[gull.]

Rescued from the event.
For .Survivor.

"This elderly gelding has suffered a tremendously heartbreaking past. We believe he was bred and raised well, and we know that he spent most of his adult years at a riding facility for disabled children. That facility was a non-profit, and eventually they lost funding. Which led to them selling all of their horses. Some were fortunate enough to have been bought by an instructor, but this boy, like many others were sold to strangers. Now, his former owners tried their best to make sure that he was going to a good home, and they did. And he was treated well, though by this point he had developed a sway back, was unrideable, and arthritis had begun to affect his walking. Then his new owners fell into bankruptcy and he was forced to once again be sold. Unfortunately this time his owners could not wait for a good home to come along and so he was bought by a father who wanted his son to get outside more, and thought that a horse would work. It didn't and so this poor gelding was left to mill around in a backyard until the family sold him to the auction house. He limps, and will need his teeth floated regularly, both should be discussed with your vet. Other than that he is more than ready to go to his final home."

Owner: X
Show Name: Who You Callin' Old
Barn Name: Gramps
Gender: Gelding
Post: X

[.Survivor.]

Oh he is so handsome! Thank you so much!

Show name: Who you callin' Old
Barn name: Gramps
Halter color: Gold

Task 1: completed
Task 2: completed
Task 3: completed

[.Survivor.]

I had seen it in the local paper, in the news and on the web. The SWE team had just raided a couple of illegal horse buyer rings with the walkers deemed for slaughter. It was a heartbreaking story and I knew I had to help. I had plenty of room at the barns and I had plenty of land and time to give a rescue a new home along with my other rescued animals which varied from small dogs to Clydesdale horses and everything in between. I guess you could call me a sucker for things that needed love and kindness.....but don't we all?

I pulled up into the drive of the SWE main barn and as looked around as my truck and trailer made a rythmic drumbeat in the Rocky drive. I parked and got out as one of their farm dogs lazily ran up to meet me, tounge hanging out and tail wagging. I gave him a pat as I walked into the office. " I saw what had happened, is there anything I can do?" I asked the person behind the desk as she looked up at me. "Actually, there is. We need a home for an older boy and unfortunately most of the potential adopters want the younger walkers. We have had a hard time finding this guy a home." She explained as she led me to a stall.

I looked inside and a beautiful red and white head greeted me. I could immediately tell he was an older walker by the way he acted...but still, he was so gentle with big sad golden eyes that tugged at your heartstrings. I knew then and there HE was going home with me. " I'll be glad to give him a permanent home." the SWE worker looked surprised as she handed me the paperwork. " what do y'all call him?" I asked as I signed all the papers. " we call him Gramps because he is one of the oldest here. He is a sweet boy, but he just moves slowly." she said as I got a lead and a temporary halter.

I gently coaxed him out of the stall, which to be honest....was more like him hobbling as fast as he could out of the stall, and slowly lead him to my trailer. Honestly, I was surprised that he lead so good and loaded good as well. It made me glad I had a ramp built on the trailer so he didn't have to lift his feet very much to get in. It was like he knew he was going home. He knew he was safe. The drive back home was quiet and as. I pulled down the drive to my house, I could hear my other walkers nicker their welcome as I got closer to the barn and fields. They had a new friend and they were curious. This was going to be a good life for him. And I believe he knew it.


[word count : 495]

[.Survivor.]

Vet care.....ahhh the memories of once being a Vet myself. Ones of the horses stomping on your feet, nipping at your legs or arms, getting hit in the head with their head as they swing to look you in the eye. Yep. Happy memories...I thought to myself sarcastically as I dialed the number for the family vet. I prayed that he would answer at such short notice and thanked the heavens when the old man answered. "Hello?" the old man said in a gravelly voice as answered and told him who I was. "Ah yes! How are you doing today? How are the horses and walkers and all the other critters you got runnin' 'round there?" he asked as he started running rabbits as the old saying goes. I rolled my eyes and gently cut his speech about properly diagnosing a tick bite. "Doc, Doc! Everything is fine here. In well and so are the animals, but I need you to come look at this older boy I just got. Do you have some time?" "lemme check my calendar......" a couple minutes pause as I heard pages ruffle..." ah yes! I'll be by in about an hour." "Thanks doc! I'll have him tied for you." I said as I then hung up the phone.

I grabbed some sweet feed and a. Couple of treats from the bins and made my way across the yard to the barn. I grabbed an old halter and lead and headed for the pasture I had the walkers in. A pretty little mare and a handsome roan stallion greeted me with happy nickers and whinnies as I patted their head and fed each one a treat. I shook the bucket for Gramps as he seemed to be a bit hard of hearing. I needed to have the vet check that out too I noted to myself. I put the halter on and led him to the barn for the cross ties, and was surprised to find he tied easily and even grounded good.

I heard the dogs bark as the vets truck rolled up and an ancient looking white haired man stepped out. "Honestly Doc, you need to retire for your own health!" I joked lightly as he shook my hand. "If I go an retire, who's gonna look after this place?" he said back as he smiled. "Oh, what a handsome boy! An' an old one too I see." he said noting the slight swelling in the joints and the sway back. I watched as he checked Gramps over and looked in his mouth. " needs his teeth floated bad. Lemme get my stuff!" he said as he went and got his tools or as he called them, his "Stuff". He gave Gramps a sedative and then began the procedure once the walker was a bit loopy. After he finished, he gave the reverse drug and also some medicine for the pain of the arthritis.

"Give him this once a day. Try it with molasses and sweet feed of he won't take it straight." he said as he handed me a bottle and a prescription. " he'll be on it the rest of his life in afraid. But it'll help him. He's a good boy." he said as he got into his truck. I waived as he drove away and then led the drunk Gramps to his stall and have him some fresh water and feed. I stayed with him until he was fully aware again and I got a sweet, yet sloppy, kiss only a equine can give.


[word count : 595]

[.Survivor.]

written as a diary entry a few months after getting Gramps.

Entry: Looking back on it all, on the many trying times and hard time and the good times we faced together, I can truly say the gramps is a fighter. He's had a rough life, yet he kept on going. And as I look at him as he limps around the pasture, chasing Prissy and Crye in a slow game of tag, I am so proud of him and how he far he has come. Its been hard because of his arthritis and how it flares up, especially in these winter months. But with good massages, some acupuncture therapy, and some joint supplements in his food, he gets by happily.

He knows he isn't young anymore and he knows his limitations, yet he pushes them everyday. Some days he can gallop, and then some days he can barely walk. Yet he is always happy and gentle. He even takes his medicine good most of the time. The vet comes every once n a while when Gramps' teeth need floating, and he gets drunk then.....I Honestly think he likes it because he knows we snuggle afterwards. He loves people and has even become a therapy Walker who goes to nursing homes and children hospitals with me. The people see his struggle and his cheerful attitude and somehow it makes them happy and realize that they can keep on going with a cheerful smile. Everyone loves him and he loves everyone. I know he doesn't have many years left in his old body, but I know that the years we will have with him will be joyous and cheerful.


[word count from the beginning of the diary entry :267]

[.Survivor.]

All tasks completed.