Mississippifarmboy's Living Simple Journal, Ready for a Fresh Start.

[Wannabefree]

Dang Terry! It must be going around brother If you don't want that horse, I know somone who might take it, just PM me a few details and I'll call her. She is planning on opening a horse/dog rescue if she gets this land beside me, but she has a place for it now too if you don't think you can handle the extra work.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Thanks Cindi.
It's just a crazy situation with the horse. We were told he was a three year old, but our trainer said between five and six years old. He's a full stallion and had never been handled, never had a halter on or even a rope on him until we picked him up Friday. He's ran totally wild. The only time he had ever been in a trailer was when the guy bought him a year or so ago. The owner had him in a wooded area with little or no grass, no hay and said he wasn't feeding the ### thing because he was tired of him and because he wouldn't stay in the pen. Now we are talking about a SINGLE strand of hotwire here, with three mares on the other side of the fence. I hate mean stupid people.

He rushed us into getting him by threatening to let him starve or shoot him. I had really wanted our cowboy trainer friend to take a look at him first, but he didn't get a chance before we had to pick it up. Anyway, he's got to be cut and it's a $600 surgery. One testicle never dropped so not the quick cheap cutting we had planned. The training, feed and such we sorta figured on, but not a major vet bill on top of everything else. He's at the trainer's right now, but he can't keep him there unless he's cut because of all the mares he has there. We can't keep him here because of our mare. So... What to do? The surgery is Tuesday...

Here's the really tough part. Em and the kids are totally in love with him. He's a big, gentle boy. He didn't give us much trouble loading him although he was scared of the ride home. He's very intelligent. He'll come up to you, let you rub him, just very gentle for a intact male. We dropped him off at the trainers Friday evening. Within 5 minutes he had a rope on him, in 30 minutes he had a halter on him, in an hour he had the big boy on a lead and following him. He's a smart horse darn it. He's a Morgan/Persheron cross, very thin, his hooves are in terrible shape, but he seems to be in good health otherwise. Our trainer said he needed wormed, feed, hooves trimmed, worked and just shown a little attention and he'd be a good steady horse.

We just can't afford everything. I don't know.. I'll just keep praying, maybe I'll think of something. I hate to just see anything suffer and never given a chance.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Sometimes if it weren't for bad luck.....

I wish I had wonderful words of wisdom for you but all I can say is that I'm praying for good things to come your way.

I think the horse is mighty lucky to have found you - I hope you can work something out for him.

 

[Wannabefree]

Well MFB, if there is ANYTHING I can do to help, let me know. That is a tough situation, and the money issue is...well a money issue on top of money issues huh? So sorry it has not been such a smooth transition. This guy could be a blessing in disguise though. He sounds like a great horse! Maybe things will work out and things will smooth out for you all soon. Hugs to you and Em and the kiddos! You're doing the right thing by taking him, and the right thing is most often NOT the easiest! I know a good farrower when he's ready if that's at all helpful

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Thanks Cindi, and I do need a good farrier soon.

Those of you who know and love horses might wanna skip this post... I'm going to put in some pictures of Gus. (Yes, Em has already named the darn thing. ) Like I said before.... he's in pretty rough shape but then again, if he wasn't I would never have taken on another project.

All these pictures were taken on Friday, the first two where we picked him up, the next two during his first few minutes at the trainers.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

OMG - he's going to be a spectacular specimen when he's all better. His feet however....

 

[Wannabefree]

his poor feet!! And WOW he really is thin! I agree he will be a gorgeous boy, but man he is looking rough right now. Thank you Terry for taking him! Poor guy SMH

 

[Denim Deb]

If it makes you feel any better, I've seen horses in worse shape than him that were fine w/some TLC. And, I wish I had a pic of Misty when the rescue first got her-she was skin and bones!

He looks a lot like my pony, Licorice (she came w/the name and was black when I got her, now she's about the color of Gus). He will probably turn heads once he's filled out.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

If it makes you feel any better, I've seen horses in worse shape than him that were fine w/some TLC. And, I wish I had a pic of Misty when the rescue first got her-she was skin and bones!

Thanks Deb, we are hoping he'll be ok once we get him fixed up.

The trainer called early this morning, the vet had an opening today, so Gus is there in surgery now. He said he'd call as soon as he was done, so we are just waiting on the call now. He said we could probably pick him up on Thursday.

 

[Denim Deb]

Just remember, even w/the surgery, you need to keep him away from mares for awhile! If I remember correctly, it's a month. (I could be wrong though.) Hope everything goes well for him w/it.