[oldE]

Thirty years isn't unheard of for an equine which gets appropriate feed and doesn't have a hard life. On the other hand, the phrase "healthy as a horse" sets my teeth on edge. Horses evolved in environments where they had to keep moving to get enough to sustain them, so when they get too much or too rich food,(clover, oats or the like) and not enough exercise, their gut rebells and they can die. This old guy had worn down teeth from almost three decades of chewing so he was on supplements . He was doing well until his bowel became obstructed. Then it was over.
Don't know what brought it on. We didn't have the vet do a necropsey.
And yes, the other horses came by and said their goodbyes. The donkey actually spent the morning in the stall with him after it was over. They were buddies. The donkey was the only one who could back him off his hay.
I did know a guy who had a Morgan horse that lived into its 40s. That was exceptional.
We are doing OK this morning, but it was hard going into the barn and missing that big goof.
All the best, folks.
Les