It started with a phone call. A lady named Bev who lives in Virginia had seen a Facebook post about a "Proud Cut" grey gelding in Roswell, NM. This gelding was a stray. These horses are listed for 5 days on the New Mexico Livestock Board's Estray Page and then sold to the highest bidder. Frequently Kill Buyers are the highest bidder. When I saw the Notice, I couldn't help but groan. Being described as "proud cut" virtually sealed his fate, even though the term is grossly inaccurate. Nobody would likely want to deal with a horse that was either a crypt orchid ( click here for more info) or had learned behavior issues. But Bev had a different plan. If FCER would take him, she would submit a bid high enough to secure him ($500), pay for transport (Roswell is about 500 miles from FCER), pay for vetting and pay for 60 days training. I must admit I was surprised when she didn't hesitate even when I told her Crypt Orchid surgery could cost between $800 and $1200. Pinch me, I must be dreaming, I thought. What a miracle!
And the miracles just kept on coming. I emailed a friend, Laura, who lives close to Roswell, asking for transport help. She emailed her friends and one, Rose, was coming up to Grants (about 8 hours away from Roswell) and could take him. That was a huge leap of faith, as we didn't know how this horse behaved, or if he would even load fairly easily. Now Grants is still 150 miles from the rescue, so I called another friend in Grants - Marti - to see if she could hold him overnight. Of course, Marti said! And finally I called the trainer - DeLaws - could he possibly work this "proud cut" feral horse into his schedule on such short notice? O'Henry would have to be able to be handled for his surgery. Absolutely, he said.
And so O'Henry's journey began. Rose drove to Roswell to get O'Henry and called me with wonderful news. She was able to get a halter on O'Henry and load him into the trailer by using treats! No feral horse here. The trip to Grants went very well. O'Henry stabled overnight at Marti's and I picked him up the next day. But I was running late, and had a vet appointment scheduled that afternoon at 4 for the 2 donkeys that are going to Durango. So my husband, Terry, met me on the road and we switched vehicles. Terry drove O'Henry to the trainers while I went to the vet appointment.
O'Henry will be taking a couple days off to settle in. Then DeLaws will work with him to prepare him to go into the exam room at Animal Haven Clinic in Farmington. I doubt O'Henry has ever seen the inside of a vet clinic. Once we know how much medical help he will need, we will adjust his rehab accordingly.
For now I want to say THANK YOU to the many people that helped save this one little grey gelding. I can't believe how many people stepped up to make this work. O'Henry will be available for adoption once he has completed his rehab and training. Sometimes it does indeed take a network to make things happen!
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