The Gentle Giant

He’s 18.2 hands, that’s the size of a 6 foot man. I have to use a fence post to jump up on him. He’s 8 years old and the definition of the gentle giant. His name is Pale Face and he has scars people couldn’t even begin to imagine, because there has to be a story behind why a horse that size would shake at the sound of a train that he was taught to ignore. On a hot late summer day everyone was getting ready to leave the barn, but *Lucy and *Jude decided to stay behind and go for a ride, mind you a ride that had never even been given permission. Now there was a near a 100 acres we owned, but apparently that wasn’t enough. Down at the bottom of the mountain there was a break in the fence line where Lucy and Jude were able to ride through, Lucy on Pale Face, Jude on Grey Ghost. Pale Face was in love with Lucy, he adored her and trusted her with all his heart; that’s why when she asked him to walk along the rail road tracks he readily agreed. But it wasn’t long before the ground was shaking and a train came roaring down the tracks, full speed ahead. Pale Face didn’t have anywhere to go, he had to choose between the train and jumping a 12 foot drop into debris and spear like branches, either option was not faring well. But he jumped, and its said that he back flipped and spun straight into this pit with the branches reaching out like sharp claws and stabbing him. Lucy, who had nothing more than some scratches, was panicking. Jude called April sobbing to tell her what had happened. Had a woman who owned her own large work horses not been around to lend them a trailer, the story might not have such a good ending. They rushed Pale Face back up to the barn, his entire shoulder had been sliced open, his tail bone broken, his hind end carved into. They literally had to sit and pull debris out of his wounds, deep wounds, deep enough to stick your fist into. His muscle had been completely destroyed; it looked like he may never be able to do more than walk ever again. He stayed in the stall, not moving for a week. His wounds needed to be cleaned and hosed every day and Lucy and Jude didn’t help care for him at all. His vet bills sky rocketed up to $3000, money that was impossible to come by. A horse with less of a heart…would never have made it. After a year of painful and drawn out recovery, Pale Face is being ridden again; a miracle would be an understatement. He’s back to his big friendly boy self, having fun going out on trail and swimming in the pond. But he may never stop shaking when he hears the sound of the train rushing by, even in the distance. Your donation can be earmarked for
Pale Face’s remaining vet bill.

*Names were changed

Before:


Accident:




Now: