Rydls CR Dun Partyin
CR was a dun blanket appaloosa colt. We saw a picture of him at about a day old and just knew
that he was going to be a beauty -- and he just looked so sweet. And to top it off, he was extremely well bred.
At three months, CR was transported from North Dakota to South Texas -- quite an adventure for such
a little guy who had never been away from his mama before. He made the trip like a champ and arrived happy and ready
for the next adventure.
We turned him into a fair size pen with Nanner, a two year old mare, and Chance, our six month old
rescue colt. He seemed to fit right in -- and the three soon became their own little family.
Several months later, we were forced (due to rain) to turn the three loose in the larger pasture
with the other horses, and even in the herd the three stayed together. Nanner protected her two little boys, and the
two boys had a very strong bond.
We soon noticed though, that CR didn't run and play the way a colt his age really should. We
took special care to separate him for feeding to make sure he was receiving the proper nutrition. He seemed to be coming
around when, due to a job transfer, we were forced to board all of the horses in San Antonio for what ended up being an interminable
six months.
While he was still in San Antonio, CR began having problems with his left rear leg, which deteriorated
to the point that he needed help getting up. The vet felt the problem was in the hip, possibly damage from an injury
that he had (looked like a deep cut about 5 inches long) that he had incurred (and which was healed) before he ever moved
to Texas. The vet ordered more or less complete stall rest, so poor CR was forced to spend the next two months in a
stall. The good news was that he was improving.
We were finally able to move the horses to Abilene to be with us in June 2003. CR was kept
stalled, as were all the others, but turned out several times a week for several hours. After a week or so, he began
moving around more and really interacting with the other horses. His improvement continued and, where he had at one
time looked extremely cow-hocked, he was straight legged and developing into what we felt would be a wonderful stud prospect
(that we intended to keep).
After all he had been through, I will never forget the day that we turned him out and he started
kicking his heels in the air and bucking and running -- the way he should have been all along. I could feel the tears
in my eyes -- he was finally truly going to be able to enjoy his life. Our big TWH gelding started chasing him and CR,
when he couldn't stay ahead of him, would out-maneuver him.
