Finding Grace

A couple of months ago, we decided to purchase a horse from a local feedlot. (Yes-- if you know you know). With Jlo being out of commission for months and most of our horses being older, we thought it might be a good idea to get a young horse for my husband to work with. We found her on the feedlot's website. She was named "Sage". We watched her videos. She trotted and loped sound. We paid the money and waited for her to show up.

She was transported to us and we kept her next door at my daughter's home. Feedlot horses often have to be quarantined for 45 days due to the contagious illnesses that they are exposed to at the feedlot. We were surprised to see a healthy horse get off the trailer (or so we thought). She was uncannily quiet. Our other horses could see her across a fence behind her barn. We never saw her nicker or move faster than a walk at her enclosure. She showed no interest in the other horses. She also showed no interest in us or food. After 60 days, we brought her up to our home. We turned her loose in our arena. She still wouldn't move faster than a trot. We were a little perplexed but figured she was just a very quiet horse.

As we moved her into the barn, we began looking into her body more deeply. We were horrified to see the damage done to her body. She has huge divets in her neck. They are about an inch wide and about an inch deep. She has saddle sore scars from being ridden with sores. She has old scars on her hips. Finally, she has an old muscle tear that was not treated. It doesn't cause her pain but does cause gait abnormality at the walk.

This is not a normal neck!

Our plans began to change. We decided to hold off on riding her until we could get some answers. Our farrier felt that she had a sore back and needed some work on her feet. We called our vet for a chiropractic visit. She was so upset and reactive that she reared and hit her head so hard we had to put her on painkillers and watch her for 3 days. We then called another vet to do some acupuncture. This was successful, however she found evidence that led her to believe Grace had been shot and had buckshot remaining in her body. We had someone do bodywork on her. She found sore muscles, scar tissue and fear when touched near the poll.

Beginning to be interested in people!.

This all sounds dark and hopeless. HOWEVER---- this horse has come to life! She nickers and plays wildly in the field. She gets along with all the horses in our barn. She is kind and patient when doing groundwork with my clients. And have I mentioned that she is beautiful!

Grace is defined by Christians as " the free and unmerited favor of God". I feel that this explains this horse. She has no reason to trust us or want to engage with humans. We have no explanation why she enjoys people and is kind to everyone. She didn't let the bad destroy her soul. She did not let her past define her present. She chooses to forgive and trust humans. Often this is my goal in working with clients-- to help them accept their past hurts and not let it hold them back.

I have no idea what Grace's future holds. I dream of her finding a home with her own person. She may be here until the end-- who knows? We are working hard to find how to make her feel as good physically as she is mentally. We continue to look for ways to heal her body. In the meantime, she is helping others heal their hearts and teaching us all how to have "grace".