This message is from: Cindy B Giovanetti <cin...@ipi.org>
Thank you for rescuing this horse. I hope you bring each other years of joy. Cindy https://www.facebook.com/LifeWithOden From: keslie_d...@comcast.net To: fjordhorse <fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com> Date: 11/28/2012 12:55 PM Subject: Introducing My Rescue Fjord Sent by: owner-fjordho...@angus.mystery.com This message is from: keslie_d...@comcast.net Hello All- A while back Gayle Ware of Field of Dreams asked me to introduce myself, so I hope I am doing this right. My name is Keslie Down and last March, I adopted my four year-old Fjord gelding Trumann (picture attached) from the USPCA in Yamhill, Oregon. Trumann, along with his mother, mother's sister, and a senior Arabian mare, belonged to an animal hoarder who tried to hide them from the authorities for nearly a year before a farmer found them loose, grazing in his field, several miles from their original home. The seizure included the four horses, several turkeys, pigs, goats and chickens. When found, the horses were thin, malnourished, and anemic and their hooves were in terrible shape, but they took to their rescuers immediately and Trumann--who had never seen a trailer (or probably a halter) in his life, hopped right in and went along for the ride in true Fjord fashion. Upon his arrival they discovered that he had partial vision loss in his left eye, possibly due to an injury sustained while in the wild, though he wasn't (and isn't) bothered by it in the least. He became an immediate favorite at the Rescue Barn because of his sweet and accepting (and sometimes mischievous) personality. I have loved and ridden horses most of my life, and after taking lessons with Gayle and falling in love with the Fjord breed, I knew I had to have one of my own. I stumbled upon him in a Craigslist ad, his information squished between two flashy horses. I had been casually looking at other Fjords for a while, but hadn't yet found "the one." I told my husband that it couldn't hurt to just have a look at him--my famous last words! It was love at first sight. His calm, easy going (even for a Fjord) and trusting countenance won me over completely, and before I knew it, I was bringing him home just in time for my 31st birthday. It was a dream come true. The adoption was not without stresses--he was sick just days after we brought him home, runny nose, cough, the works. And, upon our vet's hunch, we tested him for leptospirosis (a bacterial infection caused by wild animal urine that's contaminated drinking water, which can cause blindness, kidney trouble, etc) and discovered that he was mildly positive. This put me into a complete tailspin as we waited to see what the markers in his blood work would do--what if he continued to go blind? I knew I couldn't continue boarding a young and completely blind horse. What could I do? I hated thinking about having to give him up. We waited, continued to rehabilitate him with good nutrition, antibiotics, iron, and LOTS of love, and when his vet check came back clear and healthy (a TRUE miracle), I couldn't wait to get out to the barn to hug everyone who had helped get him back on his feet. Trumann is now going beautifully under saddle, and is constantly learning and surprising us all. We call him the "Little Engine That Could." Gayle says he was an honor student during his training, and I continue to be amazed at his progress, his sound mind, and his gentle heart, and accepting spirit. I couldn't be more in love with this horse! Adopting a rescue horse is not for the faint of heart, and is surely not for everyone, but I can say, knowing what I know now, that I would do it all over again. It was a long road, but well worth the journey. The reward has been an amazing Fjord partner that I will continue to love and grow with for years to come, for better or for worse. Feel free to e-mail me with more questions or for info on adopting a rescue. I'm happy to share! I could not have done it alone--Many THANKS to Gayle and the wonderful people at Field of Dreams for all their love, support and prayers. And another happy ending--all of the horses in his herd now have forever homes! Trumann's mother and auntie were adopted by The Healing Reins Therapeutic Riding Center in Bend and they are amazing therapy horses who love their job. It doesn't always work out this way, and I truly count my blessings. Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
