Wildfire Summer

Lighthouse

                    I was right that we would never see Sitron again. I let my mind think he got to go home, back to his people and to a happy life, but I'll never know for sure. As for Zora and myself, we had been taken to a rescue center. Zora received a new wrap on her injured hoof and was confined to a stall. She hated it and was forever calling out for me whom they'd put out in a pasture with Puddle Jumper and Hickory. As soon as Zora would start her calling for me I would take off across the pasture and jump the fence to go quiet her. All this  practice had me getting a pretty good hang of this jumping stuff. Eventually the workers tired of my escapes and placed me in the stall next to Zora.

                   Weeks went by and Zora was well enough to be placed in the pastures with the rest of us permanently. Our burns were all but healed and we had some whispy tail hairs coming back. With Zora finally allowed into the pastures I was able to get a look around at the neighboring pastures. Horses were not the only animals at this rescue. There were a dozen or so cows and some goats in another pasture, some pigs in another one, and of course dogs, cats and chickens all of whom had the run of the rescue lands. Aside from our little herd there was only one other horse in a pasture all by her lonesome and boy was she a rough sight. Each and every one of her ribs could be counted and her hipbones protruded from her rump. Her hooves were horribly overgrown, her red and white dual colored mane and tail nothing but matted messes. Her head and legs were bright red in color, she sported a wide blaze on her face along with dull almost lifeless brown eyes. Her skinny little neck was roaned out as well as the spots in her appaloosa blanket pattern that started at her shoulders and went clear to her tail and down to her red points on her legs. I had to go meet this mare.

              I trotted to the very far end of our pasture before turning and jumping into a gallop, headed straight for the cow pasture fence. Puddle Jumper says I'm crazy jumping these solid fences. Apparently the ones she jumps the railing moves and falls if she hits them. For me though, I found it exciting, terrifying and totally exhilarating to be galloping towards these solid fences. Closer and closer I quickly approached the fence. Then once I was close enough I lifted my front legs tucking them as close as I can to my chest and pushed off the ground with my back legs. It was the closest I'd ever get to flying. The cows scattered as I landed and kept on a going for the next fence. There was only one more small pasture between me and this mare... two more solid fences. Ten more strides and I was flying over the second one and landing into an empty very small pasture. I'd never jumped two fences so close before and I soon realized I wasn't going to make this one. Instead of trying to make the jump anyways, I went back to my old habits of tucking my rump and hoping I stopped in time. However, I wasn't so lucky. My chest collided into the wooden fencing with a loud crack and I feel a sharp pain as a large splinter embeds into my chest. The rail hangs awkwardly now as I straighten up and extend my head over the fence to the little appaloosa mare that was now watching me warily. I could hear Zora and the others whinnying in laughter at my failure and people opening the gate to come after me. However, I wasn't ready to give in just yet and let the fence beat me.  I turn and trot away before the lady who was after me could grab my orange halter. Oh man did it hurt to move so quickly with that splinter of wood, but I broke into a canter and did a half circle before popping myself over the now lowered fence line and into the pen with the appy mare. The lady is on the phone now asking for a vet and I know that it is for me. I gingerly walk over to the mare. "Hi, I'm Breezie.", I nicker in greeting, bumping muzzles with her. "Nice to meet you Breezie... I'm Lighthouse. That was quite the entrance."

                Minutes later the vet had arrived and removed my splinter and gave me a couple stitches and I was put back into the pasture with my friends. Then the rescue lady haltered Lighthouse and led her into the barn with the vet in tow. I pace the fence in worry. I hope that I see her again. I didn't want to witness another horse being led away to never be seen again for the second time in such a short time frame. Thankfully she was back to her pasture about a half hour later. I whinnied over to her and she returned my whinny before headed over to her bucket of oats and diving in. Once dinner was over I decided to go pay her another visit. Once again I popped over the fences back into her pen. " So Lighthouse, what is your story? Did the fire take away your family too?", I ask curiously. She looks over to me, " if only it was that simple...." and then with a deep sigh, she begins her story.

               " I was born to a farm that had too many horses to begin with. None of us ever got the greatest of care. I'm talking crowded, unkept stalls and limited food and water supplies. I was a weanling before some people came and took us all away. I was split from my mother and we were all sold at auction. I was sold to a cattle ranch. I lived out the next two years of my life in a grand pasture. Once training started I herded cattle, went to Rodeos and Barrel Raced with a young girl as well as roped with her father. One day my girl and I were out riding the range with her father moving the cattle to a different area. The bull was in a particularly rank mood that day and while my girl and I weren't paying attention, he charged us. By time I seen him coming it was too late. He slammed into my side, crushing my girl's leg. She was never able to ride again, so I was sold. I went to a couple of ornery kids. They'd use willow sticks as whips and beat me for fun, and once they tired of me, they quit coming to feed me. I have no idea how long I went with whatever grass I could reach on the other side of the fence before someone came and took me to auction. Two days ago at the auction I was on my way to being sold to a meat truck when the rescue stepped in and that is where we are today."

            I was shocked. How could anyone do that to a horse? " That's so awful. I'm so sorry! I'd tell my girl to adopt you if I could.... If I ever see her again." Lighthouse looked over to the pasture that held my friends, "What about you guys, how did y'all get here?" And so was my turn for the deep sigh before launching into my own story of the wildfire, and our wild adventures and efforts to escape it.