While at this place, I saw a scruffy, underweight horse standing there looking very depressed. I asked the owner what his name was?  I was told, "His name is Blue.  He is a mean, nasty horse and will bite or kick you".  I called his name as I walked towards the fence that held him captive.  He lifted his head at the sound of his name and walked to meet me at the fence. As I reached to pet him, he was talking to me in a low whispering sound and put his head into my arms. I stood with his head in my arms, him still talking to me in a whisper, me stroking his head and neck, telling him how beautiful he was.
I had to leave him there, he was skin & bone and needed much more than a good brushing. For the next 2 weeks, he was never out of my thoughts, even sleep would give me no peace, he was there in my dreams.

I told Chris that I must have this horse. He said,"but he is skinny and sick".  I said, that is why I must have him!
2 weeks later on May 2, 2008, we went to pick Blue up. We did not realise just how sick Blue really was.

The owner mistaking his big gut full of worms for him being fat was feeding him only a flake of hay a day, in winter! He was also fed bread?
Under his shaggy winter coat, his ribs and other bones were easily counted. He had difficulty breathing and would almost fall down whenever he coughed.

I called our lady Vet but she was not able to come for a few days.  Being a novice at horse care, I wormed Blue, giving him a full tube of wormer and he Coliced. *Now I know better, with a horse full of worms and underweight, to deworm the horse a bit at a time*. 

I almost lost him then, he really should have died but somehow he rallied and got over the severe Colic.  He still faced a long, uphill battle with his many other problems. 

When our Vet was able to come out, she told me that Blue had a Lung Infection on top of being Malnourished.  He also had Rain Rot on his skin.  She gave me some meds for him, instructions on how to care for him and how to feed him since too much food at this point would be a shock to his system. The first antibiotic did not clear up the infection so he had to be given penicillin by injections. He was on several medications all together. 

 Blue began to gain weight and started looking good. I would go and brush him twice a day and our bond became stronger. Our Vet was impressed at how quickly Blue was improving.  Although it was touch and go at first, Blue had a strong will to live.  With some decent food and lots of love, he became a magnificent horse once again.

My friend Robin was the first person to ride Blue once he was well.  Due to all the abuse Blue had suffered, he was a bit difficult to handle. I was also introduced to a lady who was a Paso Fino breeder who gave me advice on caring for Blue since he was also a Paso Fino. When I told her that perhaps Blue was too much horse for me, she offered to trade a well broke mare for Blue.

We did the trade as Blue deserved a great home where he would be used. He blossomed being with her and was a good trail horse. 
She told me that Blue was older than we had been told, he was closer to 16 or even older, not 9 and that he was unable to do the more strenuous trail riding that she loves to do. She goes to Blackfoot and does 20 km easily. Blue had problems after 5 km.

I have visited Blue a few times and he always remembers me. The kind lady and I worked out an agreement and Blue is coming back to be with me here.

I am so happy to be getting my Blue boy back!!! I am taking lessons on him to help me feel comfortable on him and learn to ride him properly.  I have already ridden him twice. I know that Blue and I will have many happy trail rides together.

I am honoured that such a wonderful horse trusted me enough to choose me.  For that is really what happened that first day I laid eyes on him.  He whispered to me as he laid his head in my arms.  He chose me!