July 1, 2013

Violet's History

After Violet was all settled in, I decided to go through the folder of paperwork that was sent on the trailer with her.  Violet's birthday is May 20, 2004 (just one week before the day Sophie was born)!  So she just recently turned 9 years old.  I noticed that her dam and sire were not registered as Quarter Horses, rather they were registered Paint Horses! Violet's original name was "Louise", and she was born in Perry, Georgia. She was sold at some point to a cowboy who then sold her to another cowboy who sold her to an auction house. Sometime during those three ownerships, Violet was "cowboyed" and likely mistreated.  She has a terrible deep scar on one side of her belly that may have been from spurs and/or an accident.  She also has some bad scars on her left hind leg and an injury to her front right hoof.   While it's clear that she had a hard life for several years, in 2010 she was purchased by a woman who kept her for about 9 months before selling her to a lady named Lisa in Pennsylvania.  Lisa owned Violet for two years.... and Lisa sold her to Danielle in Florida just 4 months ago.  Then of course, I just bought her from Danielle.   From what I can surmise, Violet has lived in three states, and I am her 7th owner in 9 years...

Knowing that Danielle had only had Violet a short while, I asked if I could get in touch with her previous owner Lisa.  Danielle has been so kind and helpful ... she gave me Lisa's phone number and Facebook information.  It was neat to see photos of Violet with her beloved pasture mate, "Willow".  I still can't believe that connection.   It was so wonderful talking to Lisa... she told me so much about Violet... most importantly that Violet had had a rough life and had some trust issues.  I think it was probably for that reason that she was perhaps hard to bond with for some of her previous owners.  Lisa told me that Violet wasn't very affectionate, had a hard time trusting and bonding with Lisa's family... but then one day something amazing happened... 

She started telling me the story, "Willow started to choke..."  I had to interrupt her, "Willow started to CHOKE?  Is that what you said, Lisa?"   Lisa confirmed it, and then I just had to tell her about my Willow (who choked every day, etc. and all about how Willow led me to Violet).   I already had goosebumps.   Lisa went on to tell me that she had to call a vet to come save Willow during her choking incident.   She and her family were so scared... and because Violet and Willow were so close, Violet just stood close by watching the entire time.  After the vet finished and Lisa was catching her breath, she felt something behind her and then over her shoulder.... it was Violet gently resting her head on Lisa's left shoulder.  Lisa reached up with her left arm around Violet's head, and they shared their first hug.  Lisa said from that moment on, Violet was a different horse... she loved them and bonded with them... she trusted them.

Of course, the story made me cry... I am so grateful that Lisa shared it with me.  And I am so happy to know that Violet was loved for part of her life and has been taken care of for the past few years.  When I see her scars, instead of imagining her being mistreated at the auction house or those cowboy ranches, I will remember the story Lisa shared with me...  and I will work toward creating trust and forming a deep, loving bond with her. <3


9 comments:

  1. I'm so glad you found her. :) I can't wait to read more of her story, and yours!

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  2. I always have felt so sorry for animals, how do they ever really know they are "home". This is why our animals stay with us forever (for the most part). My horse now was one that I rescued from a feed lot, she was goign to slaughter. Who knows what all has happened in her short life before I had her. She was young pregnant and malnurished. You couldn't catch her and she was sick. I would just sit out in her field with her and build her trust, or earn her trust. We took many walks together. Almost 10 years later she is just a wonderful horse, but she has somehow injured herself and is lame at the trot and canter. Just spent the day at the vet and it sounds like this is permenant. so depressing. I mean she's great to trail ride at the walk, but my daughter Maya (from Guatemala) is off cantering away and wants me to ride with her. So what to do? I haven't figured that out yet, do I find someone that I trust to free lease her just for trail riding at the walk? it's so hard because I"m someone who never ever let anyone ever even ride their horse. Then I have no horse but we do have two ponies! but I"m too big to ride them. One of them I call the million dollar pony, he is the most wonderful pony and I don't even want to think about what he has been thru in his life, he is between 20-25 years old, how he managed to stay so wonderful is beyond me, we did talk the owner into letting us buy him, and he will never be out of our control, we need to know he is always treated with love and well cared for.
    If you want a BIG beautiful pasture ornament gelding let me know. I tell you we are having a terrible time with horses. My mom (lives 10 acres from us) also rescued a horse who was so skinny and tiny, but now is a HUGE 17+ draft horse, dapple grulla with flaxen mane and tail. Even though we were really careful with him when we started him, he just grew too fast for his poor nutrition, so he has ring bone..........

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  3. Wow! What a history! It seems as though the red thread is more and more evident! How is she adjusting with her new home, people, and horses? Thank you for sharing this journey!

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  4. 7 homes in 9 years. i can't imagine how scary that must have been for violet. i'm so glad that the two of you have found one another and that willow has played a part in it.

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  5. Willow has giving you her spirit

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  6. Having been through a very traumatic horse event myself in 2010 that I have spent 3 years recovering from, I visit your Velvet Willow blog daily. I have been glued here for months, with tears and heartbreak of sadness and joy for you and your horses. Kevin & I follow your photography on FB also. I am sad to see the amounts of comments have dwindled though ironically this is my first time commenting. Please continue to write about your horses. For as sad as it makes me, it also helps heal my heart of my own tragedies. Thank you for this blog and for all the love you have for nature, animals, and ESPECIALLY horses (my life).

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    1. Rebecca, I'm so sorry to hear of your heartache... thank you so much for your kind words. Honestly, the amount of comments doesn't matter to me at all. I write the blog because it helps me sooo much... Perhaps you should write a blog too? it's super therapeutic! Again, thank you for your sweet words... sending hugs. xo

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  7. I love this blog and reading about Willow and the other horses, it has made me laugh and cry at the same time I look all the time for a new post. But this post has upset me a little. It seems you have a huge misconception of "cowboys" and ranch life. Most "cowboys" that I know and know of take better care of there horses then then anyone I have seen. Sorry I had to get that off my chest. Thank you so much for writing this blog I will continue looking everyday for new posts :)

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    1. Hi Steph, I hope you get this (I just found out I had tons of unpublished comments).. I'm so sorry about the misunderstanding... Actually I love cowboys! And I know how much they love and take care of their horses... I think "cowboyed" is the term others used to describe the treatment- and you're right.. probably not a good term as it sends the wrong message. Like all other people, there are good ones and bad ones.. Thanks for sharing your thought on this- i hadn't thought about it before. ♥

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