Second Chance Stable

Early in February this year we received a call from a lady in Frostproof, south Florida. She had just taken an abandoned horse who was very very thin and had been left on a foreclosed property. She asked if we would take him, we said yes. Two days later a very sad looking paint gelding arrived, extremely thin but none the less beautiful. He seemed to understand that he had come 'home' and gave kisses to everyone. We called him Pirate. Our vet Dr Brian Dillard came out the next day to meet Pirate, he gave him shots, pulled a coggins and checked him over. Pirate appeared to have a large lump half way down his neck, Brian said he had probably been kicked and as he gained weight the trauma site be less visible

 We allowed Pirate to roam the property and he would wander in and out of the barn as we were working to see what we were doing. When we were exercising the horses he began following on his own and wanting to come on trail rides, when we shut the gate he would stand and scream for us!

When Pirate had gained weight an was clearly feeling better, it was time to see what this little guy was all about. We selected Scarlet, our youngest and smallest rider, we put just a saddle pad on him and took them into the arena. We lifted her up onto him. Pirate did not mind at all and was more interested in who may have treats in their pockets! We led Scarlet around on him and when we were sure all was fine, we let her go to ride alone. We laughed and laughed at what came next! Pirate was a beautifully gaited Paso Fino!! I swear he was smiling, Scarlet certainly was.

Pirates First Ride (must watch!)

http://youtu.be/Y_Tfc8nAazc

So, as Pirate gained more weight we began light riding a couple of times a week to help him build some muscle. We gauged our work with him as to what he was doing while free, so when we witnessed him galloping and playing that's when we began walking down the trail with him. He entertained us everyday, we had an escaped pony one day and as we were running with feed and leads, Pirate galloped ahead of the pony, cut her off at the gate and herded her back to the barn like she was a cow!!  Another day we were bathing a young horse who did not want to stand still and Pirate positioned himself on the other side of the youngster so she had to keep still. Things like this have to be seen to be believed and from the 100's of horses we have met, Pirate is unique in personality and intelligence.

Gaining weight

By chance a Paso Fino expert came to the barn and watched Pirate ride. He told us that he was a Columbian Paso, and bred for color, he said he was rare because his gait was 'perfect' and normally the colorful paso's were lacking in their movement. He had once been a very expensive horse. We told him about Pirate's background and how he didn't like to lift up one back leg for the farrier, he felt around his back where he found an anomaly on his hip.

 Dr Owen asked we put Pirate in a stall so he could get to the leg. As we put him in the stall Pirate positioned himself with back leg against the wall and looked at Dr Owen as if to say 'Perhaps I wasn't clear, I don't want to lift that leg' Dr Owen laughed and said 'He is smart!!'

And so we began the X-rays, Pirate understood perfectly well what was going on and stood rock still for over an hour for 15 different X-rays on his stifle, back and neck. 

Now here comes the amazing part of Pirates story after going over all the X-rays, from all angles, this was Dr Owens diagnosis. During the car accident, Pirate had suffered a broken neck and a fractured stifle. The amount of pain he must have been in while alone is unthinkable. Through the healing process visible on the pictures, Dr Owen guesses the accident took place approx a year ago. Pirate is a living breathing miracle.

Dr Owen himself said the only way the broken neck had healed was Gods work, that Pirate suffered no neurological damage (in fact quite the opposite) is Gods work. Pirates fractured stifle has healed, and will get stronger as he gets stronger. The body will, eventually heal itself.



Wow, this was a lot to take in. What a brave spirit this boy has!! If he wouldn't give up why should we? If Pirate was a human, he would have a simple knee replacement, being equine, the operation is beyond our financial means and we don't think it would make a huge change for him, the fracture has healed and Pirate is not in demanding work other than to tote a child around occasionally, he does most of his exercise alone bucking and galloping free. The only time Pirate needs meds is a couple of days before the farrier comes for him, this makes it easier for him to lift his leg, and we position him so its comfortable for him.

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