Since I had a melanoma removed from her ear several years ago (that's a very unusual site), I knew that it was probably the malignant variety. Horses' melanomas are seldom malignant - a fact that has fascinated researchers for years, but they can turn into that. The one in her ear was oozing black sear which, normally, they don't. They're usually just hard little knots on the tail, genitalia, and belly exposed skin of grey horses. This one on her neck is much bigger, it's under the hair, and it seems rooted in the muscle.
I first saw Allura when she was a two year old and a blue roan filly at a friend's pasture. She was lovely-undeniably the best in the pasture. Never thought once of actually owning her. Thirteen years later, I purchased her in foal and she was snow white. She has never been trained for anything - she's just been a broodmare. I'm the only one who has ever really handled her. She had 6 gorgeous foals for me - I still have three and two grandbabies.
Now it is time to do what's right for her. I need to send my beautiful mare on to God's pastures to run free, graze as much as she wants, and have shady trees to rest under. She knows. She's good with it. I'll miss her.
