It was mid-December 2002, and on January 1st, 2003, Big Bud was headed for slaughter . His owners decided he was no longer able to meet their needs due to a lingering problem with his hind quarters that limited his ability to ride on rigorous mountain trails. I learned about Big Bud’s situation when I first met him. The stable manager told us the owners would gladly give him up, or he was heading down the road to “horse hell”. 

I knew he could live with Spirit, my arab that was rescued from slaughter 4 years prior, and they would develop a bond that would last a lifetime.

Big Bud had serious problems, he had to be sedated to trim his feet. He had to be sedated to pretty much do anything with him.  Although he seemed to have been well fed, he was abused. His previous “owner” never liked Big Bud much, even after having him for 11 years. When I took responsibility for him, he had a hard time loading in a trailer, he had a hard time allowing me to halter him, he had a hard time with pretty much any human contact.

Why would he want human contact after the 11 years of abuse he had endured? 

Today, Big Bud has his feet trimmed out in pasture without a halter or lead rope, he does pretty much everything at “Liberty”. See, when a horse trusts, he will do anything for you. Time, patience, and a long lasting relationship will change a horse forever, and if you are lucky, will change you too!

This 18 year old quarter horse, standing 17 hands high, is not only magnificent, but is the best care taker to the newborn foals one could ask for. He has forgiven, and is moving on. He knows he is safe forever, and despite repeated human  betrayal, he continues to offer his soul to the foals, the children and most of all to adults that in his past have have let him down.