Cody and his keeper
Karen Rademeyer
Get your tissues cause this is going the a bit of a read and from my perspective.
Many people may have read about Cody "the horse that survived the Knysna fires" in June last year. If not google { https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/burnt-knysna-horse-walks-home-along-n2-20170628} First, let's set the record straight. Cody is a pony, not a horse, NOOOOO he is not a baby horse he is a pony. When I stand up straight next to him his back does not even measure my waist, that's how small he is and will remain that small forever ;)
Anyways, after the Knysna fires Karen asked me to pop in and do some work on Cody if possible. Needless to say his burnt body was not remotely in any condition to do body work on. Even though most pics only showed his burnt face, most of his body was covered in burn wounds.
Now, Cody is not one you can just go up to and pat, if you ever thought you could do that, he will punish you. He has two "metal guns" we refer to as hind hooves and he is NOT shy of using them, either one by one or both together. When one tries to go to his right side and touch him, you have to slow down to a blur. If you think you are slow enough and ask if this is slow enough... no... the answer is slower.
I would assume at some stage his right hind was injured because if ever you try to pick up his left hind, those guns came blazing.
Cody still wears a fly mask due to the burn wounds that did not heal until today. He has nerve damage to his lips therefore very deformed and no use of his eyelids causing dysfunction and cannot use them either. The damage caused by the fire is so severe It appears that he has no eyelids. The half ears he wears today will never grow back, ever, but Cody is full of life.
Back to today, as I entered his stable or "room" as Karen calls it, she reminded, "go slow, be careful of his right hind side". It is a good thing cause we (actually me) sometimes tend to overlook the small things in life.
When I started to work on Cody, soft and gentle as I could, he took me by surprise. With so much love, which I cannot describe, he started showering me with kisses using his deformed and somewhat stoic lips. It was awesome, soft and gentle. At first he seemed apprehensive or shy, definitely reluctant. then he was all over my face. He sniffed me, stuck his nose into my face and up my nose all the way down my neck. No gnarling teeth... just pure love. The defensive, attacking gelded "stallion" was this absolute soft bundle of love. I could not get enough of the kisses and he could not stop showering me with kisses.
Then came the reality check, his right side. Once again Karen had to remind me go slow....
Regardless of which side you work on with Cody, be small, hence me working on my knees, but hell, age is a struggle at the best of times.
I must add, during this entire process today Karen was standing to one side just giving him some reassurance that all is "okay". It would seem that Karen's voice is his "go to place". It's like she pushes a "switch off" button, then Cody would relax and trust what I am about to do. Yes, he did give me the hairy eyeball... I sometimes get the white eye stare.... "DARE IF YOU WANT IT"S ON YOU' look.
Alas, I had so many magical moments with Cody today, the amount kisses were surreal. I saw no threat of being kicked.
After being reminded once again... (my bad) he does not lift his left hind, he offered me his left hind today. He relaxed his hip so I could pick up his left hoof. No mess no fuss, all in a days work.
Today was the day the penny dropped. Cody went home, after the fire ordeal, to HIS caretaker and HIS friend. There is no such thing as an owner is his life. Cody did not go home to be put to sleep. He went home to live. Even if he will never have "normal" ears again, he may never have "normal" lips again but could show so much compassion towards me with his teeth coming out of his mouth. His face will probably never be in a condition to touch again, we don't know. He may not magically grow soft and proper functioning eyelids again, yet today I was overwhelmed with love and kindness that Cody displayed.
The things I know for sure is that Cody trusts Karen.
Cody loves Karen and will put his life in her hands... AGAIN and again.
With my limited experience with Cody I know for sure he trust his whole being in her hands.
After today I can also understand why Karen is in the process of registering a NPO to help children find themselves, just like Cody has. My heart goes out to all the ones that need help. Especially those that cannot or will not speak for themselves.
We will never know the sacrifices Karen has made to get Cody to this "happy place" but I am convinced it does not come thinly spread. Hats off to you Karen, keep the light going.
Many people may have read about Cody "the horse that survived the Knysna fires" in June last year. If not google { https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/burnt-knysna-horse-walks-home-along-n2-20170628} First, let's set the record straight. Cody is a pony, not a horse, NOOOOO he is not a baby horse he is a pony. When I stand up straight next to him his back does not even measure my waist, that's how small he is and will remain that small forever ;)
Anyways, after the Knysna fires Karen asked me to pop in and do some work on Cody if possible. Needless to say his burnt body was not remotely in any condition to do body work on. Even though most pics only showed his burnt face, most of his body was covered in burn wounds.
Now, Cody is not one you can just go up to and pat, if you ever thought you could do that, he will punish you. He has two "metal guns" we refer to as hind hooves and he is NOT shy of using them, either one by one or both together. When one tries to go to his right side and touch him, you have to slow down to a blur. If you think you are slow enough and ask if this is slow enough... no... the answer is slower.
I would assume at some stage his right hind was injured because if ever you try to pick up his left hind, those guns came blazing.
Cody still wears a fly mask due to the burn wounds that did not heal until today. He has nerve damage to his lips therefore very deformed and no use of his eyelids causing dysfunction and cannot use them either. The damage caused by the fire is so severe It appears that he has no eyelids. The half ears he wears today will never grow back, ever, but Cody is full of life.
Back to today, as I entered his stable or "room" as Karen calls it, she reminded, "go slow, be careful of his right hind side". It is a good thing cause we (actually me) sometimes tend to overlook the small things in life.
When I started to work on Cody, soft and gentle as I could, he took me by surprise. With so much love, which I cannot describe, he started showering me with kisses using his deformed and somewhat stoic lips. It was awesome, soft and gentle. At first he seemed apprehensive or shy, definitely reluctant. then he was all over my face. He sniffed me, stuck his nose into my face and up my nose all the way down my neck. No gnarling teeth... just pure love. The defensive, attacking gelded "stallion" was this absolute soft bundle of love. I could not get enough of the kisses and he could not stop showering me with kisses.
Then came the reality check, his right side. Once again Karen had to remind me go slow....
Regardless of which side you work on with Cody, be small, hence me working on my knees, but hell, age is a struggle at the best of times.
I must add, during this entire process today Karen was standing to one side just giving him some reassurance that all is "okay". It would seem that Karen's voice is his "go to place". It's like she pushes a "switch off" button, then Cody would relax and trust what I am about to do. Yes, he did give me the hairy eyeball... I sometimes get the white eye stare.... "DARE IF YOU WANT IT"S ON YOU' look.
Alas, I had so many magical moments with Cody today, the amount kisses were surreal. I saw no threat of being kicked.
After being reminded once again... (my bad) he does not lift his left hind, he offered me his left hind today. He relaxed his hip so I could pick up his left hoof. No mess no fuss, all in a days work.
Today was the day the penny dropped. Cody went home, after the fire ordeal, to HIS caretaker and HIS friend. There is no such thing as an owner is his life. Cody did not go home to be put to sleep. He went home to live. Even if he will never have "normal" ears again, he may never have "normal" lips again but could show so much compassion towards me with his teeth coming out of his mouth. His face will probably never be in a condition to touch again, we don't know. He may not magically grow soft and proper functioning eyelids again, yet today I was overwhelmed with love and kindness that Cody displayed.
The things I know for sure is that Cody trusts Karen.
Cody loves Karen and will put his life in her hands... AGAIN and again.
With my limited experience with Cody I know for sure he trust his whole being in her hands.
After today I can also understand why Karen is in the process of registering a NPO to help children find themselves, just like Cody has. My heart goes out to all the ones that need help. Especially those that cannot or will not speak for themselves.
We will never know the sacrifices Karen has made to get Cody to this "happy place" but I am convinced it does not come thinly spread. Hats off to you Karen, keep the light going.