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Chapter 1
I am rescued
Can you imagine being taken away from anything and everything that you have ever known? It is terrifying! However, I am beginning to learn that maybe this change can be a good thing.
My name is Valentine, but you can call me “Tiny”. I spent my whole life on the same farm. There were a lot of trees and grass, and a nice pond. I had some other horse friends there with me. As time went on, it started to become hard to walk. My feet were getting long and it made my legs and joints hurt from standing funny. At the time, I didn’t know anything different, it was just life. My eyes also bothered me, the flies never left me alone and my face developed sores. My friends started disappearing, and after the last one passed away, I was all alone. Even the woman who came to talk to me couldn’t come out anymore.
One day, someone came out and dropped some grain in a bucket. When I went to eat it, I was closed in! I had food and water, but my space got very small. I stayed there for a few days, just me, the flies, and the mosquitoes. I occasionally had a human visitor, but I was always careful not to get too close... unless of course there was food involved. I wasn’t quite sure what was going on when the big metal box on wheels pulled up to my pen. I heard the people call it a trailer, but whatever it was, I am sure that it wanted to eat me! This didn’t seem to be a concern to the people that came. My space was opened up to this horse eating “trailer”, and they proceeded to push me towards it. I was scared, so I tried to spin around and run away, not an easy thing to do with my long feet. It wasn’t working, they kept closing me in more and more until there was only one place left to go… into the mouth of the trailer! I was terrified, until I realized there was food in here too! I had some trouble balancing while we were moving, but I didn’t really have a choice. When the door opened, I jumped out to an open green pasture! I began exploring my new grounds while the horses in the pasture next door kept a close watch. I survived day one at my new home.
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Chapter 2
My rehabililation begins
People would come by to see me quite a bit now, but I was still a little scared. I mostly walked around eating grass and waited for my hay to be brought to me. I watched all of the other horses going in and out and it struck me as strange that they followed the people around so easily. I could see that the other horses trusted these people, but I was still not so sure. One of them began coming into my pasture, she followed me around but I really wanted to get away. She kept coming to see me, and I soon realized that she really wasn’t much of a threat. I still didn’t trust her completely, but I can’t deny that it felt really good when she scratched my back. The halter came next, terrifying at first, especially considering how sensitive my face still was, but then I realized that wasn’t too bad either. I started looking forward to our visits, and eventually the brushing that came with it!
One day, she asked me to pick up my foot for her to hold, I wasn’t sure about this, but I gave it a shot. She told me I was a very good boy and a fast learner. It felt a little strange, but when she put my foot down, it was much easier to walk. My toes were still long, but the bottom of my feet were clean! We kept practicing this every day and I must say I got pretty good at it.
Next was the person that they call a “vet”. I first saw one of these “vet” people when I moved to ERAF. I didn’t let them get close then, but they put me on a diet to lose weight so I already had reason to be skeptical. This time, they apparently thought that I should be poked with small, sharp needles. I didn’t understand the point of this, but I did what I was asked and the vet was pretty nice other than the whole poking thing. She said that soon they will go into my eyes to dig out the bug larvae that are causing the puffiness in my eyes and the sores. I don’t quite understand that, but it doesn’t sound like much fun.
My vet visit was a little stressful, but the next day brought even more new things. Now was my appointment with the “farrier”, whatever that means. I haven’t been around a lot of men, but he seemed alright. He picked my foot up and I felt some funny vibrations. I must admit I was still scared, but I buried my head in the girls arm as she held my rope and the man gave me my foot back when he was done, just like he promised. I tried so hard to be good, and they said I was. I flinched a little with one of my hind feet, but the people said they understood since they can see the scar from an old injury there. I realized it was all worth while when I walked easily back to my pasture on my nicely trimmed feet! Just one more thing to teach me, change may be hard, but it can also be good!
When my quarantine time was up, the girl who visits me walked me out of the pasture and up to the main barn. I have never actually been in a barn before, but I followed her in slowly, trusting that she wouldn’t take me somewhere dangerous. My new stall was cushy and dry; I have a little turnout area where I can watch all the new people come in the barn through the day. It didn’t take long at all before I felt safe, then my attention immediately switched back to food.
I quickly got accustomed to coming into my new stall, I got to see a lot of new people and learn lots of new things. I got medicine in my eyes every day, which I tried very hard to be good for. One of the most shocking things was when I saw a long tube that was connected to the barn, when something came out of the end, I was terrified! I had to make a decision. I could either try to run away, or I could let the person approach me with this strange new object. Trust hadn’t failed me so far, so I let her approach. I was still snorting, and a little unsure. I flinched when it touched my leg, but I quickly realized that I knew this stuff! It was water, just like what I drink! She moved slowly, but I remained calm and I have to say that it felt pretty good on that hot day. I still keep a close eye on this “hose” thing that spits water, but it seems to be alright!
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Chapter 3
I'm a happy boy
Just a quick hello. I'm so busy these days. Moved into my own place in the barn with the other guys and I'm learning about hugs and kisses. WOW! I'm loving all this attention. The girls just can't keep their hands off me.
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Chapter 4 I'm adopted
Hi, just checking in. Sorry it has been a while since my last update, but I have been so busy and I have great news! A new lady (the one in the pictures) started working with me and she is really nice. I still see my old friend all the time, but my new friend has been spending a lot of time with me. We go for walks together, she brushes me and cleans my feet, she gives me baths, she even trimmed my mane! I am beginning to realize that being with people is fun. I even walk up to them now when they come in my pasture or stall!
Just when I thought things couldn't get any better, I heard something else, I have been adopted! I didn't know what this meant at first, so I was a little unsure since my home here is really nice, but now I know it is the best thing that could ever happen to me! The new lady is going to keep me as her own. I get to live here at ERAF for a couple more months, but I am no longer a rescue horse, now I am a "boarder". I will move to my new home when it is done being built. I have heard that it will be really nice! I still see my first friend, Holly, all the time, but my new Mom is the one who pampers me every day, and I am really enjoying that! My feet are trimmed and I get more relaxed with the farrier every time. I am going to see the dentist soon, I am a little nervous about that, but they say it is for my own good. It is amazing how different life is.
Holly told me that now that I have been adopted, they can bring another horse in that needs their help. It is funny to think that I was that horse in need of their help just two months ago. I hope that next horse knows just how lucky they are! I also hope that horse gets to find a new family, just like I did!
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