This is the story of rescued horse Gregory with some before and after pictures.
Working to save Gregory
Saturday morning and I am on my way to begin looking after a section of horses at a rescue centre. I am to be the new field officer. Arriving in good time I meet the owner of the pony sanctuary. Once in the field I got my first glance of the rescued horses. First I see a bay pony, this is Sully, he is 30yrs old and been a children’s riding pony for many years, but now has Cushing’s disease and really bad laminitis. He looks up as we pass & slowly walks towards us to say hello. (Later he was to become my shadow in the field) I can see three more horses further along the field. I find the nearest one to me is Saahi, he used to be a Kentucky racehorse, winning lots of cash prizes, but since he has damaged his knees he is now retired to live in the safety of the sanctuary.
I looked at them feeling so proud that I may be able to help them. Then I saw Gregory, I stared hard as I saw him rub himself on the tree, blood on his face, neck and side where he had been rubbing till it bled. I found out this was the result of him being treated really badly. Also he was alone, the other horses not allowing him to mix with them. Gregory the outcast horse was in a state of trauma and anxiety like I had never seen.
Next day I took the horses a feed. They all seemed happy to try to empty my bucket for me. This is what horses do. I looked for Gregory he was at the farthest point of the field. With his feed and a few carrots in my hand I walked towards him. He was big weighing some 620 kgs grey with thick chest & body. As I got close my heart was racing, I could see him lower his head, his ears back as he angrily stamped the ground. My danger bells started ringing.
What was going to happen now? I soon found out, he ran towards me like a charging bull. Head down mouth wide open. I dropped the feed and ran, hopping under the electric fence to the safety of the walkway. Gasping, I now turned to see him trying to bite me over the fence. I had never seen a horse so angry for no reason. Now I really understood what I been has told about him, be very careful in the field near Gregory. He did look fearsome where blood dried had on his skin and face. What was I to do.? I needed to help him but also stay safe myself.
I really needed a plan. I sat on a chair just out of his range and looked at him. I did this for a number of days, each day Gregory would try to get to me over the fence. I wanted so much to get him to rest his very angry head on my shoulder, but was afraid to go near him. How could he be so angry, so traumatized with the world? Two weeks passed of me sitting just looking at him, then late one afternoon he stopped trying to attack me, he walked towards the fence and stared at me, he was wondering what I was doing, he still looked fearsome and angry, this was my first breakthrough. I offered him a carrot, with neck stretched & his ears almost flat back he took it. Now at last Gregory needed a friend and I had decided somehow it was going to be me.
I went home feeling so happy, thinking of what I was about to try next day. Morning came and I was at the fields early. Feeding them all I was looking for Gregory. My heart sank, there he was back rubbing on the tree with red stains on his muddy white coat. Slowly I went towards him, he looked across at me, I stood very still looking for my escape route. Putting his feed slowly to the ground I got ready to run. Gregory began walking to wards me, getting bigger as he got closer. I was almost frozen to the spot, would he attack me or not? I pushed his feed towards him so that it was between me and him.
Now he was only 4 foot away. I never moved just stood looking at him. My pulse rate must have been over 5 times normal. He walked to me sniffing my coat, then my boots. I could see his skin all broken & red with blood stains. Lots of small cuts and mud splattered on him. He was a very scary horse up close. I felt him brush my back with his head, pushing me, rubbing, he was itching himself on me. Not quite so angry now, had I made a friend? I reached out and put my hand on his chest. Letting it rest to see what would happen. Slowly I rubbed it, moving a little bit higher till I was on the side of his face. I gently turned towards him. Then with a snort he plonked his head on my shoulder. At last I was able to touch him but I was far from safe, Gregory still had lots of bad issues. I was to find this out later. Read More
