A thorough vet exam did not reveal any apparent reason for Buck's condition. His teeth weren't in great shape, but they weren't bad enough to warrant his extreme weight loss. He didn't seem sick. But he was in pretty bad shape and the only hope for his survival was immediate intensive care. The owners were unable to do what was necessary, so they agreed to turn Buck over to the vet.

I was working that day at the vet hospital and had a hard time paying attention to my work. I stopped to pet Buck and was immediately impressed with him. Despite his poor condition, he seemed interested in his surroundings and had a cheerfully optimistic attitude. His coat was rough and dirty, he was covered with bite marks and chunks of skin missing from being picked on by the other horses, his hipbones stuck out and all his ribs showed, and his eyes were sunken in. But his eyes were bright and gentle and trusting.

Buck spent three weeks at the hospital, getting fed well and getting the veterinary care he needed. Then he needed to go to a new home, as he wasn't really sick, he just needed regular meals and TLC. I was the lucky person that got to take Buck home.

Buck was a bit stronger by then and it was obvious that he was going to be OK, but he had a lot of special needs. I knew if I turned him out with my other three horses, he'd get chased around and probably bit and kicked. I gave him his own turnout area, about an acre in size, and built a small shelter just for him. He got the best hay I could buy, lots of equine senior with good supplements, corn oil, lots of carrots and treats. He would eat as much in one meal as all three of my other horses put together. Did I mention that Buck is a very large horse? He is also a cribber.

Buck slowly but steadily began to pick up weight. Through the winter months, his wounds healed and the hair grew back in where he'd been bit. His mane started to grow back where he had rubbed his neck bald (probably on a round bale feeder). By springtime he had gained hundreds of pounds. His hay and grain intake gradually decreased as he reached a more normal weight for his size.

Early in the summer I started riding him, just 15 to 20 minutes each time to start with, at a walk. It took months for his muscles to come back and for such a large horse, he felt very weak at first. But steadily he improved. The first time I rode him, he carried his head down low to the ground and shuffled along. I had seen him out trotting and cantering in the field and saw that he really was a graceful horse, not built to be strictly a western type horse. I saw potential as a dressage horse in him. He learned to respond to my leg cues, shift his weight to his hindquarters and slowly became more supple.

In August, I took Buck out on a trail ride for the first time. He was an absolute joy to ride - walking out confidently down the trail, up and down little hills, happy to be out and interested in his surroundings.

Buck is now turned out with my other horses. They chase him around some - he's the low horse in the herd - but he takes care of himself and is happy to be with them. I still separate him at feeding time so that he can eat without being chased away from his feed and so that he can eat the quantity that he needs. He gets more grain than my easy keepers and some alfalfa along with the grass hay. He gets pasture turnout also, as often as I can manage. He's maintaining his weight well and has no health issues. He still cribs, but is basically a content, relaxed horse.

I hate to think of what would have happened to Buck if he hadn't been brought to the vet clinic. He would have died of starvation and neglect. It would have been tragic if this beautiful, big gentle gelding had died in those circumstances. All he needed was to be cared for in a manner that met his needs - fed apart from the others so he could eat his fill, a little extra attention, some good equine senior diet, and I think he needed to know that someone cared about him.

Buck is a fine horse; a horse with a big, big heart. Now that he's in good shape and looks great, I've had several people ask me if I'm going to sell him. There's no way I'll part with that horse - he's got a place in my heart and at my home for as long as he lives. I didn't take him on as a "project" or to fatten him up and resell him for a profit. I took him because I felt that I could offer him a home based on his special needs and give him what he needed to thrive and become a healthy, happy horse. After what he's been through, he deserved that. In return, I've got a wonderful horse that is a pleasure to be around, fun to ride and just seeing him looking so good every day makes me feel good.

Like many horses, Buck just needed some individual care and attention. He is the inspiration for my work now with the Equine Spirit Sanctuary.