How do you define a MIRACLE?

Webster says:
mir·a·cle

   [mir-uh-kuhl] Show IPA noun

1. an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.

2.such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God.

3. a wonder; marvel.




I believe that Badge falls into all of these categories. Every time I look at him, I marvel at him, where he came from, what he was and what he means to me. Do you see the look in his eyes as well?

On June 18 I took him to a local clinic as I accompanied my friend Linda with her mule, Fig. The clinic was held by Susan Wirgler, (http://www.susanwirgler.com/) and I really like her style of connecting with horses.
[IMG]http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w296/QHRules_CA/park004.jpg[/IMG]
In my long range plan for Badge, I hope to be able to ride him and have that "connection". I didn't really have any plans other to take him to his first outing since getting him in such poor condition. I was truly ready for anything, but my preparation was minimal since I was only auditing, not actual participating and Badge was going to be a spectator as well.

So early on Saturday morning Badge donned his white sheet and I led him down the hill to where Linda's trailer was waiting. After checking out the interior of Linda's trailer he felt the accommodations met his criteria and hopped right in. We left the back portion open so his huge body could take up the back space of the 3 horse trailer and off we went.

When we arrived about a half hour later, he started calling out from the trailer. Seriously? Did he think he had returned to the track? He came off of the trailer and just stood and looked around as if it were no big deal. We walked up to where the arena was and he just stood and watched all of the commotion going on. Such a gentleman! He stayed tied up to a tree and everyone marveled at his size and more... ("No, he's not a Holsteiner, yes he does resemble a Warmblood, No, he's a Thoroughbred.", "No, I don't know how tall he is.", "Yes, we do like each other.", etc.")

At the conclusion of the clinic, most of the participants went on a short trail ride, while Linda and I and another participant went back down the property with our horses. I put Badge in the round pen, where he promptly began to roll in the fine sand. Then, Linda put her mule Fig in the round pen and Badge thought it was time to play. Here is a video of him, trying to engage Fig in a game of play. Fig, was not going to have anything to do with this, and at one point in the video, I'm not sure exactly what the exchange was, but surely Fig didn't appreciate what Badge had to say! Enjoy!


Next up, a semi-private lesson where we continue to discover where Badge is in his recovery and ground work and under saddle in July.

Special note: I had the opportunity to recently step up to the plate to take in one or two more TB rescues, but I was glad to learn that they were taken in by another rescue in Oroville. My heart said, "Yes", but the analytical/rational part of my brain, (which by the way dear readers can fluctuate from large to small on a daily basis) said "CAUTION", as the there is uncertainty in the future as hay prices remain high based on late rains. Over-extending one's self is easily accomplished by taking on more that you can handle. In the end, I chose not to step up to the plate, deciding to sink more dollars into Badge, his training and recovery. How many times have you heard of horse that was rescued, only to be rescued from the rescuer? Over-extension. It's easy in the world of horses. The trap of the good-hearted person.

Meanwhile, a shout out to Linda Tiller who has been incredibly generous in donating to Badge's recovery and well being. I recently received a 35lb tub of Ms. Pasture's Horse Cookies from Linda. These cookies can best described as a horse's version of pure Heaven! Thank you so much Linda!

To Sally Hugg, who provided the CA Trace Mineral pellets, which I sincerely believe aided Badge's recovery. If you wonder where Badge gets his brilliant coat and condition from...this is it! We appreciate it so much!

To the group of individuals (you know who you are) who continue to cheer Badge and I on with continued support and good wishes for Badge, I am forever grateful. You gave me hope in the beginning when I didn't know how this endeavor would turn out.

More in July...:)

Question of the Day: "How's Badge?"

I get asked this question a lot. Sometimes several times a day, but I always answer, “He’s fine.”, or “He’s doing good.”, but in my heart I know he’s just plain, well, FANTASTIC! Here’s what he looks like now, some 46 days after arriving here.

"A horse carries a certain goodness, an inner light from which beauty flows"

He still needs to build up some muscle along his top line and his hindquarters where he lost so much muscle mass causing his spine and hip bones to protrude. When he was picked up by Animal Control in mid-March he had pressure sores on his hip bones. Those scabs are all gone, replaced by a fine layer of healthy fat and shiny coat.

Trust me when I say, feeding Badge is no small chore. It was and still is a defined regiment. Some days in the beginning I felt like lab technician measuring his feed and supplements, calculating the input and watching for the output-Boy is there output! Over the next several weeks I’ll move him over to a maintenance diet to ensure that he can maintain the weight and balance it with exercise.

He knows his way to the barn! In fact, he runs to the barn! As I open the pasture gate, Clang! Clang! The two Fat Bottom Girls edge out quickly and he is always behind them. He swings wide to the outside, covers the distance in ground covering strides, tail arched and his head held high, only to come to a screeching halt, because, let’s face it folks, it’s not that far to the barn! Maybe a furlong or so, but what a race! It must make him feel great that he beat those two, old Fat Bottom Girls! Besides every horse here knows that good things happen in the Big Red Barn; it’s called FOOD!

You see? It's a Triple Crown day for Badge when he gets back to the barn! -------------->

My dear friend Linda took these pictures after we used the clippers to clean up his bridle path, trim off his unruly whiskers and beard. Of course, he stood perfectly still as if it were just any other day in his life, which I believe at some point it must have been. All the attention, petting, grooming that he had missed for who knows how long and he was just eating it up-figuratively speaking of course, because we know he eats in the literal sense. Linda also took some amazing videos of him, and as soon as she figures out the technical part of her new phone that takes amazing HD videos, I’ll post them too!

So it looks like Badge is on his way to recovery and looking forward to each “waking-eating” moment and “sleeping-dozing” moment in his big old stall softly bedded down each night.

More to come…

“Horses are so forgiving. ~ Tom Dorrance”

It’s now May,2011. Welcome Spring! – time to post an update on Badge. Flowers blooming, birds busy singing and building nests and weeds growing like crazy, calling out “Neener, Neener, Neener” as you walk by.

We have settled into a peaceful, calm routine-Badge is treated like the royalty he is and I am relegated to the position of stall maid slash valet. Nice routine to have if you are a horse! It gives me great pleasure to clean his stall and watch as his head is in his food bin, eyes slightly shut munching away. I wonder what thoughts he has while eating? Pondering over the days when he would romp next to his mother? Would this be the day he would hear the loud clang of the starting gate or when his next meal would be forthcoming?

Badge now grazes throughout the day with Bea and Promise, and calls out to them when he is in his stall. He still eats his mega meals each morning and night separately. He needs the calories, the Fat Bottom Girls don’t! His left rear leg still shows a slight swelling in the morning, but by afternoon with him walking around, it is normal. I don’t know the extent of the injury he had, but he does walk sound on it and maybe this will be how it is. If he is in a confined area it swells, and when he has the ability to walk around it goes back to normal. Church Lady ankles I suspect. Maybe he needs some orthopedic hose and a straw hat with flowers?

He gets brushed twice a day. I found the Furminator a great tool to remove the bear-like Winter coat he had upon his arrival, along with various brushes, combs and clothes. The supplements he receives have not only helped him on the inside, but his new coat is shiny too. He does have some significant bald patches along his flanks and hindquarters, partly due to rain rot that is being treated with a fungicide. This will help his skin condition and encourage new hair growth. Though for the time being he looks a bit like a Stief bear, circa 1910, he is coming around. I’ve seen the birds carry off the tufts the hair to add to their nest building efforts. Some baby birds are going to really enjoy a soft and comfy bed!

May 3^rd, five days shy of him being here a month, I took these pictures.

See the difference? -------------------->

He still has a ways to go as he lost muscle mass along with being emaciated. This demonstrates that the cause of his weight loss was not due to something physically wrong with him, but sadly, because he was not being fed.

A horse is worth more than riches. ~Spanish Proverb

My guess is that God gave Badge a great heart, not only to run and endure hardship, but to be able to forgive those who have trespassed against his being and soul. Otherwise, how could he possibly look like this?

One week and counting...

Badge is doing very well. In fact, I believe he has put on some weight! He certainly has a lovely demeanor, until Artie tries to eat the pellets he drops while eating. There's Artie, patiently waiting in the stall for them to fall out of Badge's mouth so he can eat them off so he can grab them below. Badge pins his ears and shakes his head and Artie scrams! Rinse and repeat. Artie, is a rather artful dodger, but still comes back for more.

On Sunday he showed me he had a sense of humor, but splashing 1/2 the water out of the water trough. Dunked his head in up to his eyeballs, then pulled his head out of the water and smacked his lips. I'm convinced that if horses could have a good time, he was having it.

Tuesday, he got his hooves trimmed. A much needed pedicure, but Marijke Ellert. (You pronounce her name Muh-Rye-ka. Not Margie-KEY) Marijke stands about 5' 6" and probably weighs no more than a gnat. Well, she might weigh about 100lbs soaking wet and is a graduate of the Pacific School of Farriers. She's very knowledgeable and complimented Badge on having nice feet. That's what $40 bucks get ya, 30 minutes of her time and a compliment.

Here's Badge's feet before and after. He's ready to go dancing!














And here is Marijke doing his back feet. Yep, she tucks under his belly quite nicely. I might also add that he wasn't tied up at all during the whole process. The lead line was on the ground and it was all very routine to him. I'm really glad he is not a fractious horse- so is Marijke!

Badge has been on a Super-Power diet and is receiving some much needed nutrition to aid in his recovery. I've been giving him Forco to aid in his digestion. Bringing a horse back in such poor condition, you worry about ulcers and colic. I'm giving him Super 14, which is supplement that contains 27% fat, that will help bring some gloss and shine back to his coat. Some folks subscribe to pouring corn oil on their feed, or ground flax seed, but I've had success with Super 14 in the past and so far so good. He is shedding the dead, ugly Winter coat and there are signs of a new coat that is a rich, shiny mahogany brown. Should be another month or so of this great weather and he'll look very different. Lastly, I am giving him a supplement called CA Trace. I've never used it before, but Sally Hugg has rehabbed a couple of TBs and the results, I must say are phenomenal! Along with 20lbs of CA Trace, Sally sent me pictures of Slow N Easy, a neglected TB off the track. Used up and discarded. If you haven't heard me say it before, I will now. This is horse racing's dirty little secret. They aren't all Seabiscuit, Secretariat or Zenyatta.

Here's the before and after of Slow N Easy.


The day Sally got him, and 4 mos. later. I can hope for such results for Badge.

"We call them dumb animals, and so they are, for they cannot tell us how they feel, but they do not suffer any less because they have no words."

One of the more exciting things I did was some research via the internet on Badge. I went to the Equibase website and actually found his race record! Turns out he ran a total of 13 races, in 2004, 2005 and 2006, and the best he placed was 2nd and 3rd in four of the races. Not exactly the stellar performer. They raced him 7 times as a 2 year old. That sucks.

Summary by Year:
Year	Starts	Firsts	Seconds	Thirds	Earnings
2006	4	0	1	0	$ 2,500
2005	2	0	1	1	$ 3,045
2004	7	0	0	1	$ 7,820

He earned a total of $13, 000 in three years. While that may sound like a lot of money, it didn't even barely begin to cover his training, entry fees, veterinary care and feed. Nope, frankly, he was just considered a money pit.

Here is a video of him racing. You can see him, and hear them call the race. This one was at Golden Gate Fields in 2006. It seems he was a late starter and liked to come up from behind. Remember, he is a huge horse and when asked, his stride can cover a lot of ground very quickly. He's on the outside with the jockey wearing the red and black silks and his saddle blanket is yellow with the number 4 on it. John has a new found respect for Badge.

I was a little torn watching the videos. Watching him in such magnificent condition and running like the wind, but also knowing the condition he is in now and wondering how he came to be this way. What happened to him in the last 5 years?

I did find out who his last trainer was, Steve Miyadi. I told my friend Linda that I was considering sending him an email or calling him. He's well known in the CA racing circuit, can't be that hard to track him down.

I think of things in simplistic terms. I just want to know what he knows about him, not necessarily how he was as a race horse, after all his record speaks for itself. More along the lines of whether he had any injuries, who his owner was, things of that nature. Linda on the other hand, has an incredible imagination (Insert background music-the Temptations singing, "It was just my 'magination, running away with me...")

Over the years, Linda has been a good friend and a constant source of entertainment for me. She has the uncanny ability to turn situations into plots that would make Janet Evanovich jealous. When I mentioned I would like to speak to Badge's trainer, she decided it wouldn't be a good idea. "What if they declared the horse dead and got a huge insurance payment and now the horse shows up alive?" She pressed on saying that she envisioned the mob coming to dispose of me and the horse too! The Mob in Placerville? Unlikely, but it makes a good conversation on the front deck at dusk. Linda is one of the greatest mystery writers I know, and she doesn't even write! Time for another beer and swat the mosquitos.

Today it was in the low 70's. Welcome Spring. Finally. I worked in the garden area and let the horses out together. Promise has now decided that since she is in season, Badge is worth his weight in gold. Promise who is 26 years old, was a cougar before being a cougar was cool. If she was an elderly woman in a nursing home, she'd be painted and powdered up every day and they would have to tie her to her bed at night. She's a shameless hussy!

Here they are, enjoying the day together..

He's so tall, he reached over the fence like it was nothing...

Promise the Cougar-Badge who could care less

It was an ordinary Wednesday morning on April 6, 2011. Sipping coffee and perusing my usual haunts while preparing for my work day, my email, Facebook and my horse network board, still thinking about managers to speak to, reports to conclude and there it was on the Bay Area Equestrian Network. THE POST, that stated:

“There's a horse in need of help at the MTZ animal shelter. He needs lots of groceries. I didn't think I could put him on the re-home board cause he isn't free, but he's still a rescue. He's younger and has a big kind eye on him. I think I was told his "out date" is the 8th. I'd take him but I got no space for another rescue right now."

Ugh! This economy has taken a toll on so many animals, dogs, cats, but especially horses which can be considered a luxury in California with hay, feed and care at an all time high. Then I did it, I clicked on the link...

Are you kidding me? Webster cannot come up with enough adjectives to describe how I felt! OMG, this poor horse! I've rehabbed a lot of horses in the past, and only one close to this condition.

The practical side of me reasoned that there are a lot of rescues out there, that while they may already be full of other castoffs, they will take him. Afterall, he is just one of many. Lays Potatoe Chips and horses. You can't just have one. Then I studied his face int he picture, his kind eye and I fell for him. It's like falling off a cliff. Should I offer to take him in? What if he has additional medical issues and needs. What can I do for him?

I posted a short reply, "He can come here if someone wants to find out how much his bail is." There. I did it. Let the chips fall where they may. Maybe in my barn.

By then, the horse network posters were awake and started posting. Someone did some research on his name, Honey Badgett. Yep, he has a racing tattoo. The Jockey Club requires every horse that races have a tattoo, and his identified him as being "Honey Badgett, foaled 3/2/2002". He is 9 years old. His sire is Bold Badgett, his dam, Princess of Honey. Apparently he raced two times, but did he get hurt? Did he stop before the home stretch to smell the roses? Who knows.

Further research showed he sold at the Del Mar Yearling Sale in August, 2003 for $39,000. Really? What happened over the course of 8 years? Who dumped this poor horse? How did he get in such poor condition?

Posts were flying! I called the Animal Control office. The individual who answered the phone recited his medical treatment from the time he was picked up on March 15, 2011. His body score was a 1 on the H Scale http://www.habitatforhorses.org/rescues/bodyscoring.html. He was found to have open puncture wounds on left rear leg from his stifle to his pasterns, swollen. He was running a temperature of over 105. Animal Control had worked with local veterinarians to treat his infection and were following special feeding instructions that are critical for horses in such poor condition. By the end of March, he was stabilized, with only slight swelling left from his hock to his pasterns and responded to treatment.

He needed to be placed by Friday April 8thm his fee was $250. I thanked the worker and told her I would see what could be done to get him out.

Two posters offered to pay his bail, and we would try to get transport through the network. Another poster, who operates a rescue close to Martinez stated she could get him released under her rescue for free, so perhaps the donation could be used to pay for a hauler? Another one, who lives in my area sent me a message and stated she could go get him, but could I accompany her sine he was coming into my care. It went fast. I had my priorities though. First I had to get the day off from work and clear my calendar, tie up loose ends. Done.

Second, I guess I should tell the husband. This was a huge decision for me. I only had a short time to tell him and had, more than once waited until the last minute, like when the horse trailer pulled up! I began hearing the musical strains of Brenda Lee's song, "Break It To Me Gently"

Here's how the conversation went:

"I'm getting another horse."

"No you're not."

"Yes, I am." I then showed him the pictures. He groaned and said, "Here we go again..."

I'm not sure whether he took me seriously, was hoping I was kidding him or what. It wasn't until Thursday night when he asked me if I was going to get up early to discuss the shocking results of American Idol with my East Coast colleagues on Friday morning did he figure it out.

"So you getting up early to talk about Pia getting the boot with your buddies?"

"No. I am getting up at 5 am, but I have to get ready to go."

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to go get the horse in Martinez. I told you." There it was. The Declaration.

"You're going to go get that horse?"

After 30+ years together, he still feels the need to ask the question. I can only surmise he knew, but didn't want to know. It's called "The Ostrich Reaction". If I say it, I'm going to do it. Fall off the cliff. Jump. He'll be at the bottom asking, "You jumped off the cliff?"

Friday morning. Cold dawn, we had snow flurries the evening before. Really? April and it snowed. Nothing stuck to the ground, more a curiosity than anything. Weird.

I drove to the spot to meet Stacy and we hit the road. It was an uneventful trip, nice to be able to visit on the two hour trip down. Jane met us at the Animal Control location, and the facility is state of the art. We had to walk by cats and dogs available for adoption. My mind kept saying, "No, focus on the task at hand!" Later I admitted to Stacy that I had checked out the available dogs on the website and had espied an older Cairn Terrier, very popular at the Earth Dog competitions. A volunteer was walking him. Shelter Escort said, "You can have him. He's free, neutered. They don't come better than that." Yeah I thought, some Placerville divorce lawyer would have a field day with me if I came home with another dog since my 2010 rescue of Artie the Smooth Fox Terrier ended up with us. Thank God for short term memory!

We walked out to the barn, and there he was. My first thought was, "Gads, he is tall!" His big head was out the stall door and he was being pet by a couple of volunteers. His kind, soft expression made my heart skip a beat. Busy with paperwork. A quick assessment and Stacy had brought a purple cooler to put on him for the trip back.

He was alert and received all the hub bub and new visitors as though it was his usual routine. He walked right out and loaded up into trailer. Routine. This is your life.

I had Stacy drop us off down the hill in order for her to be able to turn around her 3 horse trailer and truck. The road up to my house is steep, narrow and windy. Not for the faint of heart. I walked him up the hill, past 4 barking Boxers and 4 billy goats belonging to a neighbor. His ears pricked up with interest, but that was the only reaction. We walked up the hill slowly. I noticed a little more swelling in his left hind leg as we unloaded him and didn't want to tax it further.

Walked up under the oak canopy of the driveway and he just walked along beside me. :This is your new, and last home buddy."

John came up to him and remarked, "That horse is huge! Take his blanket off, I want to see him" so I did. I have to tell you if you've never seen a horse in a skeletal condition, it can take your breath away-and John was left breathless, but not in a *good* way.

The shelter called him Mr. Honey, but I decided to call him Badge. A strong name for a horse with a lot of heart and obviously a lot of inner strength, otherwise how could he have survived?

He settled in nicely. A big 12'x24' stall bedded with 6 bales of shavings. His first act of course was to pee. Nice to know his plumbing worked and it gave new meaning, "Pees like a race horse."

His first visitor was my BFF Linda, who agreed to hold him while I took his picture:

Linda is 5'4" so it gives you a frame of reference of his size. That's Artie the Smooth Fox Terrier, who enjoys running around in circles around the horses, and it didn't phase him at all. To him it's just an annoying brown and white gnat!

Off to buy supplies and special timothy hay with the donated money from the horse network folks. Much appreciated. Horses in this condition have special feed requirements, need to eat small meals throughout the day. You can't throw them out on a pasture and cross your fingers. Monitoring, measuring and TLC. Lots of TLC.

His coat is shaggy from Winter and in poor condition. There is new hair growth where his wounds have healed. Shiny. Red. Something to look forward to. His front feet need trimmed and I put a call into my farrier. She will be here on Tuesday and looks forward to meeting him.

On Saturday, he showed me he had a sense of humor. Spent about ten minutes at the water trough, splashing water like kids play in the bathtub. Trough tsunami. Dunked his head in the water up to his eyes and blew bubbles. Lifted his head up and smacked his lips. Rinse and repeat. I would have gotten a video except I was mesmerized by his antics and wondered how a horse who had been so severely neglected could still enjoy the little things in Life.

Badge's recovery will take place over the course of several months. When you're 350lbs underweight, it won't happen overnight. It's about discovery too. Discovering him, figuring out what he knows, what he doesn't know, but I can guarantee you he will know kindness and consideration.

I love this saying:

"Horses stay the same from the day they are born until the day they die. They are only changed by the way people treat them." 'Silent Tom' Smith, trainer of Seabiscuit

Thank you Bay Area Equestrian Network for posting this as the Quote of The Week, and to all it's members who rallied together to save this horse!

I'll continue to post updates along the way.