MISTY DAWN The horse that wouldn’t give up |
By Carol Wells
The first time I saw Misty Dawn, she was at a slaughter house in Nassau County. She had been taken there by her previous owners. They had beaten her repeatedly, until she had finally learned to ‘fight back’. For this she was labeled Viscous – a Killer, and was to be put to death. I had been called about her by a kind hearted man who recognized that this mare was none of those things – but mistreated and undeserving her fate.
After taking Misty Dawn home, we first cared for her wounds, and at the same time fell in love with her. She was half Arab and half Appaloosa, nearly white with the black spots showing through a fog. We found her to be very gentle, even timid – but never mean.
Misty Dawn was my partner during my ‘Barrel Racing’ days – my ‘Team Penning’ Days – and always, my ‘Match Race’ days. She was always willing to give me her very best – just because I asked her to. I never used a whip or spur on her – didn’t need to – she seldom came in less than the top three places in any event.
This wonderful spirited mare had so many physical disasters in her life – she was struck by lightning – had liver poisoning – West Nile (the year before we had a shot) – and Cancer. It was her will to live, and the love of the family she let is part of her life, that brought her through.
The last six years Misty Dawn was totally blind – from the high fever she endured with the West Nile. Did she quit – panic – give up? No – she coped with her blindness and trusted those who loved her. She knew we would take care of her, and we did. When she heard the trailer being hooked up she was the first to the gate – yelling ‘take me’. Besides the miles of trails we went on to cover, she was shown in Western Pleasure, and placed many times – even above professionally trained show horses. How? She just wanted to please that much. She was in parades – and loved it. We went camping, trail riding, and just visiting together. She and her companion Dooley could often be seen frolicking around the pasture on cool mornings. (Dooley would guide her around things.) She was not ready to quit – and let us know it quickly.
I feel proud and honored to have been a part of the life of such a wonderful and kind hearted horse. On October 3, 2008 Misty Dawn lost her last battle with Cancer. She is buried in her favorite pasture beneath hand made quilts. She was an important and beloved member of my family for over 22 years and she is sorely missed by all who knew her.