Phase #1: First Impressions

I have become accustomed to the procedures of the Loshenka Makeover over the past couple years of my participation and luckily I have drawn some pretty great horses and have been able to help them overcome their issues. Both Ginger and Socks have stayed with me and then I’ve also gone and adopted two other Loshenka Makeover event horses from other trainers, Raider and Smokeshow. So, heading to the holding facility that my new horse for this year was being held and filling out all the proper documents was not new and I was excited!

After introducing myself and all the necessary what-nots, the kind lady who was showing me around finally led me down to a back barn that was slightly in need of repairs. I noticed some siding had fallen off the roof and the paint was chipped on all the walls, the door to the barn was sagging so badly that we both had to lift it to get it to slide.

I was surprised they would have any horses in here and the lady timidly responded that the staff only puts horses back here when they are too difficult to have in the main buildings and back here did tend to get less foot traffic. She explained that the Loshenka I had drawn is having issues with her sight and that she used to be ok as long as someone was guiding her but then things got worse with her. The mare is extremely sensitive to bright lights, including natural sunlight, and the staff cannot get her out into a pasture of a run anymore or even take her for walks. So she’s been in a dark stall in this rundown back barn for a little while now… Poor girl. 

As we made our way down the aisle of the barn I noticed there were only a couple horses so a lot of the stalls were empty but they still had “my” horse all the way at the end. It was dark, musty, and quite a bit hot for this time of year. Pretty much no airflow except for two small back windows they left open. I also noticed a lot of fly activity. I asked the lady why they don’t clean this barn as often as the other barns. Her response is that it is hard to get volunteers to clean the stalls of aggressive horses or horses they cannot remove from the stalls… Nice.

We came up to “my” Loshenka’s stall and the lady stopped and pointed, not wanting to go to the door. Seriously? She’s blind, not rabid, I thought… I peered in the stall and I was stunned. It was pitch black. I couldn't make out a damn thing! I turned to tell the lady that this was not ok when a loud squeal and a rush of air hit me as the striped dark brown Loshenka charged and snapped her white muzzle towards me, towards the sound of my voice. I fell backwards barely missing being hit by her thrashing head and barred teeth. I sat there in shock as the mare stopped, her ears swiveling to listen, head slightly cocked, her green eyes wide and blank, and she then slowly slinked back into the darkness like a snake. Her white muzzle being the last thing to disappear. I looked back at the lady and gave her a look that could kill. A warning would’ve been nice. The lady just mouthed a pathetic sorry.

After that I let the staff lasso her as I backed my trailer to the barn door. Trying to make it as easiest as possible for this terrified and dangerous Loshenka. They finally got her roped and the four men were able to drag her and she darted into my little stock trailer, glad I brought it instead of a straight load... The poor mare’s once I’m sure pretty striped coat was matted and filthy from neglect, her flaxen tail was in tangles and swishing so fast I could hardly see how matted it really was. She fought them the entire time, squealing and striking out. Her poor green eyes just wide in terror. Searching for sight. I couldn’t imagine loosing such an important sense.

The guys laughed and wished me luck which disgusted me. I drove home in silence, feeling the trailer rock every time the sun was shining in through the slats of the trailer.