In 2001 my husbands lovely grey event horse, Leprechaun, suddenly died of cancer. He was devistated as Leppy was his very best friend in life. He really helped my husband through his dyslexia problems. Careing for him greatly improved his memory, concentration and number skills, as he then had a lovely horse pal depending on him.
Leppys death was a real shock, no one knew he had cancer and he was only 14. He could easily have gone on another 10 years or so if it werent for the cancer, but it wasnt to be.
My husband was very upset and knew there would never be another horse like him. Eventually he decided he had room in his heart for another equine pal. We tried several horses but none had that magic sparkle that we looked for. Then out of the blue came Millie from a dealer. She was nothing special, but she needed us and there was just something about her, my husband had to have her.
She was only 4 years old at the time, and had already had a foal or two at such a young age. The 16.3hh Irish Draft x Thoroughbred mare, arrived as a walking bag of bones. her previous owner had seriously neglected her. she was not far away from deaths door. her feet had never been trimmed, so were badly split; she had lice, and head collar sores and absesses all over her head. She was also wild to handle and never been ridden. She was also showing signs of previous beatings, as was petrified of brooms and shovels. She didnt even know how to lift her feet up to have them cleaned, or what horse food, apples or carrots were for. She was also scared of rugs and the first time she wore one she threw herself to the ground inside the field and panicked.
We brought her back to good health, though her feet are always going to be misshapen a little due to over growth and neglect. We handled her and got her used to things and then began training her for riding, all done at a slow pace so as not to rush her. She was doing very well, learning very quickly. One day however we arrived to find she had given birth to a suprise foal in the night all alone in her field. We had her examined by a vet previously but he said she wasnt in foal. So was a huge but happy shock to find the suprise foal.
He has now been weaned, and Millie has just started to re learn the training we gave her for riding. She is so trusting and puts her whole heart into it which is amazing after her past. She is even good when my disabled mom leads her, its as if she can tell she can hardly walk so she goes very slow and steady for her.
She may be nothing fancy, but to us she is everything, and she has given my husband back the joy of horses and helped him over Leppy's death and the depression he went through with that. She is a gift from Heaven, a real angel.
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The photo to look out for on Horse Idol if you would kindly vote for Millie
