Later I found out that it was Finbar who saved Seamus. It was early and I was well on my way to my “day job”. Typically, Finbar and his associate donkey Mr. Rogers are in their paddock in the early hours of a new day, supervising the morning activities and awaiting what amounts to room service, or the delivery of morning buckets. Rather than his normal watchful stance, Finbar, I am told, was extremely upset and was racing at top speed in and out of his stall, whinnying a high-pitched and disturbed warning. He escalated raising both dust and the awareness of the early birds who were just starting to prepare buckets, rotate turnouts and begin rounds. Under the heavy breathing and flared nostrils of a very frantic Finbar, Bethany found Seamus in the adjoining stall trying to escape the agonizing pain of a strangulated small intestine by rolling and thrashing on the floor of his previously well-bedded and cozy stall.

Horses saving horses and equines communicating lifesaving messages are not new to us. Over the years we have learned to listen and pay attention to the sometimes silent, often overt language of these amazing, loyal and noble animals. In solemn reflection, I realize now that my love affair and previous relationships with horses that I have been privileged to know may have been peppered with unheard messages and missed conversations. The dawning of my understanding the deep love that horses hold for one another and the accompanying – if not spellbinding- language was with Anna-Belle and Ledger. Anna-Belle was one of the original nine horses that we had rescued with the inception of Red Bucket. She had been starved, abandoned, and hours from the imminent risk of slaughter when we saved her. It wasn’t until a good many months later that we rescued Ledger, who was part of the “Malibu Five”. The Malibu Five were five geriatric horses that had been abandoned and left to starve to death when a children’s camp relocated, taking all of the “good horses” with them. Ledger, we learned, was much closer to 40 than he was to 30. He might be described as having a face that only a mother could love, but the reality is that all of the Red Riding Hoods loved him deeply. He had four terribly crooked old legs that creaked more than a haunted house, an over-sized head that he used to ram anyone in his way, and while not an Olympic sport, he could easily toss a 130-lb. handler a good 5-6 feet should that person demonstrate the poor judgment (which usually only happened once) of standing in front of him when leading him back to his stall…and his much younger neighbor, Anna-Belle.

At first we thought that we were imagining it, but then learned that we were witnessing a small bit of magic…and yes, a selfless and beautiful relationship. To truly understand the impact of Ledger’s repeated sacrifice one must understand that he had nearly been starved to death, and even months later needed additional groceries and supplements to remove the traces of years of prolonged neglect. During mealtimes, when our other horses had their muzzles and faces buried in their mangers…and red buckets, Ledger would take large mouthfuls of hay and creakily travel the length of his 24-foot boarded pipe corral and gently push his food through a gap in the fence right into Anna-Belle’s stall. He would with consistency and regularity give her half of his hay, feeding her before he would feed himself. The gift left him a bit “ribby” and it was not until months later that we realized why our crusty old-timer was not enjoying the robust weight gain of his peers. Of course, when our dear little Ledger took his last walk, one that transported him over the rainbow bridge, it was Anna-Belle who grieved the deepest, not because of the loss of Ledger’s rations, but because of the loss of Ledger.

While there is much that we continue to learn, we do understand the innate social needs of a horse. Our program puts a priority on removing the boards that separate horses whenever
possible, providing multi-horse living situations and creating herds…or families…whereby our horses’ lives are enriched with the one thing that we cannot personally provide…equine
relationships and the fulfillment of equine companionship. Our program is not one of convenience for the person, but rather service to the horse and a commitment to the quality of life which encompasses the entire horse…mind, body and spirit.

Seamus came home from the hospital Monday, and while the people who love him…certainly me at the top of the list, rejoiced and exhaled a collective deep sigh of relief, it was Finbar who welcomed him the loudest. The term “shouting from the rooftop” comes to mind, although in this case the jubilant whinnying and triumphant greeting of his friend actually included a tenderness and reluctance to leave Seamus’ side. I too needed to reassure myself that my little buddy was truly home, safe and sound, and as I peeked out late that first evening home to check…it was Finbar who stood watch over Seamus, as Seamus dozed in an over-sized pillow of fresh shavings. Certainly we have been privileged over the years to witness the deep bonds that horses have for one another…and for us. Horses saving horses is no longer a foreign concept, or limited in our awareness to a rarity or miracle. We have seen Joey save both Jack and Buffy…and
Paidraig has saved me. It is in no way a question of why, at Red Bucket, we choose to save them.