‘Don’t Give Up’
From the moment Jackson hit the ground 15 years ago, he seemed to be asking me not to give up on him.
Born septic, my little Arabian foal went for his first trailer ride at just a few hours old, to the local equine clinic for blood transfusions.
That was just the beginning, however. Pneumonia and colic soon followed. Later he had to have his stomach pumped, then had to wear a special muzzle to keep him from eating dirt.
Turns out he had, in addition to everything else, Arabian fading syndrome—or vitiligo, a progressive depigmentation of the skin. As a yearling, he also developed wobblers syndrome. While convalescing after surgery for that, he contracted respiratory and bone infections.
Before he was 2, he required surgery on both front legs to correct contracted tendons. Over the years, he’s also required an eye specialist, a respiratory specialist, and hospitalization for peritonitis. Both his veterinarian and his farrier consider him to be an orthopedic nightmare.
Through it all, though, he’s greeted me every day with a loud, cheery whinny. Incredibly, he’s never shown signs of depression or anything other than sheer joy at being alive—plus a mischievous sense of equine humor. I myself was older and relatively new to the horse world when Jackson was foaled. Since that time, it’s as if I’ve been going to the Equine University of Jackson—with a side class in Clownology.
Thanks to equine insurance and my extremely understanding husband, Jackson has had a full and rewarding life. He can’t be ridden, but he pulls a cart and entertains children and grownups alike with his many tricks. He loves attention, and the delight he inspires is particularly noticeable in children dealing with challenges of their own.
I’m glad I never gave up on him.