Good luck, Monoveros6! With whatever you decide to do.

For everyone else, take this time to make the tough decisions. About 1 year before my horse coliced, my friend's horse did. She was facing surgery on a 15 year old trail horse whom she loved to death. Financially it wasn't an option but it was hard to make that call. All of us decided right then to make decisions about what we would do in that situation. While we were thinking clearly.

A year later, my horse coliced. I had always said NO colic surgery. Based on costs, recover rates, etc. I stood by that. It was hard but having made the decision earlier made it easier.

Somewhere - behind the rider you've become, the long hours in the saddle,
the ribbons you didn't win, the falls you've taken, the tears you've cried,
and the horses you've given your heart to - is the little girl who fell in love
with the sport and never looked back. Ride for her.
-- Author Unknown