When the mare came in, she was on three legs and much worse then I expected her to be. Not sure if we should attempt this big of a risk or not. I had a million things running through my mind. I figured I would just hopefully bump her up out of kill price and someone else could take her home.. How insane am I, do you think anyone but me and the killer buyers wanted this mare? NOPE!!!! I got her for 12 cents a pound and still think that's to much..

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Now comes the time where we have to go out to pens and get the mare. Every pen rider at the place kept asking "did you buy that crippled mare".. Like I didn't realize what I had done.. To which I wanted to reply Crippled? What do you mean crippled? I bought her to be a barrel horse, I'm going to run her tonight! Now that would have given them something to talk about for years! How this stupid little girl bought this skinny old mare on three legs for a barrel horse, and she was going to ride her that night.

As we entered the pen the mares head picked up and eyes got a little brighter, she shuffled on over and dropped her head into the halter. I lead her out to the trailer and man can this little mare move on three legs. She practically drug me out the gate, through the alley and out to the trailer. Almost like she knew where she was going and wanted to get us out of there  before I changed my mind. I was also thinking if this mare drags me around on 3 legs I bet she is a terror on 4!

Once home she settled in just fine. Is happy to be just where you want her. She greats everyone with soft whinnies whenever they are coming in or out of the barn. She has become a fast favorite. So easy to doctor, so kind and gentle. I left for work out of state and left the doctoring up to my Mom. Now this mare is her shadow, she hobbles around to stick her head in my Mom's chest where ever she is. With daily bandage changes, antibiotics, bute and cold housings. We got most of the swelling out of the leg. She at first was non weight barring, by the time I got home she was baring weight on the toe. X-rays show a horrendous bone infection, and even worse a joint infection in the pastern joint. Not the prognosis we are looking for. Actually this is quite bad and the chances for this mare are slim to none!

The vet that saw her wanted to put her down right then and there. He got more then a bit snippy when I told him we would like to try. The mare is in pain from the leg, but far from suffering. She is alert, perky, gets around, lays down and gets up on her own, eats like a pig, and really seems to have a will to live. Since she did show improvement in just 5 days we thought she did deserve at least a chance. We will not allow this mare to suffer and at the first sign that she is we will have her put down. But if she continues to improve then I say let her and she will tell us if and when that time will come.

If I didn't know better I would say this mare knew what was going to happen to her. The 5 days at home she is quite content, at ease, and really I think she is happy. After loading for the vets office she became very nervous. Wide eyed, tossing around, untied her self twice in the trailer and started to try and work on the swing door latch. She would call to me every time I went into the gas station, follow me from the front of the trailer to the back. Really an upset and worried mare. At the clinic I was told after I walked out to see the x-rays that she would not stop staring at the door I walked out of, coming back in as soon as she saw me she started her soft whinnies. On the trip back home, she stood just fine, never untied her self, was quiet and at ease for the whole trip.. Once home I untied her opened the trailer door and thought I would allow her to mossy around the yard for a while. I went in the house for about 2 minuets came back out and she had went in the barn, found her stall and put herself away.. Found her just standing there head hanging out the open stall door.. Almost to say Look I'm home and I'm really no trouble..

We know the chances on this mare is not good. But we will do the best we can to help her through this and whatever will be will be. Hindsight being 20/20 and knowing how well I like this mare I wish I had paid the asking price for her all those months ago. She is a super nice mare, wonderful disposition, kind, gentle, keen little head and with some groceries she will be a looker. She has some very nice lines. Her full brother went to the world in team penning, and I believe others are money earners as well. This poor mare just went down the wrong road.

Not sure what to make of this but the number this mare keeps pulling up is 110.. Her lot number was 110, we paid $110 for her, her vet bill was $110.. So we affectionately refer to her as 110 Jonsey..

We will hope for the best and hope you will as well..

October 1, 2004 - New Updates!

110 is not quite there yet, but come an awful long way! She is weight barring on all 4 legs now, getting around just fine. She is healed up and feeling pretty darn good. She went back out on pasture this weekend and we will see how she does. Like to see her put on a little more weight, but man she has come an awful long way! Just goes to show when you give them a little time and attention sometimes they can pull through the worst of situations.

We can't wait for a 2006 foal out of her and by Wheeler..

 

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