some very "deformed" hind legs yet he still manages to get around pretty
good. He's four years old but hasn't been gelded- something that will
change this spring. He's a dark sorrel, about 30" at the shoulder; possibly
he shows some of the dwarf traits some mini horses exhibit. He's a little
fat and full of burrs but a sweet, well mannered guy.
He spent his time with some other mini horses and some large mares until his
owner could no longer keep them. She was able to find homes for the other
horses but Chance scared everyone off with his bad legs. We decided to take
him and give Lily, our spoiled mini, some company. Somebody needs to care
about the disabled ones, and who better than us, with our own disabilities.
Lily has been alone since her son Charlie died and she was moping around and
getting fat. She got very excited whenever riders came down the road and
even talked to passing horse trailers. Although she could see horses at the
farm across the street it wasn't the same as being with another horse.
Despite all of that Lily wasn't totally sure she liked this new guy. He's
shorter than her by about 6 inches. He smelled different and was a little
unkempt. We put them in stalls with a gate between them for the first day.
The next day I took Lily out on a lead into the pasture and turned Chance
loose in it. He was happy to get outside again; he wasn't used to a stall.
Chance wandered around smelling everything and Lily was stamping her feet
and giving little mini squeals. If he came too close she presented him
with her rear and kicked out. But she watched him intently. The next day
I put Lily in the east pasture and Chance out in the little paddock behind
the barn and they could see each other through the fence.
Lily spent a lot of time standing at the gate but if Chance stuck his nose
through she bit him. She also spent a lot of time racing to the far end of
the pasture and back, tail in the air, showing Chance just how well she
could run. She was getting exercise without even being with him.
After an hour or so of this I let her back into the little paddock with him.
She promptly began chasing him around but didn't seem too intent on actually
catching him. Chance seemed to understand just what he should do and he
didn't seem to have any trouble keeping away from her. Still I was a little
worried that she would make his poor little legs sore and I put him back in
the stall after 20 minutes or so.
The next day I let him eat his breakfast and then let him out. Lily's stall
opens into the paddock and she was already outside eating some hay I put out
there. They spent several hours together, with only minor chasing although
he was not allowed to get too close to Lily. However Lily would not let him
go inside to the water nor eat from either of the two widely separated piles
of hay I put out. So I put him back in the stall for the night.
They are out together today, well Chance is out but Lily was inside keeping
out of the wind. Hopefully in a day or two more they can share that big
area for shelter like Lily and Charlie did and I can use the other stall for
hay again. Our barn is crowded and we used the stall we put Chance in to
store hay. We are too old to put it in the loft anymore and go up there to
throw it down.
Chance needs to be able to get to the water and eat his share of hay in
peace. There is a windbreak for him but being inside on a blustery day
would be better. So for a few days at least I will bring him in at night to
the stall. Maybe by Christmas Lily will appreciate her Christmas present!
There are a lot of horses out there that need new homes because of this bad
economy. A friend actually adopted a mustang mare that was with Chance. If
you have room in your barn and heart for a horse rescue this winter please
consider adopting one.
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