Pet of the Day

November 9, 2008

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Buckwheat, the Pet of the Day
Name: Buckwheat
Age: Seventeen years old
Gender: Male
Kind: Pony
Home: Long Island, New York, USA
 
   When I was searching for a companion for my miniature horse, a friend recommended a pony named Buckwheat. I jumped at the chance to adopt him. When I went to look at him, I learned alot about him. The lady who owned him at the time bought him from a public hack barn. The barn owners bought him just because they felt bad for him. He was the last horse left on a trailer on its way to auction, which meant certain slaughter. He had been previously abused and was fearful of humans. When the lady went to look at Buckwheat, he seemed fine until they tried to pick up his hind feet. He took off through the diverse trails of the state park. It took them two hours to finally tire him out and catch him.

    Despite the problems the lady had encountered, she still bought him for four hundred dollars simply because she too felt bad for him. The lady said he was very hard to catch, and had to be sedated in order to get his feet trimmed by the farrier. When I brought Buckwheat home, I knew it would be a challenge for me, but I saw his potential. I felt that no one had ever really tried to help this pony, they just watched him from a far.

    I have had Buckwheat for one year so far and we have accomplished many things. I am able to catch him without much trouble. I can pick up all his feet, and the farrier can trim them, with only a little struggle. I have been riding him, bareback, with only a halter and a lead rope. He is an amazing free jumper and can jump around four feet, and I even taught him how to jump through a hula hoop. Over the summer I brought him to my local 4-H camp. He spent his time as a lesson horse, playing with the other horses, and going for walks to the beach. He has truly turned out to be a remarkable horse. I don't know what I would have done without him. He has taught me so much about how to respect and treat a horse that is fearful. I am glad I was able to help him out, he will have a home with me forever.

Buckwheat, the Pet of the Day

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