Delight El Wadi (Deli) and my mom "Going for a Trail ride!"

Deli's story actually starts 5 years ago with my farrier. But first for some background information I will tell you that as a child my parents were very horse oriented until my mother lost a beloved horse 20 years ago, after that happened all the horses we had were sold and the first horse we had after that was my gelding Goldie who's story is on my Homepage.

Back to the story at hand, 5 years ago my father started getting back into horses and we bought Skipper (who's story is also here on my homepage) our mission became getting my mother back in to horses so the whole family could participate.

One day when the farrier came to do our horses. I asked him if he knew of any good horses for sale, he came up with a bay arab mare. bay being my mothers favorite color in horses and arab being her favorite breed, were great pluses in us conning or I mean talking my mom into going to look . Well it worked and off we went to find her the perfect horse.

When we arrived at the woman's house to look at the horse we found the bay mare in a round pen, not very typey but a pretty horse none the less, as me and my father were talking to the woman about the bay my mom disappeared looking around we found her looking over an electric fence at a very pretty chestnut mare ( who by the way reached for her so quickly that she got zapped by the fence ). At that point it was obvious that is was the chestnut that mom was interested in, with alot of coaxing we talked the woman into selling the mare, and a week later we came back to ride the horse to see if she was suitable for my mother.

Deli was alittle hot for what we wanted but we figured with some work and a few tack adjustments she would do just fine. On the way home my mother had told me and this is an exact quote "If she hadn't killed you I was going to buy her, if she had I would have had to think about it a few seconds" nice mom huh.

A week later Deli was home, and we came to find out that the people who had owned her had a love of over bitting and racing every where with there horses, Deli came with a bit with a 3 inch port and copper cricket with 8 inch shanks, now we ride her in a mullen, sweet iron bit with 4 inch shanks (quite a change huh) Deli started her show career at the local shows and is learning quickly she won't be an A rated show horse but we are having fun.

Now are story changes its tune alittle, 3 years ago We almost lost Deli, I went out to the barn to find Deli and Ali (my gelding) rolling in there stalls and bitting at there sides, Ali walked out of it just fine but Deli just kept getting worse. Thinking it was just a bout of colic we called the vet (on New years Eve Mind you) he came and gave her oil thinking it was colic him self and told us to watch her closely for the next 24 hours, but he was sure things would be fine the next day.

New Years Day I recieved a phone call from my mom franticly telling me to get to the barn, when I arrived (she had already called the vet) I found Deli barly able to stand and my mom trying to walk her and not getting very far, our main concern at this point was trying with all our might not to let her go down ( knowing if she did she wouldn't get back up).

The vet arrived 20 min. later and started pumping her full of introveinous fluids, after 5 long hours of this he told us there was not much more he could do and that he thought she might be suffering from complete kidney and liver failure. He also told us that if she survived the night it would be a miracle in its self, He also told us that if she did she might have permanent brain damage.

After alot of worry, checking and praying through out the night, In the morning we came to find Deli tired but stronger and eating her hay. The vet came to check her the next morning and said she was out of the woods, we wouldn't know about the brain damage for at least 2 months. He drew blood and came to find out that Deli had eaten something in the pasture or in the hay that was very toxic to her system and unlike he had thought her kidneys and liver had been over working to rid her system of the toxins. To this day Deli has shown no signs of brain damage and is a strong and healthy horse, we still have no clue what she had eaten to make her so sick. The vet to this day calls her "Lazerous" .

I know it was the heart, courage and the will in this little chestnut mare that helped her survive such an ordeal, alot of other horses would have found it easier to lay down and give up, Deli kept her legs under her the whole time and willed herself back.

If it wasn't for Deli, I never would have believed that horses could have qualitys like this, I admire and love this horse for all she is and all she shares with my family and continues to teach me. I have to say everyday with her is an adventure and hopefully will continue to be for a long time to come.

This story was written to tell people that against all odds and when everything seems to go wrong, NEVER,NEVER give up hope miracles do happen. Whether it be with your pets or in our own lives. Thing's work out so keep the hope!