Brave

Approximately 18-20 years
Appaloosa Gelding
Foaled approximately 1988-1990
Deceased 9/3/13

Brave is almost completely blind, something I’ve avoided taking before this. He has the courage of a lion, but with the set up here, he really needs a buddy too. So, daily, he’s walked out into our herd. I’ve walked him around the perimeter fencing; let him sniff noses with anyone that wants, and left alone, he stands still in the middle of the group, quiet, sussing the situation out. So far, the most interested is Swing’s Lew – and this may be significant – it’s the very first gelding Lew has shown an interest in. If Lew decides to take Brave under his wing, we have to see how Lew’s ladies will handle that…. UPDATE: With the passing of Lew, Brave hooked up with Sweet Hershey, who is his seeing-eye horse now! Brave was headed to slaughter when Shirley Puga and her volunteer crew saved him from the feedlot where he awaited transport. Imagine that hell – so difficult for every horse – when you’re blind and simply don’t know what’s happening. He is smart, and a survivor, but it has not been, and may not be for a while, easy. Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated.

Brave is learning the area here at TGC, with our volunteer, Sierra, and my neighbor, and myself chaperoning. He lingers in the main stall line as a flat and predictable surface, but here he’s part way into the paddock:

Here, Sierra gives Bruhad the evil eye – stay away! Actually, Bru was just curious and has been friendly to Brave, but that first day, we were very protective…

Above, Sierra works Brave in the round pen on a lunge line. That was only needed for the first couple of times, and now he lunges free with his ‘seeing-eye’ horse, Hershey.

Above, Brave looks proud with Kasey Jorgensen. Pics taken by Kasey’s mom, DeeAnn Bradley on 12/27/09

Here is Brave with his "seeing-eye" horse, Hershey. I don't know if Brave's life can continue past Hershey's life, so I take the best care I can of both. Hershey wears jingle bells to help Brave keep track of him.....

Brave

Goodbye to Brave