This is a horse who came from a rescue from the low country, South Carolina.
Bigshot was never abused. Never starved. Never neglected. He ended up at a rescue because his owner was stricken with ALS and was forced to sell his stock. Bigshot was sent to this rescue not because he was lame, missing an eye, or had a personality quirk. The man sent his horse to this rescue so the horse may go to a caring home.
When I was told about this horse, I was immediately suspicious, and sent a trainer to evaluate him. Two days later the trainer's report was: 'If you don't get him I will".
So, I took Bigshot home and gave him the job of cow sorter. One month later, I received a large envelope in the mail from a nursing home. Rather alarmed, as I had not planned to go into a nursing home any time soon, I carefully opened the envelope.There was a glossy photo of Bigshot doing a perfect slide. He had his butt tucked just right and even had one hoof raised just so. A classic photo of a reining stop.
Also included was a magazine which featured Bigshot. I was stunned. Some how little ole me ended up with this fancy show horse. And of all things I put him to work with the cows. Let me tell you he'd sling mud with the best of them but was quiet enough to move calves when needed.
The last thing I pulled from the manila envelope was a piece of paper which had only one sentence on it.
Scrawled in spidery writing were the words: 'Take care of him for me'.
I made a mental promise to do so, and years later Bigshot is still with me. He no longer sorts cows but is always willing to take me on a trail ride. Slow and easy, he always has his ears forward, and is ready to see what is around the next corner. Just the other day, when I was stiff from arthritis, I noticed how he eased down the ravine, carefully picking his way over the rocks. He had one eye on me and one eye on the trail.
With heartfelt pride, I realized my buddy was taking care of me.