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Grace/Mr. Bones
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For
the past few weeks I have been trying to help a very old,
very skinny, black, gaited horse. He was scheduled to go
to the camps this summer. This old, old horse probably has
no teeth, and has not been able to get any nourishment from
hay that is being fed because he can't chew it. He has steadily
lost weight. He also got strangles and lost more weight.
He is in very sad shape even though he is over the strangles.
I call him Mr.Bones. Mr. Bones is a docile old gentleman.
So docile in fact, that the other horses began to pick on
him and keep him away from any feed that he might have been
able to grab. Recently, a younger, healthier horse beat
Mr. Bones up so badly that his back was all skinned up and
he he could not get up without help. Since I first saw Mr.
Bones, I have been attempting to talk the owner into letting
me put this horse on my list. The owner wouldn't let me
do it because he could get more money for Mr. Bones by sending
him to the camps! Trust me friends, I have been hounding
the owner. After this last incident in which Mr. Bones was
beaten up by another horse to the point that he couldn't
stand, I received a phone call from that owner and he said
he would take $225 for Mr. Bones. Rescued 5/25/99
The
problem for me is that I not only do not have the funds to buy
Mr.Bones, but I do not have a place to keep him.
Is
there anyone out there that is in the Southern California area
willing to pay Mr. Bones' ransom and give him a home? He has
really been through the wringer and does not deserve to have
his last days on this earth to be full of more misery and more
neglect. It is my personal opinion that Mr. Bones would not
be able to be transported any great distance. He just couldn't
stand the journey. He really needs a home soon.
He
has been moved to a pen with some (hopefully) less agressive
horses and has been standing with his head stuck in the hay
trough. Munching,munching. But he is old, tired, weak, starved
and such a lovely old boy. I will try to get some pictures of
him this week so that everyone can see how much help Mr. Bones
needs. Thank you for allowing me to take up your time and ask
for help for Mr.Bones. This marvelous old soldier deserves the
very best in his few remaining years. Hopefully, someone will
be able to provide that for him. After all, hasn't he given
his very being to us? Let's try to give back to him. Thank you
for what you do, have done and what you continue to do for the
Mr. Bones of our world.
New pictures: 5/19/99 |
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Update
5/27: Well, thanks to several loving and caring folks,
Mr. Bones is sitting in a pen right out my back door! And, hang
on to your hats folks, Mr. Bones is a Mrs.!!! That's right,
the poor old horse rescued by these folks is a mare! HA! I have
no excuses. I guess I was just so appalled at her overall condition
that I never thought to bend over and double check. I'm such
a stickler for detail! HA! Anyway this lovely old soul
is now going by the name of Grace. She arrived literally on
my doorstep. The hauler brought her right to the front door
last night. The first words out of the hauler's mouth (other
than Blair{my husband} wouldn't let me bring her in the living
room!} were "Did you know she is gaited?" Well, I
knew she was gaited, but I didn't know she was a she. One out
of Two isn't bad...is it? I fed her some A&M with
a little Senior and threw her some nice leafy hay. This morning,
when I was spraying her for flies before I went to work, I noticed
wads of hay on the ground. So, I will schedule the vet to come
float her teeth (if she has any) and if she has no teeth we
will be doing the pellet mush thing. Thursday she will have
her feet done along with all the other kids here. I think Moses
and Callie are planning to go out dancing after they have their
manicure, so I imagine all the others will want to go too! I
noticed Shiloh practicing the Arabian polka and Chance was counting
off to himself as he did the Saddlebred Waltz. Skippy was bouncing
around doing the Paint Conga. Kids! Hope they don't stay
out too late and tire poor old Grace out! Just so Grace would
look her best for the dance, I brushed her out this evening.
Her whole pen is now lightly carpeted with dingy black hair.
The hair on this poor girl came out in handfuls! I started with
a soft brush, went to a shedding blade and ended up just removing
the hair by hand and then brushing. She is even skinner without
that wad of fur! Her skin is terribly dry (corn oil on
its way!). I used Corona ointment on all the horrible scapes
on her back, rear, chest, thighs, sides, neck, face and legs
which came from another horse beating her up. During all this
party girl fix-up, she stood quitely and when I was near her
front she would rest her precious head against me. This
is absolutely the sweetest mare! She is alert and loving. When
someone appraches the pen, she looks up with interest and comes
over. When you step inside the pen, she comes to you,
but is respectful of your space. She is so kind. A very gracious
mare. We are already in love with Grace. Moses was out
practicing the Thoroughbred Tango for the festivities and came
over to her pen. Although she is a docile, ancient lady, she
sure let Moses know she would take no guff from some youngster!
Yelled at him and struck out at him. Needless to say, Moses
was somewhat surprised (he is the bully of the bunch), so we
sent him to practice his dancing in his pen. I cannot
thank those folks who are helping Grace enough. No horse deserves
what had happened to Grace. Whether they be young, old, stubborn,
fearful, broken, crippled, unattractive (haven't seen one of
those yet), highstrung, cowed, bright-eyed, etc., they deserve
a chance to be the very best they can be. They give to us willingly
and unconditionally (unless harmed somewhere along the line
sometimes). Because of the wonderful folks that are helping
Grace, we are able to give back to her a little (a very little
compare to what she has given to humans). Thank you to all of
you for what you do, have done, and continue to do for the horses!
New pictures: 6/2/99 |
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(7/4/99)
Subject New Olympic Event: Here we have a picture of
the Amazing Grace Slick as she is training for the newest Olympic
Event. Yelling at Food! If you yell at your food, it will jump
in your mouth, thus avoiding soiled and unsightly lips. Grace
has developed her own technique of YAF (Yelling at Food) wherein
she moves in close to the attendant carrying the tub of food
which lets the food know she is near. This causes the food to
tense which results in high jumps into the mouth once Grace
starts yelling. She moves quickly along with the attendant,
and as the attendant bends to place the tub of tensed up food
on the ground, she pivots smoothly into position for when the
tub is set upon the ground. Once the tub is placed on the ground,
Grace moves in fast, barely giving the food time to realize
it has been set down. She then commences to yell at the food.
The food is so startled by the sudden approach of Grace's looming
body and loud yell that it literally bounces down her throat.
An amazing technique that has won Grace gold medals from every
maker of alfalfa pellets and senior feed. Of course, the addition
of 1/4 cup oil assists the food is its ascent.
As
an added threat to the food, Grace does the patented toe tap.
This toe tap is done while the food is being conditioned
in its tub for its ultimate placement before Grace. While the
food is having its water and oil and flax seed and A&M added
in readiness for the event, Grace can be heard in the background
stomping her foot-toe tapping. This is always done with the
left foot as she faces the gate. The reasoning behind this is
that her right foot is stable and bearing the weight in anticipation
of the first pivot into the attendant as they come through the
gate with tub of food. The food hears this in the background
and tenses up in anticipation.
A
fast paced and grueling event that the Amazing Grace Slick has
demonstrated time and time again with 100% results. There ain't
no food left when Grace is through yelling!
Thought
ya might like a little 4th of July fun. Let freedom ring! And
let the games begin!
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This is Grace now! (8/16/99)
Living proof of what food, love and care can do!
Wow! |
Update
1/30/01 - Grace has no back teeth and requires a special
diet which includes Pawier
Vitamins. She was rescued from a feedlot where she
was literally starving to death because she could not process
her food. Someone spent alot of time with this mare at some
point in her life. When being groomed or tacked up, she
will stand perfectly still. Due to her kind and loving nature,
Grace is the horse that beginners and children that visit
TIER are able to work with.
Update
1/29/04
- You've Got a Friend
When
you're down and troubled
and you need a helping hand
and nothing, whoa nothing is going right.
Close your eyes and think of me
and soon I will be there
to brighten up even your darkest nights.
You
just call out my name,
and you know wherever I am
I'll come running, oh yeah baby
to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall,
all you have to do is call
and I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah.
You've got a friend.
If
the sky above you
should turn dark and full of clouds
and that old north wind should begin to blow
Keep your head together and call my name out loud
and soon I will be knocking upon your door.
You
just call out my name and you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer or fall
all you got to do is call
and I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Hey,
ain't it good to know that you've got a friend?
People can be so cold.
They'll hurt you and desert you.
Well they'll take your soul if you let them.
Oh yeah, but don't you let them.
You
just call out my name and you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again.
Oh babe, don't you know that,
Winter spring summer or fall,
Hey now, all you've got to do is call.
Lord, I'll be there, yes I will.
You've got a friend.
You've got a friend.
Ain't it good to know you've got a friend.
Ain't it good to know you've got a friend.
You've got a friend.
...LYRICS
- Carole King
Grace
had been off her feed and not feeling well for a couple
days. Temperature was normal. Vet was called and banamine
administered. She still wasn't up to snuff and when she
did poop, it was very dry. Vet came out an administered
laxatives and stool softners. The next morning, Saturday,
she still didn't seem good and was lying down with her head
up. We made the decision to send her to our vet's clinic
for full blood work, etc. Blood work showed very low white
cell count. Normal temperature. Vet began tube feeding her
as she was not eating and not drinking enough. Antibiotics
were administered also. I visited her Sunday.
When I arrived she was lying down, head up. You could tell
she really felt bad. Of course, being the Amazing Grace,
she got up when I entered the stall. She was weak. She allowed
me to hug on her and encourage her to get better. She would
walk away slowly and kinda stand off to the side. She came
to me twice and put her head in my chest. I told her to
get better as we missed her and loved her very much.
Blood was tested again on Sunday evening.......white count
= 0. Heart rate was up. Monday, 1/26/04 she was somewhat
dehydrated and weak. Vet began admistering liquids. She
was not interested in food and there were small deposits
of soft/runny stool. Not alot. As the vet began to administer
I.V. liquids, Grace went into convulsions and died.
We don't know why. I am still reeling from shock and grief.
I just couldnt /can't believe it. The vet had asked
if we wanted to send Graces remains to the State Lab
to find out what had happened and we agreed. Once those
results are known (possibly a week or so) I will let you
all know. - Thank you to Carol D. for donating funds to
have testing done.
Gail - Im just kinda feeling flat and empty.
Im just not sure of much right now I just dont
get it. I dont understand. I keep seeing her beautiful
face..........
Grace came to TIER May 25, 1999. On January 26, 2004 The
"Big Guy" called her name and she went running
across the Rainbow Bridge to see him again. Grace was our
friend and we will miss her more than words can express.
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