A rider has created a new way for horse lovers to remember their special four-legged companions following the loss of her beloved gelding.
Devon-based Victoria Marsh lost Sky (pictured top) to kissing spines and wanted to honour him in a unique way, and felt his ashes should not just be sat in a box on the self.
Her wish ultimately led her to found Afterstone, a company which creates handmade ceramic pieces from a small amount of ashes.
Victoria hopes her creations will provide other owners with comfort after a loss, like the memorial pebbles have given her after saying goodbye to Sky.
“For years, Sky’s ashes sat in a wooden box at home,” she said. “I kept thinking there had to be something better — something I could actually hold, something that felt like him rather than a container on a shelf, so I built it.
“Afterstone Ltd turns a small amount of horse or pet ashes — up to 50 grams — into handmade ceramic pieces. Smooth, weighty pebbles, hearts, bowls and vases. Things you can pick up, hold, keep on the windowsill or the yard office desk. Things that feel right.”
Sky was a 16.2hh bay who Victoria saved up to buy and adored. Sadly he had to be put to sleep after kissing spines surgery and rehabilitation didn’t work.
“Horse people don’t need me to explain what that feels like,” she said. “You just get back up, you keep going, and you carry them forward with you.”
Victoria said that she now finds comfort in seeing and touching a fitting tribute to Sky each day.
“Sky now lives on my windowsill as a collection of pebbles,” she said. “I pick them up every day. It’s completely different to a box and they have been really well received by the local horse community.”
For those who want to scatter ashes in a place their horse loved, Afterstone also offers farewell sets that contain a biodegradable scatter tube, a personalised engraved memorial stone and a farewell guide.
Prices for the signature afterstone collection start from £115. Find out more here.
Images by Victoria Marsh/Afterstone
