What were the odds of this happening? First, that the three neglected horses down the road would resurface? Secondly, that this would be at what Pete and I knew to be her daughter’s property, adjacent to the musk ox farm? And thirdly, that my friend Vickie would alert me to the fact that those I named Horses 1, 2, and 3 would be there?

Last Friday, Pete and I went over to check out the horses. And there they were, Horses 1, 2, and 3. I clearly saw the big round belly of Horse #2. I wanted to get out of the truck and say hello because I now consider these horses to be my buddies, but did

not because Pete rightly said that someone was out in the pen, moving a black and white pinto pony. Whoever it was didn’t need to see us snooping around.

The horses were tethered, and there were no water buckets in sight. There was, nearby, a round bale. Vickie later told me that this has been there for some time—unopened. The horses didn’t appear to have any access to shelter.

I figured that this would be the end of the story as far as I was concerned. It was not. The day before yesterday I received a call from Mat-Su Animal Control Officer Darla Erskine, who asked me for an incident report, detailing what I’d seen here on Oceanview Drive. I said OK, that I’d provide her with this. So this is what I worked on this morning.

Office Erskine has impressed me as a very tough, hardworking individual who takes her job as animal control officer quite seriously. She asked me very specific questions, and she repeatedly asked for date clarification. I said that I’d also provide her with this information on paper. She knows what to do, and I know what to do.

Lessons learned at this end – I’ve now come to see the necessity of being proactive when it’s evident that horses are being abused or neglected. In this case, we are talking neglect. Horses 1, 2, or 3 (to my knowledge) were not mishandled or beaten. They seem too friendly and inquisitive to indicate this. Rather, they have not been cared for properly for some time.

I now realize that in such instances that it behooves me (no pun intended) to alert the proper authorities when I see that horses are being neglected. This is because I now know a great deal about horse care—the basics being that they all need access to food, water, and shelter. They also need to be observed for signs of illness or injury. This actually is the very least of what they need.

This role of mine isn’t something that everyone is equipped or interested in doing. This is because the brain is purposely selective. If it were not, we as individuals would be continually inundated by unforeseen messages. So we select. For instance, someone walking past the place in question might see horses and think nothing of this. Or, they might see a race car chassis, and think that it should be removed and put to good use.

Pete has said that ever since he’s known me that I’ve noticed horses. He was so cognizant of this when we lived in Milwaukee, WI he took me on a horse tour. Ten years later, and I still have fond memories of that day. I cannot tell you though, what other things I might have seen on that day.

What I notice lends itself to my being a horse advocate. So this is what I am going to do. I am not going out looking for abused or neglected horses. But I will not turn a blind eye on such situations, as I have done previously.

I feel quite good about the way things are going as far as these horses are concerned. I’d like to think that I have been an intermediary who assisted them in getting better treatment. Must be, there will be a special place in horse heaven for me. I would like that. I could ride all day, and when I fall off, bounce around in the clouds. What fun that would be.

Next: 261: 12/12/13: Tough Decisions