The Miracle Horse

by

November 19, 1999, started out as an average day. 7:00 am wake Dustan up for school, kiss Alan good-bye and send them on their way. 9:00 am: finish up my chores around the house. Now, it’s time to feed my critters. We have seven horses, two dogs, and a bobcat kitten. The day is about up when you feed these guys. My family was planning a trip over the Thanksgiving Holiday… destination Disney World. My parents were to take care of all our four-legged clan. They raised me and didn’t do so bad. So, we trust them with our animals. Our plans were right on track. 5:00 pm: Alan and I went over to do a routine check of our five horses, we boarded them at the neighbors. When we drove into the pasture there were no horses to greet us. We drove deeper to find Buckshot, my husband’s Appaloosa gelding just standing under an apple tree. As we drew closer, we knew something was wrong. His joints were full of fluid. He was swollen from his shoulders down. Buck was shaking … begging for help. I knew I had to find the others. Alan ran to phone the vet, and I began the worst day of my life. Leaving Buck was hard but not knowing about the others was worse. Eighteen acres feel like a million when your beloved horses are in danger. I began to walk and pray. Hoping for the safety of my horses. There is Buck’s pasture I found three of the four missing. They seemed to be okay. But, where was my beloved Bandy? My heart skipped a beat. I knew something terrible had happened. As I ran screaming his name I fell over some empty grass seed bags. There were eight! Nothing was left but a few seeds. I knew then what had made my horse sick. Dazed and upset, my heart sank as I realized I may not find him alive. Bandy was not just my horse. He was my soulmate, my best friend: He was part of me. Bandy taught me to ride again and enjoy it. I wanted to learn everything about him and give him the love he needed. He helped to make me the person I am today. We shared a bond that I have never experienced before. He had a purpose in my life … and he made me happy. He loved me and I adored him. Bandy, Bandy I cried! No answer.
I walked down to the creek. There he was lying lifeless … my beloved Bandy … my buddy, my pretty boy, and a part of me. I ran to him, “please get up”, I pleaded. I just wanted him to get up. Bandy had apparently drank water from the creek and his stomach had ruptured. There was no life left in him. How could my best friend be dead? I held him for a long time, whispered a prayer for him and tried to walk away. I couldn’t leave him. But, then reality struck … Buckshot … He was still alive and needed me.
When Alan found me I was in a state of shock. He sent me to my mother’s house next door. There I called Janice and Eddie Ghorley to come help. Jan knows everything when it comes to horses. (She’s my hero). When I calmed down a little I went out to help Buckshot, he was fighting for his life. As I approached the pasture I saw him lying down. Dr. Becky Teal was there, she ran blood tests and said to keep him warm. I did not know until later that Dr. Teal did not expect to find Buck alive upon her return. To her surprise, he was hanging on. It was important to Alan and I to bring the horses back home. This was no problem until it was Buck’s turn. It took six of us to get Buck to his feet. We tried everything from pleading to pulling him with the truck. We had to use a limb to strike his rear to make him move. We have never hit our horses. I believe this was the hardest part for Buck. He didn’t understand why the people he trusted and loved were hitting him with a stick. We couldn’t continue what we considered abuse. Dr. Teal and Jan had to do this task for us. Buck was so scared. Finally, he got up and we walked him home. Just knowing he was home seemed to help him. Dr. Teal gave us medicine to be dispensed every two hours. Alan was out there constantly … I believe he even slept out there. Buck was not allowed to lie down for more than thirty minutes, so we had to keep a close eye on him. He survived the first night and we thanked God. Dr. Teal warned us that the danger wasn’t over. He would have to begin passing the seed. To help speed the process we gave him Metamucil and baking soda in his water. I called my good friends Therese and Kent Vanattia and gave them the news about Bandy and Buck. As any good friends would do, they offered to help. Buck would need several injections and Therese was experienced with this so it was great to have her help. We were told to go ahead with our trip. My loved ones believed it was the best thing for me. I could not go outside without crying and missing Bandy. I couldn’t deal with reality. We planned everything out for Buck’s caretakers. We did not go to church on Sunday. We had been up for two nights and had no sleep. Glenda Garrett, my cousin and church member called and offered help and most of all her prayer. That night our church prayed for my family and Buck. Everyone we knew was pulling for him. Alan and I prayed that night that we would know for certain if Buck would make it or not. At 9:30 am Monday morning there was no change. But, the whole time Buck wanted to eat, we were encouraged by this. Dr. Teal informed us that a horse’s natural instinct is to eat, even if he is sick. If they have no pain they will eat. So, we had to be careful not to feed him too much. Alan began feeding the horses. I was waiting on Dr. Teal when Buckshot dropped a large stinky sign that he was going to be okay. You’ve never seen more excitement over anything than we were over a pile of manure. Buck was going to be okay. We could go on our trip and not worry that we would come home to another friend lost. We thanked God for this blessing and could not wait to spread the good news. 

“Buckshot made it because he is an Appaloosa and he had a great will to live,” said a relieved Dr. Teal. I believe it was because of the faith of our family and friends. Buckshot’s survival is nothing short of a miracle. Today, Alan rode Buck for the first time, he was a little afraid to walk but, as he realized it didn’t hurt he was ready to go full speed ahead. Everyday he gets better. As for me, people try to say the right thing. It will take a long time for me to get beyond losing my “Pretty Boy Bandy.” Many people believe they have a Guardian Angel who walks beside them. Not me … I have a Guardian horse running with me. I know that in heaven there is a beautiful black gelding gracing everyone with his love and beauty. I see him riding a once physically challenged child on his strong back. I can see the child laughing and smiling. Bandy was always an Angel on Earth and now in heaven! 

The season for planting and sowing grass seed is ever-present in our Southern homes. Most people do not realize grass seed is toxic. The chemicals on the sod are deadly to our beloved equine. But, to a horse, it looks like and smells like sweet feed. They will try it and like it. They will not stop until it’s all gone. A thoughtless act killed my horse. Please don’t let this happen to your precious horses. I cant bring Bandy back but I hope by sharing my story that I can stop it from happening to another. Remember DON’T leave bags of seed lying around anywhere and please remember that they are still animals no matter how much we love them. If they see something that looks and smells like food, they’re going to eat it.