Maximilian
A Perfect Time. A Perfect Heart.

It was a perfect time. One of those times that occur every few years when your closest friends come together for the sheer joy of being in each other’s company. The anticipation of their arrival from far away has you giddy with expectation. Watching the clock, listening for the sound of a car pulling in the driveway, busying yourself with little things to make the time pass.

Of course, they do not all arrive on the same day, so your expectancy keeps you tap dancing on air for awhile. The first arrival has traveled from many miles & states away and as you hug each other in loving friendship, the feeling that something has been missing begins to subside. You fill up with joy because your friend is there.

Of course, one of the things on her “visitor’s agenda” is to attend the auction. You get that uneasy feeling in your gut. You haven’t gone to the auctions in awhile for several reasons. The rescue is not in a financial position to take in another horse, yet you know if you see a horse in need of help at the auction you will mostly likely do your best to do so. You find yourself hoping/praying that the horses you will see that night at the auction will be in decent health and finding decent homes. You tell your friend of your concerns, you tell her you can’t take in another horse at this time, and you absolutely know that if you can help a horse in need that you will try anyway. She understands completely and you make a pact not to bring another horse to the rescue because you must concentrate on funding/adoptive homes for the ones already in your care. A solemn oath.

You and your friend arrive at the auction and begin to walk the rows of pens that house the horses that are being sold. First aisle, first pen and there he is. You know it before you even get up to the pen. Your eyes see him from a distance, your heart begins to get heavy and your gut tightens up. You know the only chance he will have will be you & your friend. You lock down on your emotions, look at him briefly and continue up the aisles. You say nothing as you pass him by, and as you continue on you leave a part of yourself there knowing you will return.

What a magnificent horse he must have been! A huge bay Appaloosa Thoroughbred that had at one time been a friend to someone. He was painfully thin. Old bows were obvious on both his front legs. His right hip was much lower than his left and he had difficulty with the right rear leg. He was lurching around the pen, frightened, disoriented and banging into the rails. You were sure the poor fellow had vision problems. You offered a handful of alfalfa you had found in another pen and he swung his mighty head your way, grabbed the meager offering as he continued to stagger his way on the journey around and around the enclosure. Emotions overwhelm you and you walk to the inside of the auction house to take a seat. Your friend joins you and you discuss the plight of this once noble horse. You both know, but you tell each other that perhaps someone will come to his aid when he is brought through the ring. You know you really shouldn’t bring another horse to the rescue, but you cannot walk away. You pray for a good samaritan and kind heart to reach out to help him.

You make a couple more trips to his pen hoping that he has settled down and that you will find someone standing before him saying “You are going home”. He is still disoriented and the only folks around his pen are the ones that say ‘poor horse’ and walk on. Yet, you know. You speak to the auction personnel and tell them that if he doesn’t receive any bids when he goes through the ring that you will buy him. You return to your seat where you and your friend discuss which pen you will put him in when he gets home. The poor fellow is in such bad shape that he doesn’t even make it to the auction ring. It is the end of the evening, you have seen many horses go through the ring and hope the new homes they will be going to will treat them good. You speak to the auction personnel and make arrangements for the old gentleman to be brought to your facility the next day. You and your friend go to him and whisper in his ear “You are going home”. You feel that the very best you can do for this horse that has traveled so far and endured so much is to let him go with grace, dignity and respect. You can at least give him a few hours of knowing that he was loved, that someone cared and that you feel blessed to be able to help him cross the Rainbow Bridge. It’s the very least you can do for him as you sense he has most certainly given his all through the years of his existence. You will bring him home and be with him as he leaves this earth with someone at his side. You and your friend will do this for him as he deserves it so very much.

The next day your other two friends from afar arrive!! You are so very pleased that this gathering of the heart is taking place. That something that was missing is almost gone and you are filled with the happiness that true friendship brings. You laugh, hug, chatter, giggle, enjoy the presence of each other. Yet, in the back of your mind and a place in your heart is the sadness of what is to come when the big bay Appaloosa TB arrives. Doing the right thing for the right reasons is not always easy.

Part II

You and your friends are reveling in the moment of being together. It is an event that only happens sparingly because two friends live on the other side of the map and the other resides many miles away. You are grateful for the friend that lives nearby and is always there for you and for the horses. You come together through a friendship born out of the desire to help horses in need. You have supported each other through the years of helping horses near and far. You have been there for each other through the joyful times of success, the sad times of loss, the elation of a good horse finding a good home, the frustration of not being able to help them all, and the thrill of watching a horse in wretched condition blossom into a healthier, bright-eyed, mischievous being.

As one, you walk out to spend time with the rescue horses. You are the fortunate one. You are able to spend each day with these magnificent animals. You are the one that is able to feel their warm breath on your face each day, gaze into their eyes, wrap your arms around their necks, feel their hearts beating strongly in their chests as you move you hands over their glistening coats. You are the one that receives the welcoming whinnies every day, the nuzzles, you get to watch their tails held high in the air as they dash about playing with each other and prancing about just because they feel good. Your friends are gathered together because of these wonderful creatures and because of the bond of friendship. It was a perfect time.

Your friends are climbing in the pens, talking to the horses, rubbing, laughing, hugging the warm bodies. The horses are delighted! They love visitors and they seem to intuitively know that these women are a big part of why they are here. They appear to understand that is because of these particular women and their efforts that the unpleasant situations of what went before their arrival here are just part of their past. Without the friendship of these particular women and the support of so many caring people in our world, these horses would have continued to suffer. The horses always seem to know how precious visitors are and they are always welcoming! As you stand there watching your friends and the horses you hear a truck arrive. Those moments of your heart being full, the sun shining on your spot in this world, the smiles on the inside and out are dampened. You know that sound. You know that the bay Appaloosa TB has arrived and your throat tightens because you feel that the very best you can do for him is to let him go. Your heart becomes heavy and your stomach churns as you walk out to meet the driver that has brought this gallant boy to you.

You are told by the driver that the horse is in worse shape than when you saw him last. This old soldier had fallen hard several times before he was able to make it into the trailer to be brought to this place. The driver does not think this boy will be able to safely walk the distance to the pen you and your friend have prepared for him and the decision is made to bring the trailer onto the property where it can be backed up to the gate of the pen so the old gentleman will have fewer steps to take.

He weaves and lurches off the trailer, slams into the side of pen and staggers around the enclosure. There are fresh cuts on his legs, his lips are cut from banging his head on the ground when he fell as they tried to load him. His left eye is cloudy and weeping. The jutting hip bones are scraped and bleeding. Your heart and stomach come together to make a tight, heavy spot in the center of your body. Your throat tightens and you fight the tears as he needs you and your friends to help him. The call to the vet has already been made.

He immediately staggers to the water barrel where he drinks for a very long time. He is so thin that you can practically follow the gulps of water as they make their way down his throat. His hollowed out flanks are heaving with the effort and you begin to think you will have to remove the water so he does not overdo it. The trailer leaves and your friends immediately come to him to soothe, clean the wounds, offer encouragement and let him know that he is now safe. The other rescues fill the air with whinnies of welcome and approach his pen to greet the new arrival. It has been awhile since they have been able to hold a welcome reception. Moistened pellets are placed before him so that he may ease his obvious hunger. He is once more loved. He stops drinking and stands as best he is able in the middle of the pen still disoriented, still fearful. Yet, somewhere inside him you believe he knows it is okay.

PART III

You notice that there is suddenly a stillness in the air. Your friends and the rescue horses are all projecting a calmness as if to reassure the new arrival. You hope the other rescues are communicating to this old gentleman that he is safe. Everyone quietly watches him as he struggles to eat the moistened pellets placed before him. Although he is tired, sore, and unsure of what is to come, he makes the effort to eat. He balances himself and has to turn his head in order to take a mouthful of nourishment. You can hear his teeth grinding and you know that it has been a very long time since he has dental care. You wince as he takes each mouthful. His damaged eye is weeping and you find your own eyes filling with tears as this once magnificent horse exhibits a will to continue to live. He could have lain down and given up a long time ago.......yet he didn’t.

His big head is lowered into the bowl of food, he closes his eyes and stops eating for a moment seeming to gather strength to continue.

Ever so slowly he raises his head slightly and gazes at the people who are watching him. He appears to convey a message of quiet gratitude. You wonder what is going through his mind as he slowly goes back to eating. You wonder if he knows that this is most probably his last meal. That soon he will be running in the pastures across the Rainbow Bridge. You wonder why he was allowed to end up in this condition. Although you wish he could talk and tell you his tale, you know that most likely you would be more heartbroken than you already are if he could tell you what his story was. You hope at sometime he had someone who loved him, cared for him and gave him a piece of their heart as he most surely did for them. You just don’t understand WHY this has happened to him. Again, you are listening for the sound of a truck arriving which will announce that the vet has arrived to ease him across the Rainbow Bridge.

He stops eating and begins to circle the pen. He is so tired and so unsteady. You remove the hanging feeder so that he does not stumble into it again and cause him more distress. He moves to the center of the pen, swings himself around to face everyone, bows his head and stands. He is exhausted from his ordeal at the auction, being once again loaded onto a trailer, arriving at a new place with new horses & people. A mighty effort from a brave steed. The flies are buzzing around his weeping eye and one of your friends places a flymask on him. He accepts the protection quietly and once again lowers his head to rest.

As you stand there gazing at him, you hear the sound. It is the vet arriving and you brace yourself for what is to come. She arrives with a smile and we walk across the arena towards the focus of everyone’s attention. As she approaches she says “I know this horse! I saw him 3 months ago and he’s in better shape now than when I first saw him!” You are flabbergasted. You cannot imagine this horse being in worse shape and yet you believe what your vet is telling you. Before she even enters the pen she begins telling you what she already knows. She tells you that he has an old injury to his hip/back that was not cared for, he is in dire need of dental care, he is most likely visually impaired in his left eye, he has a very bad heart and that when she saw him previously there were children riding him despite his condition. You are simply shocked. She enters the pen to further examine him and confirm her diagnosis. According to the vet, the only changes in her diagnosis that she can see are that he has fresh wounds, is exhausted, dehydrated, and that he seems to have gained some weight since the last time she saw him. Her recommendation is to feed him and love him.

You look at her in amazement. You were sure that this old soldier was leaving for the other side today. She laughs at the look on your face and says, “I told the people who had him previously that it would be kinder to put this horse down. They wanted to try to rehabilitate him for their children to ride, but I knew that that only meant throwing him alfalfa. I didn’t think alfalfa alone would be enough for this old boy. Apparently those folks realized they bit off more than they could chew and sent him to the auction. I know that here he will have the chance he deserves. Just feed him and love him. He will be the best he can be. Just continue to feed him the pellets, some vitamins, all that stuff you do. He’ll be okay. “

We humans are stunned. The rescue horses seem to have known as they are all going about their business and letting the old man rest up for his next assault on the bowl of food. We are all relieved and excited at the same time. In the back of your mind you are wondering how we are going to afford this? You had rescued him in order to end his misery. You know this isn’t about buying & selling horses for profit. This is about helping horses in need. Horses that deserve a safe, caring place to become whole again and if possible, to find a kind and loving home. But you know your bank balance, funds have been tight, you have other mouths to feed, medicines to buy, bandages to apply. Supplements, feed and medications are needed. Hooves need to be trimmed, chiropractic visits need to be scheduled, dental appointments need to be made & worming needs be done. Another horse impacts all of this and your head spins with dollars and cents that aren’t there. You look around at the happy faces of your friends. The reprieve has filled everyone with an electric feeling of hope. The vet is looking at you and seems to know what is going through your head. Completely out of charcter for her, she places a hand on your shoulder, smiles softly and says, “You’ll both be okay.” You smile back, sigh and tell her, “I know”

The vet explains his heart condition a little more thoroughly. It seems that when he is excited or scared and the adrenaline kicks in his heart stutters. It’s kinda like when you stand up to fast and you get woozy. When this happens he gets more scared and the lack of blood to his brain gets worse. It continues to accelerate as he gets more afraid of what is happening. He gets more and more disoriented and stumbles about banging into the rails, etc. This further scares him. Truthfully, she is surprised that he doesn’t just pass out. The vet thinks the heart problem most likely is the result of long term starvation and you know that several of the previous rescues had this same problem. In the other rescues with this issue, over time, it has improved. You make mention of this and the vet cocks her head to look at you. With a twinkle in her eye she tells you that she believes he will improve under your care, but she doubts that his ‘bum ticker’ will reverse itself.

You look at this horse and know. You know he has a perfect heart or he would not be here. A heart this big, a will to live this strong is not just luck. Yes, he has a perfect heart and he has come to you at a perfect time.

The vet is making out the bill and asks “So, do you want me to put ‘Bay Roan Appaloosa/TB gelding on the invoice, or does he have a name?” You turn to your friend and tell her that since it was her idea to go to the auction and to rescue this horse, it is her job to name him. She wants to give him a strong name, an enduring name, a name that sums up his willingness to face all odds. She names him Maximilian. It is a fitting name. You turn back to the vet and say to her “His name is Maximilian, but we call him Max.

PART IV

Your friends rally around his pen as you walk with the vet to her truck. You are smiling and yet your mind is churning. Can you do this? Should you do this? These are the questions that are screaming in your mind. The questions you always ask yourself. You wonder if you have the ability to help this boy properly. You look back to where he is calmly standing as your friends lean on the fence offering quiet solace and hope. Your eyes take in the surrounding scene. Once hopeless horses milling about in the arena and in pens munching the orchard hay, pellets, vitamins & supplements that has come to them because of caring people. Each one an individual. Each one a success story. Each one a gift. Each one is here because compassionate folks across the nation stepped up to the plate to help them. You are filled with wonderment and gratitude at the generosity of people who believe in these horses who, despite their prior circumstance, are willing one more time to trust and be the best they can be. Yet you still second guess yourself. Your mind is filled with uncertainty for a moment as you look around you.

Your focus is drawn back to the new arrival for a moment. He raises his head above the heads of your friends and he seems to look across the space directly at you. You can feel something in the space between you as you face each other. Suddenly, the vet’s voice interrupts the moment, the bond that happens in that instant. She speaks strongly and says “He knows, and so do you.” She leaves and you walk back to your friends and Max. Laying a hand here and there on horses as if gathering strength from them as you make your way across the arena thinking of what next needs to be done for this wonderful boy. Everyone is smiling inside and out.

The sun is making it’s descent and it is time for your friends that live within driving distance to leave. It has been an emotional and rewarding day. Peggy, Kelly & Michelle leave after hugs all around. You all insist that gatherings such as this need to happen more often. You and Carol take one last stroll around the property to say good night to the horses. Everyone is settled in and Max continues to eat and then rest. He has had such a rough go of it.

Carol must be on her way back to her own home and you are grateful for the time that you were able to spend with her and your other friends. It was just a perfect time.

You begin a list of phone calls to be made to help Maximilian. Phone calls to the chiropractor, farrier, etc. You have had the opportunity to help other horses that have come to the facility in an emaciated condition and you know that you should feed this wonderful gentleman small portions several times a day in the beginning. You also know that it will take several months for him to slowly gain weight. There is no problem there, but you are concerned about what is the best course of action to take for his other ailments. First, you must allow him a few days to settle in. He needs to adjust to the feeding routine, get acquainted with the other horses and hopefully begin to trust you. You have no doubt that this will come about as horses have come to this place with their trust damaged. You are always amazed at their willingness to trust yet again.

You know that Max’s hip is causing him pain so you add some Bute to his feed. In a short while you notice that he has hives the size of baseballs on his chest, neck and sides. You realize his system has been so damaged by starvation and perhaps medications previously administered that anything you give him may cause a reaction. He is still unsure of your intentions, but his focus is on staying alive. All his energy is concentrated on eating, drinking and resting.

After a few days you feel he is strong enough to go out into the arena to move around, get the blood flowing and to meet the horses he hasn’t had contact with. You open the gate of his pen to lead him out to the arena where he can wander around by himself at his own pace. Due to his vision problem and his uncertainty he can’t make it through the gate. He slams in to the side of the pen and then slams into the side of the gate opening. As you try to coax him through, try to guide him with your touch and your voice, his fear escalates and his great heart begins to stutter. He is again staggering as he was when you first saw him. Disoriented and frightened. You cease trying to move him forward and you spend time with him to calm him. After several days of short attempts to lead him to the arena, he finally makes it out of the pen. Soon he is making his way to the sand pile to roll. You watch as he struggles with his bad hip to get back up, watch as he shakes the sand off and then rolls again. You are filled with amazement at his efforts to continue on.

The chiropractor has come and gone. There is a question of neurological damage being part of Max’s problem with his hip. Although the hip was definitely out and has now been adjusted, only time and follow-up adjustments will tell. In the beginning he was leaning against the rails of his pen to steady himself as he ate. You feel it is time to make the call to the farrier. You choose to call Mike LeGrone who comes every 5 weeks to assist the horses with feet problems as you know he will be able to give this boy a balanced trim which will help distribute his weight evenly and therefore put less pressure on his hip & back. Dear Max is still quite unsteady and you help him balance against the rails as Mike does his feet. He has wonderfully strong healthy hooves! They are unbalanced and long, but Mike makes quick work of getting them into better shape as he offers encouragement to this old soldier.

The next day you are pleased to see that Max is balancing himself better so soon after the trim. He is settling in and you see the great heart at work as he nuzzles you when you come into brush him or talk to him. He hangs his great head over your shoulder and draws you to him. A hug! Your heart swells and your eyes fill with the wonder of his strength and personality. He is becoming such a dignified clown and has formed an attachment to Precious Gem who is his neighbor. You are now able to turn him out with Precious and watch them as they run, buck, kick and roll. Such a perfect time this is.

You watch as he improves. He is gaining weight and the visits from the chiropractor have helped him. He no longer sways as he walks and you are filled with joy when you witness him breaking into a beautiful ground eating trot as he plays in the arena with Precious Gem. You can now let him out with other horses, but when you do this he spends his time trying to keep them away from Precious! Ha! The old boy is smitten with the elegant old gray mare and has made friends with Panache.

There is something magnetic about this horse. Volunteer Tracy immediately goes to Max when she arrives. She spends all her time grooming him from head to toe. He is so appreciative of the attention and care, such a gentleman. You feel that somewhere, at some time, someone must have loved this horse very much. His manners are impeccable. You can see past the broken thin body to what he must have been. You ache with sorrow for his rough past, yet you feel blessed to have him here with you now. What a gift he is! He such a proud and gentle being. VolunTIER coordinator Peggy sums it up by saying “Max makes you feel special. He makes you feel as if you want to dust of your clothes, kick the dirt off your boots, make sure your shirt is tucked in and that your hands are clean. He brings out the best in you.” That he does.

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