West Newbury is home to a very special rescue horse: "Gus the lucky buck-less bucker."
His scars and broken face make it painfully obvious he endured years of abuse. The running style brand on his shoulder suggests a stint with a rodeo outfit. No one will ever know for sure. All we really know is that he sat in a broker pen in Pennsylvania. They said he was a bucking horse and that they were fattening him up for slaughter.
He was expressionless and homely, but he caught the eye of Christy Sheidy, president of Another Chance for Horses, who called Beth Hill-Ross, president of New England Equine Rescues. Beth is known for being a champion for the underdog. The pictures of Gus touched her heart. Funds were raised on the Alex Brown Racing Internet forum by the Fans of Barbaro along with members of New England Equine Rescues and AC4H.
His meat price was raised, and through NEER he was shipped to Maine for quarantine and rehab. Gus was tended to, cared for and treated kindly — something he was unaccustomed to and not sure how to respond to but eventually the foster's daughter Emily, a teenager, broke through and a connection was made. She braved getting on his back, and he didn't buck. She trail rode him, and he was a good boy.
When he was healthy, Gus was put up for adoption. A stable in New Hampshire wanted to try him as a potential lesson horse. Gus did not like the hustle and bustle of the lesson stable and he couldn't be cross-tied — he panicked and broke them. We think he was afraid he would be left or beaten. A teen at the barn, Megan Mitchell of West Newbury, had taken a shine to Gus. Megan has horses of her own but wanted to help Gus. Her family decided to take Gus in and foster him for NEER.
Gus is enjoying a quiet life in a beautiful backyard barn with a large grass-filled pasture. Megan has been taking Gus on trail rides down the street and through the trails in her neighborhood. He has been great. Gus likes his new girl, and she likes him. Her mom, Eileen, is happy to help a horse in need. Eileen says Gus can stay as long as he needs to. If you drive by and see him out in the pasture — it is hard to believe this horse had a horrible life. The Mitchells are showing him what every horse deserves: kindness, respect and understanding.
Welcome to West Newbury, Gus the lucky buck-less bucker! May the rest of your years be filled with happiness and peace.
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Mary D. Martin is the Massachusetts director of NEER. She may be contacted at www.newenglandequinerescues.com.
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