That is such a bummer, Becky. And will be a strain on you if you need to call out another in the middle of some worrisome event. I hope you can find another you like as well.
It's so funny, everyone I've talked to says, they feel guilty thinking this, but are worrying about their horses too. I know Macks first response after the shock was "you'll have to sell your horses now". He was just sooooo good at keeping his prices low. He told me he did it so people would do the preventitive stuff more regularly.
He and his wife have had so many tragadies in their lives. Their only son was killed in a motorcycle accident. He had a daughter. The girls mother remarried after a while and moved to Florida, so they didn't get to see her often. Every summer they would drive down there and get her, and bring her home for a month. They also went down there for Christmas. Really loved her. I have a feeling his wife will sell their place here and move to where ever she is. He and is wife were really close, you could see that when you were around them. I bet she is really having a hard time.
She worked with him in the clinic.
Becky