COWBOY IS HEALTHY!

Dear to all whom helped Cowboy officially become again a beautiful healthy curious friendly horse. It took an incredible effort by a community of volunteers and patrons to bring Cowboy back from deaths door. You cared for this horse day and night and were given a miracle in his emergence into health and vitality after just 16 weeks with your good intentions.  To all of you that breathed life into Cowboy again our hats are off to for your valiant and duly rewarded efforts. From the time Cowboy was saved with his patrons last monies to those who have provided everything for his well being including their time, money and resources to his plethora of visitors who have come to heed him on, this has been an incredible story of how people can come together to do great deeds. 

For all of you Cowboy fans you can sleep tight tonight knowing a special horse was saved by all of you. 

Cowboy looks GREAT!

Hi Cowboy fans, 

A recent visit to Cowboy was amazing. I cannot tell you how different he looks and as I saw from a distance 3 black horses I found it hard to figure out for a moment which one was Cowboy! He has filled out so nicely and when we post another shot of him this week you will all be amazed at his great healthy change. 

Cowboy had gained enough weight to get his first dental exam. Indeed, he had never had a dental exam and his teeth were sharp and causing ulcers in his mouth making it hard for him to eat. The dentist was able to fix all of his teeth and the ulcers should shortly go away making it must more pleasant to chow down like he loves to do. 

He also finally was able to have his sheath cleaned and have a bath. His coat still needs to become a little healthier and shinier but boy does he look great. 

Cowboy has started his training in natural horsemanship. He is doing well and eager to please. He is learning how to be lead properly, have manners and take instruction from his trainer. 

His caretakers hope Cowboy will gain another 150 pounds in the next few months and be fully recovered from his awful ordeal. And yet for now we can all rejoice that he again looks like a horse, is curious again like a horse and is very content and happy. 

He is a joy to be around. 

We will visit him again this weekend and try to get a picture of his body so you can all be amazed at his wonderful progress.

Until then, eat on Cowboy!

A visit to Cowboy outside in his pen next to two new beautiful horses that just arrived Friday, looked mostly interested in getting the food out of the bag that had on purpose been made a little harder to chow down. Victoria and I couldn't help ourselves making it a little easier for Cowboy to pull out a piece of a flake that he was getting frustrated getting to. He thanked Victoria by letting her stroke his face a bit which always makes her happy. He seemed content outside in the sunshine and eating from his bag. 

We had such a positive and wonderful review of Cowboys health. It is hoped he will gain another 50 pounds in the next month and then be able to get his dental check up, his sheath cleaned and maybe start a little training. He has come so far from the horse that walked in near death just a while ago. 

Cowboy has made a miraculous recovery. He is now a skinny horse and not an emancipated horse.  

Saturday Cowboy was lead into an arena and became a bucking bronco right out of the rodeo. It was his first time into the arena and he exhausted himself quickly being out of shape and was taken back to rest. 

The next day he was still a little tired but did get a turn on the obstacle course in the corral. He not only poked the barrel but stuck his head inside as well to check it out. He bounced a yellow ball and walked up and down the tarp. He went through the noodles without a problem and had fun playing with all the toys. 

He went from an introverted and tired horse to an extraverted horse full of young intelligence and bright energy and everyone was so excited to see him act as a young horse should, curious with everything around him. 

We are happy Cowboy is doing so well and will keep you posted when we see him again!

Kali visiting Cowboy

As I slowly bicycled my way towards Cowboy's home I imagined seeing Cowboy in a better condition then last time but I never imagined he would be this far along. Since the last time I had seen him he had become more eager to greet all people and looked way better. His fur glistened a little and his reactions and movements were a little faster. He seemed happy to see anyone and created a smile on my face right away. His appearance was finally taking shape to what God intended a horse look like and he was sure looking handsome. I bet he got a whole lot of attention from other horses. His face looked at my sisters and mine a certain way that can't be described, I guess he just looked jazzed to be there. His stall was decorated with pictures and drawings made by his fans. Did I mention that he was eating almost the whole time I was there? He sure can eat. When near Cowboy you can't help but to be extremely happy, because of his story and his personality.

I am so happy to see him doing so well. Until next time Cowboy...keep eating and playing! 

Cowboy

When I walked up the warmly lit main isle way of the barn at 7 pm last Wednesday, the 13th, all I could see at first was Grant's vet truck and a small group of somber teary eyed people. Then? My eyes slid sideways, and seeing through the bars of the double-sized box stall, I saw what had to the be hip of an ancient milk cow inexplicably poking through
the skin of a horse.

Only it wasn't the hip of an old milk cow, it was the hip of a black horse. The whole hip joint was visible, the enveloping muscle had been used for sustenance, and had reached the bottom of the barrel, literally. I moved closer, and the image got worse as his spine soared above his ribs - I had forgotten how deeply in the body the ribs at their junction with the spine were buried - for his rib cage, to the spine, had also sacrificed its muscle to keep life going. His neck? Mostly bone but some muscle.

Then I got to his eye, which was surprisingly bright and as liquid-deep as any live horses eye... that amazed me, I had expected to see death or a wish for it. But everything that was still vital, still horse, was here, held quietly in this eye that was so innocently relieved, so accepting of all that his rescue entailed. That eye said "Whew! I'm okay now. The good people have come back."

Nobody was talking except Grant, who was instructing the volunteers, who were in the stall, with the horse. Everyone else was quiet, aghast. One of my fellow boarders got a soft brush and began gently brushing him, and his head dropped as he gave a deep sigh. Grant glanced through the bars and commented "He really likes that - keep brushing him! He was a stallion, once." Wondering how he knew, we all looked, and he had dropped, and yes, he had once been a stallion.

Later, someone found a lip tattoo, and looking at his eye, at the skin around his mouth, I speculated that he might only be 6 or 7 years old. We later found out that he was 5, fresh off the track in August. He still wore his racing plates, and his feet had barely outgrown them. All his energy went to staying alive.

Grant asked me to make a hot mash with electrolytes and a little Senior, and, holding the bucket as he ate, his soft eye would pause its concentration on the mash for a semi second to look at me, and I lost my heart to him. He had pipe stream diarrhea, and was a candidate for founder, so Grant cautioned that he had a very slim chance of making it. This horse has the sweetest most open eye and soul you can imagine. We were trying because an angel had paid $400 to rescue him. He is extremely lucky.

Cowboy, thank you for not breaking our hearts... thank you for living. Thanks to the woman who bought you for $400 to get you out of that place, thanks to LP and her crew, and particularly to Grant. Thanks to people who drop change in the donation jar.

Cowboy, you've taught us that foolish hope isn't foolish after all, and that if all we have is a good attitude, it's often enough to get one through life's most desperate of times. Sometimes that angel *does* appear, when all hope should be lost. Sometimes the miracle does happen. Sometimes a horse with no chance at all, a horse with a body score of .5 out of 0-9, survives the odds. All it takes is the right attitude, and the right group of saviors.

Folks, if you see one of CHANGE's donation jars at a feed store or tack store, remember Cowboy and donate help us with the Cowboys of the future. Saving the horses that are savable costs money, and your pocket change makes a huge difference. What you've given so far allowed us to give Cowboy this chance. Again, thanks.

Read Cowboys story here: http://www.sonomachangeprogram.com/cases.htm

Thanks in advance, Linda