An extract from Second Chance by Diana Thurgood.
From the moment she could walk and talk, Diana Thurgood has lived and breathed animals. A self-confessed animal lover, she has spent her life caring for and writing about domestic, farm and native animals.
In her book Second Chance, she tells the story of one horse's extraordinary journey from a derelict paddock to the esteemed stables of the Mounted Police.
We hope you enjoy this extract.
The horse in the dusty paddock
January 2001
Someone must have opened the gates of hell. A blast of torturous heat blew across the yard and suffocating red dust rose up and filled his lungs. A swarm of flies lingered around his eyes, the inflammation causing tears that leaked down his cheeks in a dark river. He cowered under a sickly tree, the only shade in this baking prison, thinking of nightfall and waiting for the relief it would bring. A few thistles were growing in the paddock, but they offered no nourishment, and his water trough was slimy and tepid. Once a day, a biscuit of rough, burry hay was thrown into his paddock and although it hurt his mouth, he ate it hungrily. His coat was parched and dirty, his hooves were cracked and long but probably the most haunting thing about him was his eyes. At first glance, they looked empty and lifeless, yet if you looked closer, you could see the disappointment and despair as well as resignation and defeat.
He looked old, a broken-down old nag who’d seen better days. But he was young—barely eighteen months old and this was the only life he knew.
On the other side of the fence, another horse thrived, his muscles and veins bursting with vitality. His every move was poised, and he displayed an arrogance that is typical of the very young. His coat was satin, glistening with a slight film of sweat, and his muscles rippled as he moved.
He was not hungry, he had plenty to eat and a shed for shelter. His water trough was clear and refilled daily. He had no reason to doubt that any of these essentials would be provided and with this faith came the luxury of play. He cantered effortlessly around the paddock. He was tunning. A gorgeous specimen of a horse with excellent conformation and a beautiful head.
The attractiveness of a horse’s head is a matter of personal choice but generally a horse, especially a show horse, should have one that is in proportion to its body. It should not be coarse but by the same token, it should not be weak. Arab and part-bred Arabs have a slightly dished or concave face while draft horses typically have a roman nose. This is where the face is convex—sloping gently outwards from theforehead and then tapering back in towards the nose. While a roman nose is acceptable in heavy workhorses, it is usually not desirable in other breeds, although some people are not bothered by it at all.
The horse in the dusty paddock was a well-bred horse. He stood an impressive 15.2 hands and was the result of a cross between a Clydesdale stallion and a Stockhorse mare. He was a rich bay in colour, had a calm, dependable nature, and displayed great intelligence. He did, however, have a roman nose.
The horse on the other side of the fence was also well bred. In fact, the two horses were half-brothers. This horse stood an impressive 16 hands and was jet black in colour. He too displayed great intelligence but did not have a roman nose.
It was the year 2001 and the New South Wales countryside was in the grip of a horrific drought. Crops were failing and feed prices were exorbitant. Farmers were selling their stock and leaving the family farm forever. Sometimes the sale price of the animal did not even cover the cost of transport, so animals were shot where they stood, weakly, in the paddock. Even hobby farmers with secondary incomes could not afford to buy feed and were abandoning their farms in droves. It was not a time of sentimentality; it was a time of hard, cold, economic facts. Animals, even those who had once been treasured companions, were seen as liabilities to be off-loaded.
Gary, the owner of both horses, was faced with the same dilemma and, unable to feed even a single large horse, had decided to sell both. The good-looking one might bring a decent price from someone wanting to buy a dressage horse. The ugly one was simply not worth the risk. He would take longer to sell and may not sell at all. So, Gary put all his time, energy and resources into the good-looking horse.
It was not a difficult decision to make. He had no attachment to either horse, they were simply commodities to be bought and sold. One had the potential to create a return on his investment, the other did not.
People keep animals for all sorts of reasons: for work, prestige, profit and some simply because they love them. To these people the idea that you could lavish attention on one animal, yet neglect another’s basic needs seems incomprehensible. They are connected to animals on an emotional level and are repulsed by any form of cruelty, neglect or mistreatment. In fact, some animal lovers are so highly tuned to animals that they can actually ‘feel’ their suffering and anguish.
Sadly, the chances of the neglected horse meeting such a person were remote. The property was isolated, and he was hidden out the back, away from view. So, he continued to live his wretched existence, day in and day out, slowly deteriorating and losing interest in everything around him. Luckily, he had no idea of what awaited him—a trip to the saleyards and then a sudden, bloody and violent end.
Meanwhile, the good-looking horse thrived. He received balanced meals and was wormed and groomed. Each day he was lunged on a long lead and learnt new commands. He enjoyed these sessions as he grew easily bored in the paddock and needed to work off his excess energy. By the end of each lesson, he was looking forward to some feed and a rest. His owner was experienced with horses and this combined with the young horse’s intelligence meant he learnt quickly and easily. He did not care about the future; he was happy with the present. Either way, he was destined for great things.
But things do not always turn out as we expect. Sometimes a chance meeting or seemingly random incident can completely change a person’s (or animal’s) destiny. Unbeknown to the two horses, an event was about to occur that would change both their lives forever.
Second Chance
by Diana Thurgood
A life-affirming true story of kindness, courage and one horse's extraordinary journey from a derelict paddock to the esteemed stables of the Mounted Police.
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