animals like people - if we arent ready to go - we become stuck in between and things happen.
when your in the barn - talk to molly like she is right there, and let her know that you miss her
and once you have worked through the grieving and your ready, then let Molly know that its ok to go,let her know its ok, that she needs to go and that you will always love and miss her
if she is assured that its ok, she will go
i had the same thing happen with a dog - i was sitting on the couch the day after she was put down so she could rest in peace and i felt her pawing at my leg the way she always would when she wanted attention. I asked her what she wanted and told her i loved her and missed her,but that it was o k for her to go on - and she did

Answer 7

Its just you thinking that your horse is still there. It's because you were so use to each morning hearing the familar whinny. I'm really sorry about your lost.

Answer 8

Sit by her stall whenever, and tell her you love her and pretend that she's there. Or maybe let Sally stay there, in the stall next to her, for a little bit. Pray for her and try to dream about her.

Answer 9

I know what you mean. My barn can be haunted at times too. Seriously, i'm not kidding.
Take a picture of Molly and take it to her favorite spot, remember her, and her great times with you, leave the picture in the favorite spot, and that should make you both feel better.

Answer 10

I'm sorry for your loss of a beloved horse. she may be telling you she's waiting on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge. It has to be a beautiful place:

http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbowb.htm