Trakehner
Well-Known Member
This is my Shire "Deacon"
Deacon was talented in both riding and driving..a lovely gelding who I brought to the draft horse days at the local fairs. He was the Shire in the group. He loved children and especially seemed to have an even gentler spot for the handicapped kids. He'd put his head down, close his eyes and let himself be hugged and patted for as long as the kids wanted to. I'd toss the kids up on his back and they'd just lean forward and hug him..he'd never move. He had a couple of autistic friends who knew him...one boy who didn't talk in public would sit on his back, sparkle and tell people, "This is Deacon, he's a Shire, he's my friend". Weren't too many dry eyes at that point.
He came in off in front one morning, the yard called and the vet was called. "He's got an abcess, keep him out on the grass to help him pop it". The vet said, "Walk him"...so I walked my limping Shire who being a draft horse, did what I asked of him. It wasn't an access, he was grass foundering and I was told to keep him on grass. After 4 months of Deacon being in a stall, he hadn't healed, his coffin bone was 1/8" from the sole and he wasn't getting any better. My vet refused to euthanize him, lied to me several times about his condition and I had to ask another vet to do it.
After being in a stall for 4 months except for coming out to be shod, I put his halter on him and led Deacon to a nice grassy paddock. As we walked he realized he was going outside. He kept getting taller and taller, never acted up and was ever the gentleman. I turned him out and he just stood for 5 seconds...looked around and jumped up, getting all 4 feet off the ground! He trotted, tail in the air and was so excited...then he noticed the grass...Woohoo! Lush grass all his own and he got to graze for an hour. At the end of the hour, he was lame but had some time free. The vet came and Deacon was no longer in pain. Deacon's original vet didn't even have the courage to put him to sleep or even apologize for misdiagnosing his founder. Oh well. He was a lovely horse and my friend. I love the breed.
Nothing dramatic or earth-shattering, just the story of a great horse who made a lot of people happy.
Deacon was talented in both riding and driving..a lovely gelding who I brought to the draft horse days at the local fairs. He was the Shire in the group. He loved children and especially seemed to have an even gentler spot for the handicapped kids. He'd put his head down, close his eyes and let himself be hugged and patted for as long as the kids wanted to. I'd toss the kids up on his back and they'd just lean forward and hug him..he'd never move. He had a couple of autistic friends who knew him...one boy who didn't talk in public would sit on his back, sparkle and tell people, "This is Deacon, he's a Shire, he's my friend". Weren't too many dry eyes at that point.
He came in off in front one morning, the yard called and the vet was called. "He's got an abcess, keep him out on the grass to help him pop it". The vet said, "Walk him"...so I walked my limping Shire who being a draft horse, did what I asked of him. It wasn't an access, he was grass foundering and I was told to keep him on grass. After 4 months of Deacon being in a stall, he hadn't healed, his coffin bone was 1/8" from the sole and he wasn't getting any better. My vet refused to euthanize him, lied to me several times about his condition and I had to ask another vet to do it.
After being in a stall for 4 months except for coming out to be shod, I put his halter on him and led Deacon to a nice grassy paddock. As we walked he realized he was going outside. He kept getting taller and taller, never acted up and was ever the gentleman. I turned him out and he just stood for 5 seconds...looked around and jumped up, getting all 4 feet off the ground! He trotted, tail in the air and was so excited...then he noticed the grass...Woohoo! Lush grass all his own and he got to graze for an hour. At the end of the hour, he was lame but had some time free. The vet came and Deacon was no longer in pain. Deacon's original vet didn't even have the courage to put him to sleep or even apologize for misdiagnosing his founder. Oh well. He was a lovely horse and my friend. I love the breed.
Nothing dramatic or earth-shattering, just the story of a great horse who made a lot of people happy.
