The Old Line-Back Dun

[wildfire]

THE LINE BACK DUN

We went to the auction like we've always done
When through the gates came a Line Back Dun
His ribs were showing and his back was swayed
But, I couldn't help feeling he was a horse in his day

People were laughing said he belonged in a can
His sad eyes told me he had just given in
I couldn't help wonder where he came from
The places he'd been, The races he'd won
Had he worked cattle out on the range
Or made an old cowboy some pocket change

Did he pull a carriage through central park
On the Rodeo circuit had he made his mark
The auctioneer said SOLD! He walked out of the ring
Didn't seem to matter what life would soon bring
It was all over with the clang of the gate

The Line Back Dun had now met his fate
I walked out of the barn, feeling real sad
When I saw a small child, talking to her dad
"There he is daddy, The Line Back Dun"
"He'll be my new friend, we'll have so much fun"

He'll teach me to ride, I'll feed him some hay"
Oh, The world seem a little brighter that day.
The child was so happy, her case had been won
The day my husband bought the old Line Back Dun!

By Barbara Cox

[Sarah]

Awww... I really like that one.

I have always said that a child can see the beauty in the most downtrodden horse in the world. My youngest son has shown me the the best horse on the whole farm is not the one who cost the most but the one who is loved the most.

Thanks Wildfire for posting this one...

[KarenN]

This one I HAVE to save - Ian's paint fits that so well... he's even a line-back dun paint! My husband swears he just needed a little boy to take care of to bring the spark back to him, and he was soooo right!

[Chrisnstar]

awwww. That's always one of my favorites, WF. You can trot that one out anytime, but be sure to send along hankies with it!

chris

[linda]

Horses have to have a purpose to have that spark in their eyes. Retirement really doesn't suit them very well. These old guys are perfect for young kids (and for mowing the lawn). Thanks for sharing!

By the way, that is a gorgeous paint!
Linda

[KarenN]

Thanks, Linda, he has a pretty good story behind him. My DH buys horses form the local auction barn, he and the kids then evaluate and re-hab them, and then find them good homes (hopefully forever homes). This keeps the boys busy and the horses productive.

This past summer, my youngest Ian kept feeling like all the good horses kept getting sold out from under him. His older brother Phillip had a pony of his own(whole 'nother story!) and Phillip was also riding one of our QH fillies and showing her in the youth classes. Daddy told Ian when we really found a horse he wanted, we'd keep that one for him. Well Ian did find that horse:



A little mustang he promptly named Brego. One day a friend saw Brego and thought he'd make the PERFECT therapy pony for his grandson who is physically challenged and was in a therapy program, but looking for a pony of his own. When the situation was explained to Ian, he decided that the other little boy needed Brego more than he did

A week later, my husband brought home a broken down, skinny, lame old paint horse from the auction just because he felt sorry for him. He and the boys went to work on the horse, got his teeth fixed, fattening him up, taking x-rays of the right front (a little ringbone, very minor). Put him on a glucosamine supplement and put a rolled toe rocker on that RF. After a few weeks he was BLOOMING. Ian got on him one day, and rode him all over. That horse knew barrel patterns, could run poles, had a smooth trot and beautiful lope, Ian was able to rope from him and all. He rode up to his daddy and said, "If you sell this horse, I'm going to sell you!"

Paint has stayed ever since. They go to playdays and clean up - every place we take him, someone offers to buy the old guy. He just needed a second chance, and a little boy to love.

[Chrisnstar]

Karen, that's a wonderful story!