Finally found a good farrier

Present time, I finally found a good farrier. He did an assessment on Shaun and said he looked like he would make a good trail horse. He won't be jumping, and maybe not dressage, but just toolin around on the trails? He's good to go. That's exactly what I wanted for him, so when he's ready, we'll get going. Have a saddle on the way that will fit him, again, when he is ready. We still have a lot of sharing territory to do to establish that bond and trust. No hurry, we both have about 20 years!

When we arrived home, Shuan was curious, tired, and didn't know me from Adam. No really, I wasn't even on his radar. My green grass was, the mares were, but not me. Eclipse was curious but Bit was miffed. Eclipse belonged to her ,you see. The boys were still in Iowa at the trainers, so Shuanie still had a couple of weeks to get aquainted with the mares, and hopefully be accepted. Bit was having none of it. She's a tiny, little quarter horse, maybe around 13.5 hh? Shaun is 16.2 hh. Bit is kicking his butt. I needed another miracle, but at this point, I think the angels were having a good chuckle at Bit chasing this very large throughbred around the pasture. He'd just have to serve his time, and pray those mares eventually liked him. He eventually went up to the shelter and slept and slept.

Hot, but no snot

I ordered some apf from valley vet, and will get Shuan on a long course of it in hopes it will build his immune system. Hawk brought home strangles after an overnight stay at my friends barn. I took my mare to a clnic and knew he wouldn't do well alone. He came home very sick and realized he had strangles. I started him right up on apf, and the next day he was symptom free. It's good stuff, and can really change the body condition of a horse. Hope Shaun not only gets better, but it helps him put a some mucscle and heals what ails him.

We are closer, the bond is getting even better, he he now comes to me when I hit the pasture. Maybe his heart is opening after all.

Not going quite as planned

My purpose for this blog was to tell Shaun's story. You know, the one that brought him here. I'm realizing that it's going to be more of a telling of what happened then, with moments of what's happening now. The story didn't end when Shaun arrived in Kansas. It had only begun.

June 5th Paul picked up Shuan in Washington, and left with a trailer full of horses, five sheep and one border collie. He had quite the menagerie, but Paul does not limit his shipping to horses. If something needs shipping, Paul has the savvy to move just about anything. It wasn't easy finding places to overnight the animals. A lot of the mare motels and fair grounds had closed their doors due to the virus. Somehow, just when he thought there was no room at the inn, he would fine the perfect place to stay. It's like this whole thing has been blessed, right from the very beginning.

After three long days of driving, Paul called to see if I could meet him in Marysville, Kansas. It would cut 2 hours driving time off his trip, and he also offered to take a little of the cost of shipping. My daughter and I left the morning of the 9th, I believe. It was hot, humid, and I had no idea where we would be able to tranfer an ottb from Paul's trailer to mine. Marysville is a pretty busy place.

We arrived early, fine dined on Taco Bell and began looking for a proper spot to meet Paul. I happened down a road off the main road, and there was an open gate, a big enough bit of turf to park two large trailers, and turn around. It was right next to a fenced ball field, so if Shuan did have issues, he wouldn't be going too far. It was perfect. We stopped at the local gas station and filled up a bucket of water, and headed over to wait in the shade of the trees by the ball field.

Paul arrived about 15 minutes later, off loaded Shaun, and we got our first look at a very big throughbred. What had I done? After hugs to Paul and a tentitive hello to Shuan, I grabbed the bucket full of water and he drank almost the whole thing. It took a few tries, but Shaun finally loaded up and we were on our way back home.

p.s. Shaun's temperature was 98.7 this morning. Still has a snotty nose, but seems to be feeling ok. The normal temp for a horse goes anywhere from 97 to 100.

Ya can't get there from here

The last time I shipped a horse from California to Kansas, it was around 800.00. Same amount when I shipped Hawk to Kansas. It was a long time ago, but I assumed it would be about the same. I was wrong. Shipping Shaun would be twice what I thought. Neil let his readers know, and we were astounded at the support this big horse received! People sacraficed their MORNING STARBUCKS! Some gave a little, some gave a lot.

Paul Lynch owns 4rail horse transport, he's the only driver, and a great horse shipper. The only trouble is, if he's not where I need him to be, and coming this way, it doesn't work out. The amazing thing is, he always seems to be right where I need him. Paul and his wife were supposed to be in Ireland celebrating thier 10th wedding anniversary. Because it was the tourist season, they decided to postpone Ireland, and celebrate...you guessed it, in the Pacific Northwest. Not too far from Enunclaw, Washington. How many miracles does this make? Stacy, who owns the barn where Shaun was recovering was generous enough to let Paul park his rig at her barn while he and his wife enjoyed their anniversary. That would put Shaun's departure date exacty one month after he left the kill pen, which gave him just enough time to put on a little weight, get his feet done, and his body a chance to heal. Just enough time, exactly. One more miracle.

Meanwhile, a terrible virus broke out in the horse community, and panic spread. The major vet hosital in Enumclaw was shut down due to a horse there having the virus. You couldn't transport a horse out of Washington without a vet taking his temp within 24 hours of departure and signing off on his health certificate. It was rumored state borders would be closing for horse transport. Paul and I were very concerned that we would even be able to get Shuan out of Washington. More cases of the virus were showing up, as the date to transport Shuan loomed.

Meanwhile, we needed a brand inspection. It's required in a lot of states, and Shaun had already left the auction house where they were being done. I called the woman that does the inspection, in hopes she would go to the barn where he was boarded and do another inspection. He had already had one, when he was first admitted to the kill pen. Another miracle, she didn't need to see him. She remembered my horse, and left another brand inspection at the kill pen office where Lisa picked it up.

I was starting to realize that Shaun was supposed to come to Kansas, all along. It was as if the universe was rearranging reality, just so this big horse could find his way to Kansas. Most days I just shook my head, smiled and knew it would all work out. It's not that I take miracles for granted. There had been so many, living in grace was starting to feel normal. Did I mention, Paul transported Shaun for 875.00? Another miracle, and counting.

We think he's ok...maybe

The vet is a good vet. He knows horses. He's not a cow vet that does horses, he a horse vet that does cows. Shaun was 100.9 this morning, he is 100.4 this afternoon...and it's hotter. Can you believe it's 104 degrees here? Death Valley was 104 when we were there. I thought I was in hell. Nope. But I think I live here now. It's all over, this heat. The horses have a shelter and lots of trees. I know, when you think of Kansas you think of dry, hot, flat and brown. No, we are in eastern Kansas so we are hot, flat and green. In spite of the heat, spending about 45 minutes at a time with the herd. Just changed out the water, as it's hard to keep it cold in this heat. The vet thinks it's a respiratory infection. I don't think he knows, but is hoping he pulls out of it with antibiotics. I think that's why his temp went down.

Horses. They are big, strong, regal souls who will mirrior your every move...and they will mirrior your soul too. If you have anger issues, so does your horse. If you have control issues, so does your horse. If you want a good horse, you have to be a good human. That's why your horse will be wonderful with a good trainer. The trainer is a good human being. You get the horse home, viola he has issues. Your issues. He'll never get better until you do. Aint that a bitch. Natural horsemanship is a lot of things. One of them requires you to quit blaming the horse for your own manure. Most folks would rather blame the horse. But that's another story. I'm sure you are wondering what the rest of the story is with Shaun, aka Cusack.

Neil from Horsetalknz commited to paying for Shaun and the shipping and would try to start fund raising through his web site. Well, we were blown away by what happened next. Unbelievable.

http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2011/05/o38.shtr

You can see all that Neil has written about Shaun on Horsetalknz. We talked and emailed a lot, so he between him, me, Shaun's original breeder, and a lot of other folks, Shaun's story unfolded. The donations came rolling in. Enough to pay the vet, the shipper, his board in Washington, the farrier, and some left over for food, supplements, vet, and farrier here. I think today was the first out of the pocket money I've spent on Shaun.

Yes, we had plenty of money, thanks to donations coming in from all over the world. But Shaun was still in the kill pen, and I was here in Kansas. What to do? I needed another miracle. She came in the form of Lisa O'Gorman. Lisa and her friend, Rachel drove to the auction house, and picked up Shaun. They said he saw the truck and trailer pull in and it was like he knew it was for him. Lisa said he looked like someone must have forgotten him. How else would he end up here, and thank you for coming and getting him. His feet were terribly tender from the concrete. He was so thin, there was no way he would survive a cross country trip. Lisa volunteered to pay the very expensive two weeks of board, and food, and supplement, and very good company. It's a good thing. The shipper wouldn't transport him unless he was quarentined for two weeks. That same shipper was unreachable, thereafter. Yes, I needed another miracle. No one could move him for less than 150o.0o. I didn't have that much. I called Neil and began to pray.

vet is on the way out

I do want to tell you Shaun's story. It is frought with drama, suspense and joy. Today however, I am greatly concerned. He was hungry after breakfast. I knew because he picked his bowl up and looked me right in the eye. Ottb's eat a lot. For you non horsey people, ottb means, off the track throughbred. He ate, came and said thanks and that's when I noticed a clear with yellow discharge coming from one nostril. Damn. I called the vet. He'll be here in an hour. I'll let you know how it goes.

Horsetalknz to the rescue

The folks at auction horses were very helpful, but it was Susan Young that noticed Cusack was a New Zealand race horse. Susan is from New Zealand, originally. She gave Neil at horse talk a call and then contacted me. I got right on it, and just prayed that it would all come together, some how. Of course I hadn't told my husband about the new horse. I wasn't really allowed another horse. I mean, why tell him when I didn't even know if I had another horse?

My husband felt that four horses was plenty, and he was absolutely right. I promised, NO MORE HORSES, and truly meant to keep my promise. I was in the shop with Tony, when the phone rang. He answered the phone and said, "You have an international call". Oh no! It was Neil, calling from New Zealand about bringing Cusack to Kansas! Yes, Tony heard the whole thing. After I hung up with Neil, I slowly turned around and faced my fate. Literally.

"Deb, are we getting another horse?"

"Um, yes?"

"I want to negotiate."

Tony got yet another get out of jail free card. He has several. And Neil confirmed that Horsetalk would not only purchase Cusack, he would pay for shipping, too. Two miracles in one day. First Susan spotted Cusack's tattoo, and then from the other side of the world, we got the help we needed.

The whole time, I can feel this horse and what he's feeling. I swear, he spoke to me.

Once I got the word from Neil, I called the auction house, paid for Cusack and then put out the word for help. I had to get him out of there. I needed another miracle.

Cusack, but you can call me Shaun

Cusack is a New Zealand off the track race horse. That means, he started as a race horse, and now he's off the track and no longer has value to the racing world. A lot of those horses you see on the track wind up in great homes, or retirement is provided by the jockey club. A lot, like Cusack end up in kill pens, shipped to Mexico or Canada and face a horrific fate.

I first saw Cusack on facebook. One of my friends had posted his picture in hopes that someone would step up and rescue him via auction horses. Auction horses is a wonderful group of people, ever viligent at recueing each and every horse that goes through the kill pen where they are located.

I always mange to walk away from these darn pictures of horses in desparate need. As my husband says, "you can't save them all". I didn't have the means to save a horse on the other side of the country, anyway. Until I saw Cusack. He was confused, anxious, in pain from standing on concrete for two weeks, and the first time I saw his picture, I gasped. I also knew I was in trouble. I didn't know how, but I was determined to save this one. May not save em all, but this one was not going to slaughter.

After a some back and forth posts on facebook, I found out Cusack was located a world away, in Washington state. Not only did I have to purchas him, but I had to come up with the money to ship him 1/2 way across the country. I needed a miracle, so I asked. A few minutes later, I got the miracle Cusack needed. Susan Young, a New Zealand import, now living in Florida contacted Horsetalknz, and Neil and Robin said they would contribute the funds necessary to get Cusack to Kansas. Simple, right? It was just the beginning. Cusack was going to need a lot more miracles for him to be able to come home, and escape the horrific conditions he now found himself in.