Rescued Horse

I would like to share a story with you. We moved to the country last May. I had roots in this area and was "coming home". My plan was to start an animal sanctuary in this rural farming community. We have always had rescued animals, so why not do it on a larger scale? Anyway, I wanted an old horse to pet and play with as we have 15 acres and a big empty barn. We visited a local mule trader, who was a very kind man. He had a little mule he had rescued at a sale because the guy who owned him was laughing about the mean things he had done to the mule. Then, a month later, he also rescued a starving old mare. Two days after her rescue, we happened upon his farm. We bought the little mule and then he told us about the mare. We bought her for what he had paid sight unseen. When he delivered the horses, I took one look at that pitiful mare and went in a called the vet. He came immediately and said he didn't understand why she was still alive. She weighed less than 1/3 of what she should weigh. She had rain rot and fistulas from where a bad fitting harness had been on her, she was almost completely dehydrated. He floated her teeth partially as that was all she could stand. She ate and drank. A few days later she went down and we didn't think she'd get up again. We called the vet. He came immediately. He gave her IV fluids, more anit-biotics, more anti-inflammatory meds, more ointments and shampoos and very little hope. She had bonded immediately with the little mule and he was freaking out while she was down. Finally, we dragged her from the barn and put the mule in as he was really becoming a nuisance. He freaked and whinned and screamed. As the fluids and meds kicked in, she heard him and stood up. Seabucket has gained nearly all her weight back and after having been featured in the local newspaper, has become a local mascot. She used to stumble and had no light in her eyes. You she see the old girl now! She lost Worthless, the little mule the other day and man, can she run! She came by her name because my son was looking at her the day we bought her and said, "Mom, that horse is really bad" I told him, "Son, that's a wonderful horse, I'm going to enter her in the Kentucky Derby next year" He laughed and said, "Well, instead of Seabiskit, you'll have to call her Seabucket". So we did. You know, after what I saw a couple of days ago, she just might win that Kentucky Derby next year.

-Joyce G. Click here for a picture of Seabucket


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