skippy!

» Email Skippy!

To send an email to Skippy, simply use this email address:

skippy@horsesinhawaii.com

Skippy will love to hear from you!

» skippy's rescue

One day not so long ago I was in a stall at my old home and there was an accident. My front leg was injured when a large piece of sheet metal fell on me. He did not have the money to call the vet and he did not seem to want me when I became injured. He took me to a strange new pasture and left me alone. I was abandoned, lost and frightened. What would become of me? My owner was not very nice to me. He hurt me and made me very nervous. I never could understand what he wanted me to do.

There was no water but there was lots of grass in the new pasture. I was not very hungry because I was getting sick from my injury. I did not feel very good. My leg hurt to walk on so I just stood in a corner of the pasture. I was so worried, who would take care of me? Soon I heard some other horses that were in the pasture. They came galloping up to me but they ignored me when they saw my injured leg. They made fun of me.

One horse was very nice. Her name was Starlight. She was very friendly and told me that there was a nice lady that gave all the horses treats and water. The lady lived up at the far end of the pasture. It was a long way to walk and my leg hurt so bad. My leg was still bleeding. I tried to follow Starlight up the hill and through the trees. I could not keep up with the others but I finally found them at the top of the hill. There was lots of fresh water and grass. Soon the nice lady came to the fence to give all of us treats. The other horses pushed me aside and prevented me from getting anything to eat. I was afraid to approach the lady. People had not been very nice to me. The lady was very patient and seemed to understand that I was afraid. Her name was Dee.

My life was about to change in so many wonderful ways.

Dee gave me some treats. She gave me carrots. I had never tasted anything so yummy. She gave me guava and pineapple too. A few days later a friend of hers came to visit. Her name was Sharon. She looked at me and seemed to understand me right away. Sharon could talk to me and I could understand her. I was afraid but I let her look at my leg. It still hurt so bad. I let her clean my wound and put some medicine on it. That felt so much better. I was not hungry or lonely anymore. I learned that not all people wish to hurt me.

» skippy's new home

The nice lady Dee and her friend Sharon came to see me twice a day and gave me lots of treats. Starlight was now my best friend. I had never had a friend before. She told me that I could trust the two ladies. Soon Starlight and I were put into our own small pasture next to Dee's house. Every day I would get lots of food and Sharon had a nice vet come to look at my leg. His name was Dr. Tim. I could tell he was trying to help me. I was afraid but I knew that I must be brave. He gave me two shots and some more medicine for my leg. It did not hurt so much now. It was scary but slowly I learned that Sharon was my special friend. She would never hurt me or frighten me. She was always very kind and patience.

I began to recover. Dr. Tim said that I was two hundred pounds underweight. That is a lot for a horse like me. Sharon spent time with me every day. She was very patient as I tried to understand what she wanted of me. There came a time when Sharon knew that I needed to learn things that she could not teach me. So, she sent me to a new home that was very close by. What a wonderful place to live! I have many new friends. Trojan, Cortez, Sugar & Spice and Wipeo are just some of my new friends. Trojan is a beautiful and wise old gentleman who has taught me how to be a horse. It was difficult at first. I did not pay attention to him. That was a big mistake! Everyone in the herd pays attention to Trojan. Now I am one of the horses in the herd that is on "lookout". I get to watch for anything that could be important to us. That is very exciting. I have to allert the herd if a flock of wild turkeys or wild pigs come into our pasture. I had to earn that position through hard work and remembering my lessons. I even have four Miniture "Sicilian" Donkeys who are very funny friends and always provide comic relief to horses and humans alike.

I started going to school. I had so much to learn. There were so many things that the other horses knew how to do for their (teacher) trainer. I did not know how to stand quietly while Sharon put my halter on. I would become very nervous when ever anyone wanted to clean my hooves. I did not know how to stand and let my hooves be cleaned. I had to learn how to be led with the halter and rope. That was scary because ropes and halters had hurt me. I had to learn to pay attention. Sharon was very gentle and would let me smell and see the rope and halter and anything else that I was curious about. Sharon would laugh and we would have fun. She called our lessons kindergarten for Skippy.

I love going to school. I always learn something new and exciting. I can now wear my saddle and bridle without worring or becoming frightened. I have learned how to be brave when unexpected noises and people or things are around me. I am learning what I need to pay attention to and what is not important.