When I met Moon it was in August of 2015. He was in a holding cell at the Moses Lake feed lot. He was waiting to be shipped to a slaughter house, most likely in Mexico. He wasn’t alone, the feedlot was a way station for many near broken spirited horses. My mission was to go and rescue two horses from the slaughter market. Moon was the third horse that was rescued that day by G.R.I.P.H. I was surprised, when I inquired about the cremello horse that was being kept alone in one of the cells. The proprietor of the feedlot said, “oh that’s a blind stallion”. I went immediately back to where Moon was being kept. I noticed right away that this was not a blind horse at all. Moon was purposefully positioning himself to put his eyes in the only shade available in the open cell that had no form of shelter, the bars of the panels that made his cell. I knew then that Moon was just extremely photosensitive. His nearly white eyes reflected all available light back into his pupil. When I told the man that I wanted to purchase the blind stallion he thought I must have been blind. He told me very little information except that he was 2 years old, blind and that he had never had anyone on his back. I replied, excellent and he sold Moon to me for $100.00 due to his condition.
Moon was the first to be loaded in my four horse trailer, that was supposed to be only carrying two horses home today. The moment the woman that was helping at the feedlot handed me Moon’s halter I became his guardian. The gift that was to come every time I was to look at Moon and know that he was safe was worth well more than a hundred dollars. He loaded remarkably well for being a blind horse. The trailer offered him some much-needed shade and food. He looked like he knew right then that he and I had a long journey ahead, and began to settle into his new found security.
Since then Moon has blown me away, and that’s saying the very least. I was somewhat nervous getting bringing a stallion into the fold. After all my heard was only Griph and Raven at that time. Now I’m bringing a stallion with two mares and a gelding home. But I have been a firm believer that when you think you might have bit off more than you can chew, simply learn how to chew quicker. I was blessed by Moon. He has unwavering patience, an understanding beyond what it seems he should and an ice cool temperament. Moon has learned how to carry me and work in the field as a range riding Horse quicker than any other horse that I have had the honor to work with. He works without shoes or a bit. We have learned together how to help turn his photosensitivity into a strength. In the beginning, we would work bare back in the wilderness day or night while range riding. He was exceptional at everything that we tried with each other. This was not because we had a solid foundation of communication like Griph and I based on years of relationship prior to working. Moon and I were making leaps and bounds because he is incredibly intuitive, and willing to try for me. Now he acts as in invaluable member of our team and more importantly a beloved member of my family.