Thunder... A horse worth knowing.

I've been sitting here thinking for about 20 minutes now, thinking about all the things I want to say. I keep starting this post and erasing it. I realize that I am not sure of the right way to tell this story. There are so many wonderful stories that I have heard since Rose pushed me into the horse world. These stories make you laugh and some may make you cry. Most of them have happy endings... others do not. Then there are the ones that aren't quite finished yet. Now, as I sit at my keyboard I realize that I am actually in one of those... an unended story.

Thunder was originally called Dirty Thunder by his previous owners. (A name that he will never be called again.) He is a 14 year old Appaloosa gelding. (That just means he's been snipped.) He is one of the most loving horses I have ever known. He has more personality than any other horse in this hemisphere. When he has a saddle on his back he has one goal in mind, and that is to GO. He is high spirited and funny. He is a lady's man to beat all ladies' men. He is papered and is a decedent of Dreamfinder. (Not that I care) He is also blind.

About 11 years ago a woman received a call. A friend of a friend had seen a horse that was severely under weight. That woman drove to the location of the horse to check him out. She had never seen a horse so starved and emaciated. After an argument with the owner of the horse and the police being called, the woman returned home without the horse. A few days later, another visit ended with similar results. Finally, that woman hitched up her trailer and returned to the property determined not to leave without the horse.

When face to face with the owners for the third time the woman offered three choices... "One; you can sell him to me. Two; you and give him to me. Three; we can shoot him so that I know he is no longer suffering."

The owners were shocked at her nerve and threatened to call the police again. That is when the woman very calmly explained to them that she was willing to go to jail and that could be option four. She also told them that as they were calling the police she would be calling the two local news stations. Unwilling to be embarased infront of local telivision cameras, they chose option two.

The horse was quickly loaded into the tailer and was headed to a new home. Unfortunately, he fell while he was in the trailer heading to his new home. The woman and her husband had to pull him off with a rope. She slept for two weeks in a stall with the horse. She fed the horse one handful at a time, soaking each handful of feed in water before placing it in his mouth. Slowly but surely he regained his strength. Sadly, malnutrition had destroyed his eyesight. It did not however, destroy his spirit or his goofy sense of humor!

As for the woman in this story; she is still picking up horses from neglectful owners, caring for them until they are strong again, and rehoming them when they are ready. Her name is Tammy and even though we have only known each other for a short time, I have grown to respect her more than most human beings I know.

Now, it is my turn to love, care for, and ride Thunder. I am not anxious about what I will teach him, but what I will learn from this young hearted jokster. I only hope I am up to the challenge.