Hunter Hollow

What did I expect would happen when I got her home?  I expected, if nothing else, at least she'd die in a field eating grass like an old horse should.  She looked so bad, I had to call my local Chief of Police to let him know that I had just gotten a horse that was in terrible condition.  So much so that if anyone drove by and saw the horse in my front field, he might get a call.  He came over to take a look and he was disgusted at how people could let a horse get this way. 

As I led Queenie back to the barn I looked in her dull eyes and wondered what would happen.  

It didn't take her long to get her spark back and everyday she'd call to me at feeding time to let me know that I was, again, taking too long.  After a few months she gained some good weight and it was time to see if she wanted to let a skinny teenager ride her.   She was push button, calm and so good.  A very nice floating trot and good manners.  She was, as I expected, an extremely well trained horse who loved kids and loved to be ridden.  And spunky too. 

The time came when a new home would be found with a little girl whose family only had ponies and she wanted a horse of her own.  Except she was a little timid around horses.  She and her mother came to look at Queenie.  When the little girl led her, Queenie lowered her head so that she was at the same level as the little girl and walked quietly along with her.  It was a good match.  Queenie went to live with this family.  

Eventually the little girl gained confidence and outgrew Queenie. 

Queenie was about to enter a time in her life which would perhaps be the most important event in which she had ever been involved.  She became the best friend to an 8 year old parapalegic.  Queenie would walk beside his wheelchair and stand like an angel for him to brush her.  He even layed on her bareback a few times and she walked around their yard.  It was the first time he had ever moved without his wheelchair since he was born.  I am told it was amazing to watch.  This was to be the last home for Queenie.  She passed away the next summer.

I often think of Queenie and when I'm asked about why I take in a horse that's pretty much used up and worthless, I think back to Queenie.  She was worth her weight in gold for that little boy and her second chance was a greater gift then anyone could hope to give.            

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE CARE OF OLDER AND MALNOURISHED  HORSES CAN BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING LINKS: 

LINKS RELATED TO CARING FOR THE OLDER HORSE:

http://www.acreageequines.com/HorseCare/horsecare6.htm

http://lfrazer.com/geriatric.html

http://www.ivis.org/advances/Ralston/ralston2/IVIS.pdf

http://www.yourhorseshealth.com/Main/General_Care/older_horse.cfm

http://www.equisearch.com/horses_care/health/senior/eqsenior2505/

 http://esc.rutgers.edu/publications/factsheets_nutrition/FS759.htm

LINKS RELATED TO CARING FOR MALNOURISHED HORSES:

http://www.horses-and-horse-information.com/articles/0701abused.shtml

http://www.ehow.com/how_2307481_feed-starving-horse.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art

http://www.kentucky-horse.com/starved-horse.htm

http://www.thewayofhorses.com/

http://old.cvm.msu.edu/Extension/equine/EquineWinterStarvationSyndrome.pdf

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