A Horse of Strength and Character

     We pulled up to the stable’s driveway with the jolly chorus of “Christmas in Our Hearts” still soaking us in the car. Surprisingly, two cars were already there. Who else with horse fever would be here? I pulled myself away from the merry marinate.
     
     A pair of burdened stare welcomed me as I approached the shade. Someone in scrub suite was there too. It all sank in and I hustled to the stalls to find out who.

     It’s Christmas day and Yana’s Christmas is never complete without patting her four-legged love, Miller, a four-year old stallion. As Yana joined me to the stalls, a sigh of relief washed over me as I saw Miller nibbling fresh straws of grass. 

     However, boxes of dextrose were piled at the next stall. 

     It’s Maverick.

     In 2011, Maverick was the first thoroughbred stallion I saw since my daughter, Yana, pursued a life with horses. Yana is my youngest daughter. She started riding horses formally at the age of ten. She’s now thirteen. Needless to say, she’s very passionate about horses.

     Mav (short for Maverick) used to be the only stallion at the palce when Yana started her riding lessons. He’s very good looking. A handsome stallion indeed. He is a school horse for intermediate riders.

     Yana eventually got to ride Mav. They’ve tried trotting poles, serpentines, diagonal change, circles, corners, and canters. Mav gave Yana some of her best rides. He also gave Yana one of her most frustrating ride.

     Mav has a habit of testing before pleasing. He would first test his rider’s courage and determination. If you get intimidated, then you’ll miss discovering the pleasant part of being with him. 

     He would ram your knees to the ring’s fence whenever he can get away with it. And he would have that so innocent look about it. I’ve seen couple of breeches suffered holes with such gestures. (Yana's included)

     If it’s your first time to ride him, don’t expect him to follow your applications no matter how correctly you may be doing it. And when the instructor tells you to use the crop or whip on him (for discipline), be sure to be in grips with your balance. Because you may just find yourself off the saddle with a buck that is sure to come.

     But that is the good thing about Mav. That’s just about all the appraisal his rider gets from him. He can be challenging but he is a good horse. He would never run off. He is never jumpy. He is a very calm stallion. I don’t know of any student ever falling from him.

     Once you proved you’re a worthy rider, then you’ll have a very obliging and pleasing mount on your rein. This makes him such a suitable school horse. Especially for riders who need to level-up their skills.

Yana and Maverick at Clark Horsefest 2014

     Back at the stables, a dextrose bottle hang over his head with the needle end of the line on his neck. From the corner of my eye, I see a box full of empty dextrose bottles.

     “How many bottles has he had?” I asked the head groom. “Two boxes?”

     “Three boxes since last night.” He replied. “Doc said he’s in critical condition…”

     “Colic?”

     “Yes.”

     Colic is the most common medical emergency seen by horse owners. It is a sign of abdominal pain shown in tail-switching, pawing, looking back and kicking at the abdomen, sweating, rolling on the ground, and urinating and defecating in small amounts. Colic is more of a symptom rather than a disease. It indicates a painful condition in the abdomen.

     Mav was standing calmly with his lower lip hanging a bit as usual. He simply looked so normal! If not for the dextrose line, I would not think he was sick at all.

     The Veterinarian (Vet) came to the stall to check on him again. As the Vet spoke of his vitals and explained his condition more, I couldn’t help but marvel at this stallion. 

     His vitals were not good: the heart rate, the breathing, the gum color, the fever, and others. Still, Mav didn’t show that he was in pain. He was fighting. He was enduring all the aches and was projecting “coolness”. Although all indications suggested realism rather than optimism, I left the stables that day praying and hoping that Mav would soon be running again.

     The following day, I continued to ask about Mav’s condition. He showed stable temperature and some improvement. He was fighting it. He was able to walk although with a lowered head. Nonetheless, some minutes past nine o’clock that night, I received the news. Mav had finally rested. 

     Grieving was just inescapable. 

     Respect and admiration for the powerful animal swelled in my heart. His ordeal for almost three days was definitely excruciating. Yet, he was brave and strong enough to display calmness and forbearance. For me, that was his own way of lessening our worries. Especially that of his owner who is my dear friend. 

     Anyone with passion for horses would understand. There is no word to describe the distress of hearing nor seeing your horse in pain and agony. Mav somehow tried to spare his human family from that.

     Maverick was indeed a horse of strength and character ‘til the end.

"Until one has loved an animal, 

                a part of one's soul remains                  

unawakened."  - Anatole France