NetPosse.com Story: The Unfinished Story of Jim

NetPosse.com Story: The Unfinished Story of Jim

Note to Debi Metcalfe, Founder of Stolen Horse International: Hi Debi, It has been a long few days. It has taken me forever to write this, I could not see the words through the tears. Thank you for all the support and for everything you do for all horse owners. You will ride the horse drawn chariot when your time comes with all those horses you have touched whinnying greetings!—Denise Spotia, MO July 27, 2009

The Unfinished story of Jim
By Denise Spotia, Jim's owner

Sometime between dusk on Saturday, July 17, and Sunday, July 18, around 10:00 a.m., Jim disappeared from the pasture. My husband and I searched our property, which is 23 acres of pasture and wooded areas, on foot. Later my husband took the truck out to the back pasture to continue looking. I called neighbors to ask if anyone had seen him, and then took my van out on the gravel roads and Amish buggy trails near our home. My husband called me to say the back pasture gate was broken and looked like it had been pried from the hinges. I returned home to call the police. The officer arrived with a report for me to fill out and bring to the Sherriff’s office the next morning. He checked the gate and also thought it had been pried loose from the hinges. When my husband opened the gate it fell off on to the ground.

Still no sign of Jim.

Fast forward to Friday evening July 24th: The neighbor came over to say Jim was up at the gate and his leg was in bad shape. We could not get him to move or even take one step. He had lost so much weight; we hardly believed this could happen in less than a week. His rear left leg was oozing and very swelled and he would not put pressure on it. There was a cut above the hock that ran below the knee. He was starving and thirsty, we fed and watered him, and he ate like he had never eaten before. The vet could not see to properly examine him since by then it was dark with no moon or stars and rain was coming. The vet said he would be here first thing in the morning. When he arrived the next day and got a good look at the leg he turned to us and said it was bad news. Jim’s only option at that point was to be put down.

We laid Jim to rest under the hedge tree near the creek, which was his favorite place. I am grateful that we were able to have him back and know that he is no longer suffering. The vet took a good look at the break and the bone was fragmented and looked to be 3 or 4 days old. He believes that Jim kicked at something with enough force to break the bone.

Jim was raised like a puppy and was a comic; he would show his teeth and grin when asked if he wanted a bath. He did not like to do anything that was not his idea and was prone to temper tantrums when taken away from his pasturemates. This sweet gelding would kiss and nuzzle like no other horse and follow us around like a puppy when out doing chores. He loved to chase the cats and roll his grain dish. It is so strange to look out and not see him looking back. This morning I called the horses and Jim, too, only to realize all over again that Jim will never be back.

People in the horse world have been very helpful and have sent many notes expressing sympathy. If only I could tell them how much it means to us. 

I have gone over and over the facts, I have no answers. I will make changes and never again will we feel safe. My remaining horses will be freeze branded and microchipped. Our gates will be locked from the hinge side as well as the swinging side. I will order signs and try to deter potential thieves from even thinking about taking a horse.

I hope in time we find the answers to what happened. I know I will toss it in my head for the rest of my life.