MY MOM PUBLISHED THIS IN THE PAPER. . . . . . .Letter to the Editor
Newport Daily Express
January 18, 2006To a beloved horse who deserved a better endThis is to everyone who has loved and lost a horse and wishes they could turn back the page and make it right. This is to my Spooky who deserved a better end to his life than what he got.Ive been a horsewoman all my life and I can pretty much look into the eye of any horse and see their true nature and whether its good or bad. I thought I could do the same with people but I was wrong.Last summer I asked a local horse dealer to ship one of my horses down to my sister in Massachusetts and then back to my farm again not long ago. I expected no trouble; Ive known this man a long time and called him my friend. People dont usually have nice things to say about horse traders but Id given the man a lot of business over the years and he seemed like a straight-up guy with me. I had only good things to say about him. I may not have fancy stables or million dollar horses but I love my horses as much or more than anyone who breaks the bank to own one and this man knew that. I expected no problems when I trusted him with my horse but I was terribly mistaken.If youve ever had horses, you know that there are a lot of good horses out there but maybe only once in a lifetime does a truly great horse come along -- a horse that touches your heart like none other. Its more than just finding the perfect riding horse or the best breeding stallion. A truly great horse is the one that goes that extra mile for you, the one who tries hard to do his job right, not because he has to, but because he wants to. And you realize that he is giving you every piece of his heart because he considers you a true friend. Spooky was that horse, he was my friend.Spooky came to me as a weanling a few years back. He was sick and scrawny and part of a shipment of rescued foals from the Premarin farms out west. (Urine from pregnant mares is used to make the estrogen replacement hormone Premarin, and the babies from these mares are usually slaughtered.) Separated from his mother and 20 hours of travel time in a truck full of frightened horses would be enough to make any baby crazy, but this little black and white Paint colt with blue eyes stepped calmly off the trailer and into my barn and seemed to know he was home. Spooky always had this wise way about him.He grew into a strong and gentle stallion. By two years old, he was broke to harness and broke to ride. He never once bucked or bolted, he was smart and kind and if he felt his rider slipping off, he slowed down. He was a pleasure to ride for any rider - advanced or beginner. He was the most well-mannered stallion Ive ever known. I worried once he started breeding my mares that his character might change but not so. He ran with the herd, was a respectful leader with the other geldings and a protective father with his foals. And over the years he filled my field with the most beautiful Paint babies. There was just nothing bad to say about Spooky, but it was his trusting and willing nature that set him apart from other horses. It was his character that made him truly great. Sadly it would be these qualities that would contribute to his death.My sister lives in Massachusetts and was having trouble with her horse. I offered to send Spooky down for a few months to build her confidence back. Not many people can send their stallion anywhere as a confidence builder, but Spooky was special. When it was time for him to return, he was loaded fit and healthy into the horse dealers trailer. He was in perfect health, not a cut on him. The trip shouldnt last too long so when we didnt hear anything we called to see where he was at. The answer was delivered cold: Spooky was dead, there was no explanation, he must have had colic. The man was clear on one thing, though. He wanted to dispose of the body himself, hed take care of it, he said. Better we didnt come over. The sadness and shock were overwhelming. I couldnt think straight. But did he think Id just turn away and forget this horse I love? Spooky had to come home, dead or alive.The story of where Spooky died keeps changing. We were told that he was fine after the trip; that they turned him loose in the trailer and he was suddenly dead in the morning. The man told someone else the horse dropped dead in the arena. And always the vague explanation, must have been the colic.Spookys body told another story. His hind leg was soaked in blood, with a gash in his pastern so deep it was close to severing the foot from the leg. When we finally found the trailer (it was not on the premises when we went to get Spookys body), there was blood spatter all up the side wall. It was clear that the horse had fallen and caught his foot under the partition in the trailer. The halter marks on Spookys face and throat were deeply embedded where he had hung until his death, unable to right himself. How could that be, if, as someone was distinctly told, he had dropped dead in the arena?Accidents happen with horses, we all know that. But when someone you trust doesnt have the decency to give you the straight story when the horse you love dies in his care - that is unforgivable. If the man had only picked up the phone, told me the truth and shown some respect for how this horse lived and ultimately died, I would feel some comfort. I would feel forgiveness. But lies are a quick fix for negligence and that is what I see here. And to add insult to injury, he wasted no time in banking the check my sister had given him for the transport fee.What is the value of a horse? How is it measured? I think I know. When a horse puts his muzzle in your hands and gives you his trust and makes a silent promise to do his best for you every day - and keeps it, that is a horse of great irreplaceable value. That was Spooky, he was that horse. I promised to keep him safe in return and I let him down. I couldnt help him that night and I have to live with that the rest of my life. Spooky had no pedigree and he wasnt from a long line of champions - and we dont have a whole lot of money. So does that make the end of his life less important? Spooky deserved better, he deserves the truth. He deserved a phone call and an apology and an explanation. He deserved to be treated with the same honesty and consideration in death that he had shown to those around him throughout his life. Thats all I ask for him.Tina Thompson
Vermont
MUCH APPRECIATION TO THE LESLIE GLASS TRIBUTE PAGE FOR MAKING THIS BEAUTIFUL CANDLE FOR SPOOKY
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