My dad brought Donnie in April 1989. We had recieved a phone call to say there was a mare for sale which sounded exactly what my dad was after. So off we went to look at her. What we saw when we got there just broke our hearts, there was this poor mare, standing there, dull eyes, listless and all hunched up, nothing but a bag of bones (obviously this was not what my dad was after) But i saw past that, i just saw those deep dark trusting eyes pleading for a chance.
That was it there was no way we were going anywhere without Donnie
My dad wanted things to happen quickly so signed a cheque straightaway but obviously we had to wait for it to clear, during the week wait we had arranged for the vet to come out and inspect Donnie.
The day of the vetting we recieved a call from the vet to say that Donnie had a serious injury to her hind cannon bone, which seemed to have been done with a pitch fork. (it resulted in a small fracture)
We were advised to pull out of the purchase, but no those eyes were constant in my mind, we were not going to give up on her that easy. We wanted Donnie home with us as soon as possible, after all we were still none the wiser as to whom had stabbed her, so the next day after going to the vets Donnie came home to be with Scotty.
Due to her injury she had to be stable kept and her leg treated for 6 months, during that time i gave her as much gentle love and care as i could and she'd allow. She turned from a nasty beast (as she was previously called) into a very loving but tempremental mare ... our bond was made!!!
That was to be the start of our relationship which proved to be very loving, trusting, although fiery.
The combination worked though especially in the showring as she was unbeatable in showjumping.
I worked very hard with Donnie for 2 years just to regain her trust and confidence.
Went straight back to basics, treated her as if she'd never been broken It was hard and i nearly gave up hope many a time, but our hard work and committment to each other payed off as Donnie either won or was placed in the top 3 in every class we entered, easily clearing 5ft tracks, we even qualified for hickstead and Wembley, however our glory was shortlived, due to Donnie being such a high spirited mare, as whilst out in the field one day she had a mad moment which resulted in her blowing her tendons. So all we had worked towards ended right then and there!!!
The vet advised us to have her put down as she could no longer do her job?? but she was more than that to me, we had a special relationship and had been through to much. So we decided to breed from her.
After many agonising months searching for that special stallion, i found the perfect one...."Ivor's Lad", his sire was "Sir Ivor" and he was from the eclispe blood line. He was a perfect match for Donnie.
Eleven long months later "Storm" was born, Donnie was a fantastic mother. But due to tradegy Storm was to be her first and last ever foal!!
A year after losing Storm, Donnie was allowed to be brought slowly back into work, although she would never jump again, we started dressage which Donnie was a natural at, teaching me more than any other horse ever has.
Time went by and i fell in love and fell pregnant, meaning i did not have the time on my hands to do Donnie justice, seeing as Donnie strived for attention and needed to be kept active the only fair thing for both of us would be to give her to someone who could give her the love and attention she'd need, after a rigorous search the right person was found, Donnie moved to her new home and settled in well.
Tragically a while later she was kicked in the field by another horse, which resulted in her breaking her leg. So sadly Donnie was finally put to sleep which broke my heart.
The one thng that eases the hurt is knowing that "Donnie and Storm" are together at last and knowing that i gave her a chance when no one else would and her last years were happy ones!!! |
