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BOOT SOMEBODY |
  "Boot" NRHA $4,005, 87.5 Yth Pts, 23.5 AQHA pts (8 buckles, 9 plaques and 11 trophies, including a Morrison and a Lawson bronze) 2000 grullo gelding (Master Boot Jac X Gotta Play X Freckles Playboy)
We had struggled with the decision, but thought we'd finally found Boot the perfect situation. Yet what began as a quick test ride on a sunny afternoon at a horse show in September ended in tragedy. After loping a single, methodical circle with his test rider, another horse on a large fast circle hit Boot head on, knocking him off his feet and sending him and the rider flailing. The other horse and rider glanced off unharmed. But it took Boot's rider and him several moments to untangle and scramble to their feet. The rider was shaken but unhurt, but Boot was not so lucky. His hind legs spraddled in an attempt to steady himself, his head was cranked back unnaturally toward his right shoulder, as if someone was holding his chin against the stirrup with the bridle rein. He trembled violently in shock, his eyelids half-closed and batting involuntarily. He was not putting any weight on his front left leg. A crowd gathered, the vet was called, word spread throughout the show grounds. Everyone stood around helplessly, waiting to see how bad bad was.
The vet arrived, pain meds were administered, and a group of trainers physically boosted Boot into a trailer pulled into the arena. Bumping themselves down the evening's Open Derby draw, the men rode with him in the trailer, steadying him on the ride to a nearby vet clinic. Once there, they held his head, asked helpful questions and tried to keep us optimistic during the exam. Boot was patient, but obviously agitated; still in incredible pain, still non-weight bearing, but pawing relentlessly with the injured leg. X-rays revealed no fractures. The vet's opinion was massive nerve damage in the scapula area. When finally put in a stall with an IV drip of huge quantities of DMSO and more pain meds, Boot immediately laid down. The vet hoped for a 50% improvement by the next morning. But it didn't happen.
Still non-weight bearing the next day, Boot remained lying down and in considerable pain. The vet suggested we put him down. He was an aged gelding and the prospects of him recovering to even the slightest extent looked grim. Maybe the right choice from a practical and financial standpoint. Maybe we should have followed his professional advice. Maybe had he been insured, we'd have done it. But we didn't. We left on our 12 hour trip home with Boot lying in the vet clinic's stall, a heartbroken little girl in the back seat of our truck, and the prospect that he'd probably founder in the good front foot and need to be put down eventually anyhow. We just couldn't make that call for him yet.
Boot Somebody had come to us for training as a homely, barely started 3 yr old. He was easy enough to train, but we never thought he'd be a stopper. He was a little slow minded, a little dense, a little lazy. He just didn't use himself fully. But the light finally came on late in his 5 yr old year, and while an adequate turner and circler, he excelled in the stop. He became the kind of horse that no matter the ground, the conditions, the rider, he'd stop huge every single time. Boot became the kind of horse that went to work day in and day out with no issue or argument; a solid and enjoyable show horse for 3 different riders over the next 4 years in two NRHA Regions. Not a rock star, just an honest, blue collar kinda guy.
Boot's resumé included the 2007 RMRHA Summer Slide Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro Championship with JW Stoney and the 2009 Summer Slide Kyle Woods Memorial Trophy for marking the highest scoring Youth run with Amy Stoney, as well as multiple affiliate and year end championships. In addition to his earnings, he'd won his riders 8 buckles, 9 plaques and 11 trophies, including a Morrison and a Lawson. Only a few hours before the accident, Amy had marked her personal best score on him in the 09 Mountain Affiliate Finals Youth 13 & Under with two +1 stops under both judges, qualifying for the North American Affiliate Championships the second year in a row. This horse had been there for us time and again. He'd made us look good, given us success and confidence. He owed us nothing.
The outpouring of help, support and interest in Boot's condition over the following weeks was astonishing. Friends and well wishers prayed with us that he'd recover at least enough to come home and enjoy pasture retirement. Countless people spent hours visiting him and loving on him, and lent time, equipment and supplies to help aid his recovery. The vet bill was paid for us in full. His board and rehab was donated free of charge. It was incredible, and showed us what good people are truly made of.
After being totally non-weight bearing and lying down 80% of the time for nearly 6 weeks, Boot began to gently prop himself on the injured leg and hobble around his stall. Three weeks later, shaky and terribly fatigued, he finally arrived home. On Thanksgiving Day, ten and a half weeks after the accident, we turned him out behind our house and officially began his pasture retirement with a tiny Shetland pony named Texas Red as companion. His left shoulder is gone, the muscles atrophied and the shoulder blade jutting up like the backside of a kitchen knife. He is still the slightest bit unsteady on his feet and shuffles a bit oddly when he walks. But he is not in any pain and he and Texas Red have become the best of buds.
To glance at him now, you see an apparently normal, fat, idle gelding. To examine him more closely, you see a crippled horse; a liability with little to no value. But to see him through our eyes and the eyes of our children and others who know him well, you see a faithful and obedient servant who did what he was told when he was told, with little, if any, complaint. In him you see the reason we love what we do and all that we can't quite explain, but yet what we know deep down, makes some horses truly special.
Immeasurable thanks to the following, without whom we are sure Boot would not have recovered... Mack and Ashley Weaver South Valley Large Animal/Dr. Reece Bub Poplin Steve Schwartzenberger Diane Wagoner Marty Harris Amanda Harris Karlee Tucker Madison Bohman Rylan Rowser (and anyone whom we may be accidentally forgetting....)
^ Boot, his 'nurse' Ashley Weaver, and more of his rehab crew 30 days after the accident; Amanda Harris, Karlee Tucker, Mack Weaver, Madison Bohman & Rylan Rowser
^ Boot and his sidekick, Texas Red, 13 weeks after the accident
BOOT'S SHOW CAREER SUMMARY
Elizabeth Moore riding (Limited Non Pro)
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