A VERY GOOD DAY!
From AlexBrownRacing
Tuesday, July 31st... It was so hot yesterday vultures were circling a tree stump. They were a tad confused...
But what a good day it was. A reader from Marin, and on the phone she asks what is your checking account number? Take this money and save them all. Now these kinds of phone calls come every so often. Mostly they are fake. But the lady in Marin I knew was serious. She wanted every single horse from a feed lot of my choice to come live on her property. 90 acres of grass and trees. Her only request is I must check for sickness.
All chores were put on hold. At a feed lot near Elk Grove there were 14 horses waiting for the butcher truck. Some young and not touched. Some old and sad. A beautiful paint gelding who came from a lesson barn. A 13 year old thoroughbred gelding in decent shape. A 10 or 11 year old quarter horse mare who followed Gary Duncan around like he was royalty. The killer says give him six thousand dollars for all 14.
I took temperatures of 12 of the feed lot horses. There were two wild youngsters who would not let me near. No runny noses, no strangles, no flu. I phoned the lady in Marin and said all is good. I need six grand. Gary Duncan and two other amazing friends are helping with transportation. They ask for no gas money.
And just like always, it is the wild youngsters who go into the trailers without hesitation. Older horses at feed lots always stop to investigate. And then we became a caravan. 98 hot degrees outside, but it felt like 198 hot degrees. As the three trailers left Interstate 5 for Interstate 80, I continued north. Back home to catch up on chores. Gary Duncan phones later, and says the 14 horses are living in paradise. Creeks and tall trees. A nice cool ocean breeze. The beautiful paint gelding rolled and rolled, and kicked his heels. Dancing in the tall grass. He knew he was safe.
This is the fifth time in 9 years someone has rescued an entire feed lot. Three of those times the horses went to live in Marin.
If I were better on paper, I could describe to you what the feeling is like. The overwhelming happiness. One of the other transportation guys called to say he has never experienced this kind of glow in his heart. He was stuck in traffic, looking at Gary Duncan who was looking back at him through his door mirror. They did not make it back to Sacramento until after 7:00. An entire day sacrificed for 14 horses they had never met before.
Today will automatically be a good day. Despite the heat, the flies, the forever chores, despite total disrespect from other killers, today will be a good day. Nothing can erase this high. From the bottom of my heart I thank the lady in Marin. I thank Gary Duncan, and also two other wonderful men who were always joking and making the day funny. I thank Jennifer Wright for checking on my ranch, and filling the water buckets. Enjoy your hot Tuesday, and be sure to hug your horses...
Joe
