Joe at www.tbfriends.com is Killing Me!
I don’t know of another horse blog that makes me as weepy as Joe’s blog at www.tbfriends.com. I’m copying and pasting his message, because I can’t figure out how to access his archives, or if I even can get to them. So I’m pasting the really good, really heartwrenching stuff here. Please, send Joe and his TB’s a few bucks if you can spare it. A little money really can go a long way for someone who knows how to stretch a penny.
Please visit Joe at www.tbfriends.com.
Friday, June 20th… Yesterday kids who live at a youth shelter came to visit, and a girl maybe 15 had this witty remark: Hey mister, you know those Got Milk commercials? You could make a Got Flies commercial.
These kids know little about horses. Some have been in trouble with the law. Some ran away from an abusive home. We schedule their visits on quiet days. Horse killer Manny Phelps had phoned earlier, saying he had a thoroughbred with a racing tattoo. Talk about an abusive home. The poor horse was starved on purpose, and often beaten. Neighbors threatened to call police, so the lady phoned an auction yard, who referred her to horse killer Manny Phelps.
Here is the stunner: The gelding is only 6 years old. The first letter of his tattoo is F, which means he was born in 2002. How did this horse go from a race track to the back yard of a lady who purposely starved him? She would daily beat him because he had the nerve to sniff around for food.
Horse killer Manny Phelps was going to drop off the abused gelding later in the day, long after youth shelter kids had left.
But here comes horse killer Manny Phelps in his ugly cream colored stock trailer. He said he was in a hurry, as there are more doomed horses to pick up in Marysville. Horse killer Manny Phelps says give him $400.00 in cash, which includes delivery. I only had 4 cents in cash, so I told him to take my check. Horse killers like cash. Checks leave a trail, and if you are illegal in our country, and not paying taxes, checks can cramp your lifestyle. Because there were teenage kids standing around us, horse killer Manny Phelps did not argue. He accepted my check, but I know next time we talk there will be a lecture.
On this ranch we have certainly seen horses in much worse shape. Some starving horses have come off the trailer actually dying. But these kids from the shelter were horrified. I told them he is not in too bad of condition. A few months from now he will be a brand new horse. Several of the young girls were crying. One girl asked is it okay to touch him? I said he would probably like that. The girl has never been with horses before. She came at him much too fast, and he shyed away. I told her go easy, talk softly. He is afraid of being hit. The girl stroked his face, and told him sorry. The girl said you will never be beaten again. In front of us all the girl told the horse how she too was hit daily. The reason she left home.
And you are going to think I am a crazy old man who looks for meaning in every Hallmark moment. But when the girl was through talking the gelding sighed. A real sigh. And he put his face against her chest.
I told the girl to give him a name. She never hesitated. She said his name is Champ.
As the kids loaded into their van to leave, the girl asks for my cell number. She wants to know, would it be okay to call and see how Champ is doing?
I said sure.
The girl says she will never forget him.
Champ dove into his tub of bran like I dive into a tub of Rocky Road. Last night during final barn check, Champ was roaming free in our mare motel area. Already he is best friends with Eclipse, a mare who also came from horse killer Manny Phelps.
Enjoy your hot Friday, and be sure to hug your horses. I am behind on e-mails and phone messages, sorry, but today I shall catch up. Thank You all for your support.
Joe
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