“Goodnight you princes of Maine, you kings of New England.”
― John Irving, The Cider House Rules
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Read it twice, listened to it again just lately. I even liked the movie.
I used to say this every night to the 2 oldest horses here on my farm. I would cozy them up in the barn and say this in various ways. They are both gone now but every once in a while I will say it in their memory. 
Love Irving and that book and Garp and Owen Meany. Love my ponies, too.
The phrase that usually goes through my mind when hanging out in the barn with them is Churchill's famous one - "there's something about the outside of a horse that's good for the inside of a (wo)man."
That brought me to tears. Your horses were so very fortunate to have been in your care. You are a good soul.
I love them. They were my first two. It about killed me when they died but it happens, they were both old when it happened. The rest of the herd is getting on now so there are two more oldies in those two stalls They get out all day but in for the cold nights. There is something special about the smell and the warmth of the barn when there are horses inside.
I feel I was the fortunate one to have such wonderful creatures in my life.
This was very nice of you to say. 
Thank you so much. **now I have tears**
