They Come to us for a Reason

Kristen and Seven
I received an email today, from a horse woman who was unknowingly sold a horse with some physical challenges she didn't know about until the horse was hers.
Does this sound like a story you have already heard or experienced yourself? I think virtually every horse person on the planet can relate very strongly to this woman. I know I can, as both Raya and Vashka came to me with serious health challenges I wasn't privy to until their checks were written and they were mine.
Vashka had tremendous back pain, feet issues and Insulin Resistance. Raya, even though she was only 6 months old, had a knee injury! I believe every horse who comes into our lives does so on purpose. And I believe that the horses with "issues" -- the Sensitive ones -- are guided to us with Divine Help.
When you read Kristen Hall's story you will feel her open heart -- her gratitude at being able to help her new horse, Seven -- as opposed to feeling burdened by his problems.
" My friend Wendy and I had been thinking about rescuing a horse together. We weren't really actively looking for a horse, but we had seen some pictures of horses at the local feedlot; the pictures were posted on the Facebook page of a horse rescuer we know. We actually saw a nice Paint gelding that we liked, but he was adopted by someone else immediately.
Two weekends ago, I went over to the rescuer's barn to meet some of the recent rescued horses. She said if I came out to the feedlot with her that day, that she would rescue a pregnant mare from there for her daughter. Well, how could I say no?? All I had to do was go and it would save the life of the mare and her unborn foal.
On our way there she mentioned that at the feedlot they just got in a black gelding that was a broke trail horse I might be interested in. I said, "Oh, we're not actively looking for another horse..." Anyway, long story short I fell in love with him that day, and my friend Wendy came out to meet him the next day and fell in love with him, too. So we decided to get him. He was only $500, although that's a little expensive for a horse at the feedlot. After we paid for him, we noticed that he had a gash on his back left leg.
The person at the feedlot hadn't noticed it (yeah, right).
We brought Seven, (we call him this because of the white blaze in the shape of a 8 on his face) home to our barn that day. Meanwhile, the rescuer posted pictures of Seven and me on her Facebook page. This is where the drama begins.
A local horse trainer saw the picture and posted this comment on Facebook: Oh wow that black gelding is Seven from X stables. If anybody would like the back story on him let me know. He is potentially dangerous and someone could get hurt. his sore on his back leg has been treated by Dr Paul Wietz from Northfield, MN and last I had heard he was gonna need a very expensive surgery to fix him.
As you can imagine, my heart sank when I read that. Not so much about the expensive surgery, but that he was potentially dangerous. I was very worried that our barn owner would get hurt being around him. And I was worried that I could get hurt! Wendy and I got on the phone with this trainer.
She claimed that he had hurt several people, but she couldn't give us any specifics. She had never trained this horse, but she knew a trainer who does "the old cowboy ways" (in other words, abusive training methods) who couldn't break this horse. We found her credibility to be sorely lacking. I did some research and found out that she had been kicked out of 3 barns in the last year for safety violations. The good thing that came from the conversation is that she knew the vet who had been treating his leg since June.
We were able to contact the vet, who was lovely. He told us that this is not a dangerous horse, but he's in pain and is tired of being poked and prodded in his wound. The vet was also horrified that anyone had ridden this horse wounded. He did recommend exploratory surgery with another vet to find out if there was a foreign body in the wound that was preventing it from healing. He offered to give us all of Seven's medical records so that we didn't have to spend a lot of money coming to the same conclusion he had come to.
Meanwhile, I have spent quite some time with this horse and I can tell you he is the most gentle horse I've ever met . Our barn owner says he is a true gentleman! He is getting along very well in the herd and seems really happy and relaxed. So, he's going to the vet Sunday afternoon and will be looked at on Monday.
Another blessing is that since we are sharing this horse, we will split the cost of this surgery. I also find it serendipitous that this is happening the same week I get my bonus at work. I told Wendy the other day that this horse is a gift, and I truly believe that.
I will keep you posted on how it goes! He has really liked the "Flower Power" I add to his vitamins, and I know he will love the After Care cookies and the new trail mix too!!!
Kristen and "SKODE" -- aka -- Lori Yearwood
Skode's Horse Treats, Inc.
www.skodeshorsetreats.com

"It's About a Lifestyle"
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