Vale - Ch Isilwane Powderfinger 24/05/2007 - 28/05/2014 As we walked up from the paddocks late on Wednesday afternoon I looked down at Fanning and he back up at me, tongue lolling out, a big smile on his face. I got rid of those pesky roos mum was what he was telling me. It was the first really cold afternoon of autumn and so I had taken him out with Binoche and Hepburn to burn of some summer steam. And that they had done - even the very very big buck thought retreat was the better part of valour when Fanning came powering down the hill towards him. I was not to know that just 2 hours later I would be again looking into those now pain filled eyes having to make that hardest of decisions that we as guardians of these wonderful hounds have to make. Until the day I die I will wish that I had just put them away in their run and fed them last that night - but I didnt, I did wait about 50 minutes but the thought of Fanning telling me exactly what he thought of being made to wait until after those bloody whippets to get his dinner probably clouded my judgement and because he appeared to have cooled down I went ahead and fed them. Coming out 20 minutes later I knew something was wrong when he didnt come straight away as I walked up to the run and when I did see him I just started running for the house yelling for Michael and to ring the vet to tell them I was on the way. 11 minutes later we walked into the vet and only a couple of minutes after that my heart sank at the words that he had torsioned at both ends of the stomach. It was going to be a 40 minute drive to the Emergency Centre with him on fluids and already in a lot of pain and then I had to also consider the 000s of $ that were required to even go into surgery with no guarantee of success. I looked into his eyes and he told me what had to be done. Fanning was my big, bodacious boy out of the Leelu/Red litter, who wasnt going anywhere from just a few weeks old. From the time he got up on his feet I got to see that powerful movement that just raked the ground in as he moved across it. Whether 10 months old and striding across the paddock with a squealing wild piglet in his mouth or in the showring powering around the ring in the Best Gait class you alway knew he was there. He was my doofus boy. In the ring he titled at 13 months of age with 3 x 25 point challenges making up part of his 100 points, he was a RUBIG winner, 2 x Reserve Challenge at Specialty shows, 3 x Best Gaited (and many more times in the final group) and 3 x Sire & Progeny or Sires Progeny winner. And helped contribute to many of his mothers wins in the Dam & Progeny class. I have to thank Kat Glenn and Adam Barter for taking him in the Gait classes so he could look his best in recent shows. Was he my ideal ridgeback - as a dog to live with absolutely, but I think against the standard he actually produced that for me in MRUBISS Ch Isilwane State of the Union - to produce a son who could win Best Head, Best Gait AND Best Ridge classes as well as winning his class and on two occasions very close to the ultimate prize was something special. With limited use he has produced 6 champions to date with more on the way (including his son in the US who already has 2 majors) and many of those offspring have won their class at Specialty level and more property classes. I hope in the coming months I will be able to report that he also has at least his first Grand Champion daughter. I have to thank Leanne Walker, Vicki Moritz, Jo Hall, Dawn Redman and Clayton for their belief in him. Whilst many people hope to meet their treasured companions at the Rainbow Bridge - I actually believe that there is an alternate universe where there is another Rivendell and there Fanning has met up with his mum, half sister, half brother and will have been introduced to the foundations of Isilwane Kennels and they will all be off hunting together until such time as I get there to walk the paddocks again with them. He was also THE lead male at Isilwane - only one dog stood higher than him in the pile, and many nights of the week, she would come up to the runs with me and stand waiting, whining at the gate, while he stood cowering behing the gate before bravely pushing though only to be grabbed on the nose by her, then she would chase him around the yard, grabbing at his back legs to remind him she was still on top, never did he react back or not give deference to her. Last night she came up with me and I could see the puzzled look on her face when he didnt come out to greet her, Im not the only one missing him. I never had any doubt on Wednesday night that the only song that I would put in this Vale would be one by the band after which he was named - Powderfinger - just like him they were a big bold Pub Rock band whos songs are anthems in Australia and I think this one says it best. And if you like good rock music, have a listen at the link below, youll get a feel for my boy Im sure. Theres a truth begging to be told As the blues grab and take a hold To continue like this only acts as a force for no good I just want to say that I miss you and I felt pitiful Since youve been gone Im just trying to say I need something I can lean against So Im gonna steady myself on a reliable friend Theres a weight dragging through my days That I spend trying to fill the space Thats been there since the day that we parted and made our goodbyes And theres a truth begging to be told As the blues grab and take a hold And I just cant believe when I wake up that you could be gone And I just want to say that I miss you and I felt pitiful Since youve been gone Im just trying to say I need something I can lean against So Im gonna steady myself on a reliable friend Written by Fanning/Coghill/Middleton/Haug/Collins youtube/watch?v=vh05isN4pzI
Posted on: Sat, 31 May 2014 09:23:39 +0000
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