Lucky and Me,

It was warm day in the summer of 2000 when the trailer carrying two horses pulled up into the yard. I watched a minute as the driver swung around and parked with the panel door facing the open field.  I had met the owner on not one but two occasions, when she along with two of her children wanted to visit our farm and look over the facility to make sure it would be a suitable place to bring what they called two very sweet and gentle horses.

Giving her a tour and going over all the paperwork that would be required in order to bring in the two geldings, I felt she was a rather nice woman and must have cared greatly for her animals. Not so, my opinion changed instantly as I watched the dirty, mangy crippled up thoroughbred and the sway back 4 year old pinto saddle bred back out of the trailer. My heart sunk at the sight of them. I thought to my self that she had to have nerve looking over our facility when you could see that no care went to these poor guys.

I however assumed to walk one down to the barn and get him settled into a clean stall with fresh water. With the intake of the second sway back gelding I informed the woman I would only be a few minutes and we could go inside the office to do the necessary paperwork. While I was bedding the saddle bred down, guess what! That so called nice woman took off, truck, trailer and all. I saw no sign of her when I went back up the hill. A bit upset and distraught I felt I had been hoodwinked into taking in these creatures.

I still had an email address where she had made several attempts to correspond with me. I think there were at least 6 e-mails prior to her coming out to the farm. I got on the web instantly and send an email demanding that she return and take care of the paperwork. She responded by saying she didn’t realize that she had a prior appointment and she had to run but if I would send her the paperwork she would sign it and return it to me. She gave me what was to be known as her address, no phone number but of course an email address.

Well to make a long story short, she was and is such a con artist if I only run into her once more it would be a lucky day for me and very unlucky for her. The four year old saddle bred was a pinto of vivid color. Vibrant, living color with a loving disposition. It seemed that in the process of trying to break him too early someone had actually broken his back and left it to heal without proper care, causing him to be severe sway backed. His conformation appeared to be that of a 30 year old horse or a horse with a deformity. How sad I thought. I cleaned him up with a bath, worming and started him on a good diet. Within a couple of weeks he took on a whole new personality. He actually thought he was special, kind of pranced around the fields and even struck up a friendly buddy ship with my 16 year old Impressive Quarter Horse Mare. What a couple I thought, you are a lucky guy, hence came his name.

Over the next few months, Lucky became the horse of choice to a couple of school girls that came out to ride. He seemed to have a built in saddle and even a better disposition when it came to being groomed and cared for. He went down the road in a nice little trotting gait. He enjoyed the attention along with the special treats that were brought just for him. We went into winter with Lucky and he faired well enough a bit harder to keep weight on him during the cold months but never the less as spring rolled around the girls return brought a light to his eyes. His massive mane was clipped braided and cleaned up. His forelock hung to the tip of his nose. His beauty shown through his deformed body.

Months passed and finally a middle aged woman came onto the farm to find a saddle bred and sway backed did not mean anything she informed me. She fell in love with Lucky and decided he was going to be her dream horse. She came daily for two weeks while her application was processed. She cooed, and petted him and told me stories of how much love she had for this giant of a horse.

Her application passed with flying colors and for a mere $150.00 she got to take Lucky home. She renamed him Lucky Oscar. I smiled asking why the Oscar, her reply was, because he got lucky and did not become a hotdog. I was so happy to see that Lucky found a great lady to love and care for him.

About a week past and I got a call, asking me how I could even offer to adopt him. I had no notion what she was talking about. What was my motive, for a lousy $150.00 to give such a deformed up for adoption. I said, I am sorry but that is my business I am here to help the horses not destroy them. You knew all about him prior to taking him. You visited him and loved him. She now in a screaming tone said, yes I did love him but I put a hold on that feeling for I am going to bring him back to you.

 

I questioned why, her reply was that he was never going to be any better. I thought to myself but kept quite did she expect him to build up the 16 inch drop in his back? Oh well, just bring him back I said, no problem. You’re damn right she yelled there better not be a problem.

She did bring him back that very afternoon, dirty, mane tangled and ratted. I need to pick up my refund also she informed me. No, refunds I informed her. Taking Lucky back to the starting point he left. He neighed and talked every step down the hill. I am home guys he said, I am sure of it. He was again bathed, cleaned up and mane and tail braided. He was later turned out to pasture with 16 other playmates he had grown to know give or take a couple.

Lucky, is the first one wanting to go out in the morning and the first one want to come in at night. He is a champ when the girls now two years later still come out to ride him two or three times a week. He does the trails, swims in the lake, even ventured to do the 4^th of July Parade. He has never been lame, never been rude, never spooked and never been sore in the back. He is a sweetheart and we love him very much. I have no ideal what anyone sees in him or what they truly want from a horse like Lucky but I can tell you this. Lucky has me, and I will take good care of him for he is a diamond in the rough.

Alexandra