By Pebbles

Let’s welcome February with a conversation about love. There is amour at first sight, like my mistress, Heather, expressed for me when she spied my photo. There I was, tied to a fencing panel in a Texas kill pen looking as darling as I possibly could. She begged insistently, “Scott, we must save her. Look how precious, I love her!” 

Then there is simmering passion. Like the pot of water on the stovetop, it begins at room temperature, safe and innocuous, but with time and heat, it becomes an extreme sensation. Love can be like boiling water, not for the faint of heart. Whether it be for a person, place or equine, one either warms up to it, or falls in headfirst. Either way, it eventually wins us over and gives us a spring in our step and a purpose for living.

So how do we know we are loved? Let me use myself as a prime example. Heather comes to see me bearing gifts, carrots mainly, but she also escorts people to tend to my every need. That includes the massage therapist, farrier and the vet. Lee Major, my foster mom, is just as hooked. She artfully prepares my stall and meals with relish. Lee and her supportive husband, John, drive miles to find hay that I will enjoy. Who does that but lovestruck fans? I am so spoiled.

Then there are my two sidekicks, Lilly and Claree, who follow me around as if I am made of sugar. If I leave them for a walkabout or visit with Heather, they bray and gallop around missing my leadership. Those two donkeys adore me, as it should be!

Many of us enjoy sharing stories about the love of a mother and child. This brings me to a recent story for HERD Rescue. A 20-year-old mare was saved in Texas with a young 5-month colt at her side. She was literally skin and bones over hooves. Nursing with no feed to sustain her had sucked the lifeforce from her body. Her handsome youngster clung to her in the kill pen among the crowd of horses, and she did her best to protect him. 

Amy Douglas, Heather’s go-to friend in Texas, went to get the pair to the safety of her ranch. The mare literally collapsed out of the trailer. Amy struggled with her to get her back on her feet. Her colt nuzzled his mother and the two tired souls managed to stand and eat hay together in their new haven for two days.

Signs of hope were there. But on day three, the mare went down again. This time her son knew there was no turning the page. He stood over her and licked her face and nickered to her, comforting his mother. Within the hour, the vet arrived to help this loving mother and the light left her eyes peacefully. Her colt lay down beside her and put his tiny head over hers, in an embrace of love and farewell.

Amy let them stay together for an hour until it was time for the mare to be lifted from the paddock. It was if the two of them knew this outcome. The mare had given it her all for the love of her son, keeping him fed and safe, until she felt he was in a good place. The colt in turn accepted he had to let her go as she was suffering. To ease his loss, Amy introduced him to another young weaning she had saved earlier in the month. A new friendship blossomed immediately. His mother would be pleased, he had a new love of his own.

Some say love is blind. This reminds me of the two ponies at the same kill pen I was saved from in Texas. They had been together for well over a decade. Helen was completely blind and depended on Troy to be her guide. He too had compromised vision. The family who saved Helen came to take her home not realizing she was totally blind. Once safely in her new oasis, the bereaved mare stood in her enclosure calling out in search of her long-lost friend. Meanwhile another rescue effort saved Troy. It became apparent to Helen’s new family that it was imperative that the two ponies be reunited. They had to find her soul mate. Through Facebook networking, Helen’s family was able to locate Troy and purchase him. The two ponies were literally beside themselves with joy at their reunion. Helen had the love of her life and her eyes back with Troy’s arrival to her paddock.

I believe that the love a child has for an equine, that might just top the cake. There are just so many great examples to choose from in HERD. Beau, a senior pony that Anne Swift discovered and sponsored, was saved from a terrible situation and restored to beautiful condition. Beau has finally found his little girl. She is giddy with joy. He is attuned to her every move, performing with glee. He is loved, Beau is needed.

The other recent heart-warmer is the Heider family who rescued two equines from slaughter, so their daughters could take part in the recovery and training of these frightened souls. They love them with nurturing responsibility.

The greatest thing about love is that it can be contagious. It spreads expanding hearts and brings people and equines together. This region we call home is a community focused on the love of horses. It is a magnet for magnificent equines of all shapes and sizes, and the people who cherish them.

February is the shortest month of the year, but it may be my favorite.  One dedicated to celebrating love and passion. If I had my way, Cupid would be portrayed riding a fine pony, like me. Move over bow and arrows. Dangling carrots for equine affection is truly the crowd pleaser. •

Pebbles is the “spokespony” for HERD, or Helping Equines Regain Dignity, a local nonprofit that saves equines from dire conditions and in many cases slaughter. She dictates her monthly columns about her adventures and what a rescue organization does to Heather Freeman. Pebbles and Freeman can be reached through HerdRescue.org.