Story by Lammy Kockler
Just thought I would share something with you all about the versatility and
kidness of an Icelandic. It's also very appropriate because of the
Scottsdale show where another breed -- Andalusians -- also are showing.
It all started Tuesday night when I got this most horrific call from a good
friend of mine who said: "Please help me -- I have killed my horse!!!!"
To make a long story short this good friend has top Andalusians and, as you
may know, many are white therefore inclined towards skin cancer --
specifically melanomas. Her top mare -- who had just had a baby six weeks
ago -- had a melanoma that became infected and the vet prescribed penicillin
-- shots. This friend -- who has been breeding for many years --began the
regimen. On Tuesday night, however, she hit a vein and in less than a
minute the horse had dropped. (Penicillin when it goes into the vein goes
directly to the brain and the results are immediate.)
Needless to say she was beside herself and the vet, who was there when I
arrived, assured her that it was an accident and this does occasionally
occur -- even to vets. (He was wonderful with her!!!!)
My concern (and also to get her mind off of what occured, was the baby --
Tango is his name.) Well, we pulled Tango away from his mother and put him
in a stall far away from where she was but, as you might expect, he was
beside himself. No, I don't believe he comprehended the death of his mother
he just seemed to fret because what he was used to was no longer there. And
when I say "fret" I mean it -- bucking, rearing, you name it.
The vet tranquilized him but that did little good and finally he suggested
bringing in another horse to "bond" with. Well, we tried one, two, three
horses -- it just didn't work. Tango was indeed doing a "tango."
I looked at my friend and said: "You know I have a great little mare at
home who at one time had a baby and maybe, just maybe, she could help."
So we jumped into the car; came back to my place and loaded up my tiny
little pinto mare Ghaska. (Many people who have seen me ride her kid me
because she is so small but she's cute as a button and is smart as a whip
and I must say she is the only horse who -- in all my years of buying horses
-- picked me rather than my picking her!!!!)
Anyway, we brought Ghaska over to my friend's home (it was about 10:00 pm),
unloaded her and I led her to the baby's stall and went in. Have you ever
seen the classic double-takes in the old comedies of 40 years ago? Well
that's what Tango did when he saw Ghaska.
Slowly, ever so slowly, he walked up to her and they touched noses. Then,
Ghaska nudged him ever so slightly and he burrowed into her neck -- no, he
never tried to suckle. It was almost as if he was crying.
We stood there and watched as she -- Ghaska -- leaned over and began to
gently nip at his mane -- almost as if she were "cleaning" him.
The baby became extremely quiet and we all stood in awe as we witnessed what
no tranquilizer had been able to do up until Ghaska entered the picture.
Well, today is Friday and little Andalusian Tango is totally bonded to my
little Ghaska and the big question -- now that they have been out frolicking
together -- is whether Tango will pick up the tolt!
We buried the mare Wednesday morning on her property and
though originally Pamela wanted to watch, when it came time to remove the
mare from the stall she backed away. Thank goodness! But before that took
place, we (Pamela, Susie and myself) went out to the place where she was to
be buried and made a garland of fresh flowers entwined in a heart shaped of
vineyard vines (Pam has a vineyard on her property). We dropped the heart
into the "hole" and I think that the mare was placed so her head rests on
that "heart."
As a note, the back hoe with the mare passed by the stall where Ghaska and
Tango are. As it passed both horses looked out and were perfectly silent.
I said Tango didn't know -- but maybe he did/does. His bonding with Ghaska
became even stronger and now, according to Pamela this afternoon, he will
not move unless she moves with him. It is too cute.
On top of it, Pamela sold Tango last Saturday for a price in the five
figures (top Andalusians are EXPENSIVE). The new owner, though he was
appraised of what occured, did not want to back out on what is now an
"orphan." Last night he spent the night in the adjoining stall to be near
his new "child" and the only complaint he had was that Tango paid more
attention to "that fluff ball" then he did to him!!
