What Is and Should Never Be

News has quickly spread of a brave young Australian mother and her battle to keep her beloved horse calm as dangerous levels of sea water closed in on the animal. He had become trapped in mud that behaved like quicksand, enveloping the exhausted, trapped horse, Astro. Nicole Graham clung to her horse for three hours, determined to keep her horse’s head above the sticky mud as the tide began to roll in.

The 78-stone show horse had sunk into quagmire-like mud and without Miss Graham would have faced certain death. What began as a pleasant afternoon ride with her daughter along the coast near Geelong, rapidly changed when her 18-year-old horse, Astro, suddenly began to sink into the mud. Before she could shout a warning, the smaller horse her daughter Paris was riding was also partially submerged by the mud. After dragging herself through the muck, Miss Graham helped her daughter and the other horse on to stable ground. However, Astro was hopelessly stuck and her efforts to pull him free only resulted in herself sinking deeper into the slimy mud.

Refusing to leave her horse’s side, Ms. Graham bravely clung onto his neck, frightened that he would not be freed before the tide surged in. After three horrifying hours, rescuers managed to extricate Astro and Miss Graham from the muck. A happy ending.

For me, this story was intensely emotional because I reminisce and realize it could have been me and my horse, Misty Little Man, a sweet brown paper bag plain Quarter Horse gelding that I dearly loved. I recalled the place along the Gulf Coast in Florida about 40 miles north of Clearwater near where I lived for 15 years. The date was 1980 and a hurricane with just benign wind back then. Hurricanes rarely came on shore or did tremendous damage. It was on day three that this unnamed hurricane brought us wind and light rain. It is so humid in Florida that this storm was welcomed by us. Having loved the outdoors, we were outside at every opportunity. The misty rain felt cool on our skin; a welcomed relief from the usual subtropical heat. The streets were empty, as people listened to the television and radio announcers. The repeated warnings cautioned, "Do not go outside, you may blow away." 

Much like the weather reports of today, it is about drama and fear, as it sells commercial spots for the media encouraging people to be glued to their TV screens. While most Floridians were frantically boarding up their windows and huddled in their homes, some of us horse people took advantage of the cooling wind and rain. We saddled up our horses and gleefully road toward the beach which was just a few miles away. It wasn't a public beach with a shoreline dotted with towels and umbrellas, but instead it was wooded and still: an untouched nature. We were fortunate to be there at that time on Earth. There were deer, raccoon and black bears sharing the area as our neighbors, respectful of each other. I had hiked through that area many times before, so I knew it mostly consisted of sand. However, there were areas that had mud that seemed like it would unmercifully envelope you. I never knew much about 'quicksand' except what I saw in the old black and white movies back in the 1950's. A branded image in my mind: quicksand that could swallow up anything that stepped into it. Anyone trying to squirm out would only plummet deeper in, to be lost forever. A horrible death!

As we got closer, I could hear the waves coming in. Like many horse lovers, I dreamed of trotting along with the tide rolling in and out of my horse’s feet. I was getting closer to my dream coming true but my gut kept telling me not to continue. This may be my only chance to ride along that shore. I could imagine being in tune with my horse, with his mane and my own hair dancing in the wind as we rode along listening to the peace and quiet of nature. The rhythms of the tide were begging for us to come to play, but my gut was cautioning me, "Beware."

Now, with the story of Ms. Graham and Astro, I sympathetically imagine my own horse being stuck in mire as the memories boldly flood into my head, of the day that I choose not to go. I simply could not go and take that chance. It was a struggle with myself… a struggle between my conscience… do I go for it and play on the beach?  Or...do I risk hurting my horse and fulfill my desire to ride along the beach? Thankfully I let my gut feeling win out.

Now, many years later, I am really grateful that I made that cautious decision. I know how easily Astro and Ms. Graham’s names could have been exchanged for my horse’s name, Misty and my own name. In the same situation, I could have been holding on to Misty for his life and mine, too. I wouldn't leave him at that shore just like the dear woman in the Australian story couldn't leave her beloved
horse, Astro. My gut feeling is still how I make decisions for the horses in my care at the rescue. (www.SaveTheHorses.org).

Funny how some things stay the same.