May 12, 2019 – We didn’t have room for him, but we couldn’t stand to watch him hobble around the kill pen with his obvious leg injuries. When we imagined this skinny, weak, limping horse being loaded into a crowded trailer where he’d probably be trampled to death on the journey to hell, we couldn’t let him ship to slaughter. We agreed to take him in.
In truth, we believed he’d be the first horse we’d have to pull from the kill lot, just to give him a quiet place to be humanely euthanized. We were prepared to spend the hundreds of dollars for the vet and disposal, just to spare him further trauma and agony.
But the broken, battered horse that someone threw away as trash just keeps surprising us. From his first appointment with the vet, when we agreed we saw a will to live in his eyes, to his most recent checkup, he’s proven that all those people who donated to save his life were right: He deserved another chance.
That’s where Chance got his name.
The horse that should be dead, that we just knew would, at the very least, be lame for life, has just been cleared by the vet for light riding; which means he’s ready for adoption to the right family.
Chance has scarring from an old joint injury that didn’t properly heal. It’s noticeable, but does not affect his ability to move around, nor does it cause him pain. He also has progressive ligament disorder that may eventually lead to lameness. Some horses with suspenso deteriorate to the point they have to be euthanized. There are no treatments to cure the disorder, but supplements, proper diet and care may slow the progression.
Chance has put on about 200 pounds and probably has about 100 more to go, but he’s healthy, well trained and happy, and ready for his Happily Ever After.
We thank God for blessing us every day with miracles like Chance.
