by Dona Naylor


watch as the horse strides with purpose and curiosity through the creek and over logs on the trail. The young girl riding him has a huge smile on her face, as she knows she can trust this animal while enjoying her time in the forest, weaving through birch stands and breathing in the smells of earth and evergreens. I smile to myself as I watch the sweet expression on her horse’s dished Arabian face, because I know what he has been through. He is a schoolmaster and a favourite in the barn. He knows his job and does it with enthusiasm. He will be 22 years old this May, but last year was nearly the end of his life. He suffered from severe caloric deprivation. In short, he almost starved to death. When a horse is let out on a free lease, sometimes things go wrong, in this case,


I


severely wrong. However, please know, it is my belief that people make mistakes not from a lack of caring, but maybe from not having enough information about correct and necessary care. A year ago, the owner of the Arabian mentioned above received a Warmblood mare


from her daughter to allow her to move to a higher level in her dressage skills. It is costly to board two horses and difficult to ride both. A good friend suggested she lease to someone who was looking for a horse to ride at the time. To begin with, the brave Arabian had some existing health issues and needed to be


We at Island Times Magazine are excited to present a new column which celebrates the animals in our lives. We honour their honesty, their acceptance, and the joy they bring to us. Some animals are remarkable in what they can overcome. Sometimes they are heroes, but sometimes they are victims. This column is without judgment


or blame, but an effort to celebrate the amazing qualities animals possess in dealing with the moment, and persevering against odds that seem insurmountable. It is a place for stories that need telling. Do you have a story you


would like to share? Do you have a remarkable animal you wish to tell us about? Send comments and inquiries to dona.naylor@gmail.com. Please keep in mind we cannot print all the stories you send us, but we will try!


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treated as if he were a diabetic. His specialized diet may have seemed complicated but was clearly laid out by the owner. However, for reasons unknown, it was too much for the woman who was leasing. The Arabian was kept in a stall with another horse and a sheep. Given the gentle nature of this animal, he was most likely non-aggressive in his approach to food. Therefore, what was given to him did not likely make it into his mouth.


He lost over two hundred pounds in three months and his skin sagged and wrinkled


over bone and without meat or muscle. When his owner visited him after three months she was shocked and acted quickly in hiring the vet and a dietician. The vet did immediate tests for all organs in order to determine the extent of damage, and the dietician provided meals specific to his requirements. This meant soaking fibre max and alfalfa cubes twice a day with grain and daily supplements. When he came to my barn he had put on some weight but it had to be slowly. And he needed regular exercise. He soon thrived. His weight has returned to normal and his coat is shiny, his eyes sparkle, and he is a wee bit


cheeky! He is adored by the kids and adults in the barn and gets tons of attention. He is a perfect guy and we feel fortunate to have played a role in the survival of this animal. Sometimes, I look at him and see his past in his eyes and I believe he shows us his thank-you every day. IT


Read this article and more at www.islandtimesmagazine.ca. Send your comments to comments@islandtimesmagazine.ca.


Photo courtesy of Dona Naylor.


Animal Story


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