We were all very excited about this young stallion and had really high hopes for him. We brought him home to Whispering Oaks Farm near Taylorsville Ky in December and pretty much turned him out to grow and mature. First we turned him out with pregnant mares. They taught him about respect and manners. Black Jack however, was already a well manned horse but we knew he still had a lot to learn and we wanted to teach him every thing he needed to know before he was ready to ride.
Winter turned into spring and spring into summer. He had been out in the field with the cows over the winter learning that there were other animals besides animals that looked like him. He was ok with cows. He learned to be good with dogs and cats roaming around. He didn't fear tractors or four wheelers. He is in general just a sweet wonderful Rocky Mountain Horse.
In late spring we brought him in from the field and stalled him in the main barn. We found he really hated the converted tobacco barn because he was out of the line of traffic and he loves being where he can see the action. A curious thing started to happen. We would find him out of the stall and walking up and down the road. We started calling him our Houdini because he seemed to have a knack for getting out of his stall. We learned that he was even more intelligent than we had given him credit to be. He had figured out how to unchain the gate to his stall and let himself out.
He didn't go anywhere or get into trouble. He just liked his freedom and liked grazing on the new spring grass. But we had to take steps to make it where he couldn't;t get out of the stall for fear he would stumble into trouble that wasn't even of his own making.
Early summer came and Bob was round penning him one day when I had my camera at the barn. When Bob brought him back to the barn I asked him to walk Black Jack back out where I could get some good pictures of him. Bob turned him around to walk him to a good place to take pictures and that is when we had the first sign of trouble. Black Jack was dragging his back foot. Just on one side but it was enough to be troubling.
After a series of vet treatments, he was getting even worse. My vet suggested building up his back end which by the middle of summer was getting worse and worse by putting a light weight rider on him. We put the lightest rider on the farm on his back but he just stumbled worse and even went down with her. Next my vet suggested we get a second opinion from Park Equine Hospital in Paris Ky. He was losing ground fast.
We loaded him on the trailer and I drove to Paris with my horse who now was too thin and had no back end to hold him up. We were all very worried about him. One of the assistants walked him off of the trailer for me and he looked terrible. I was ashamed to be bring a horse that looked like him anywhere because of what people may be thinking of me for having a horse that looked that bad. Would they think I didn't care for my animals like I should.
Dr Travis McVey was the vet that saw Black Jack that day. Travis can testify what he looked like and how he could hardly walk up their driveway as he watched him to help with his diagnosis. Travis mentioned EPM and I didn't want to hear about that. I already knew all too well what that was. But the shocker came when Travis said it could be worse. There is another condition called Wobbles that is even worse. I didn't know how much worse it was about to get even after that devastating news.
Travis wanted to xray Black Jack and I agreed. Black Jack was led into the examining room where the xray machine was and he was soon hooked up and the xrays were started. I watched the procedure and watched Travis for his reaction. I didn't like what I was seeing. Travis didn't have a very positive look on his face. He called Dr Park and some of the other vets there to come look at the xrays.
After discussion they turned to me and Travis gave me the devastating news. Black Jack had bone spurs up and down his neck. The spurs were pinching a nerve that runs up and down the horse's back and it was interfering with the signals from the brain that controls the back end of a horse. I broke down and cried. There wasn't anything that could be done. My hopes and dreams for this horse were dashed as I was told to take him home and make the decision about when to put him down.
I called Rebecca Monhollen and cried as I told her about this beautiful wonderful colt that I was going to have to put down. I called my brother Bob and cried some more. I had cried on Travis' shoulder and I cried all the way home. Travis did tell me that it was not something he had inherited but was probably the result of an illness that occurred in his weanling years. But what difference did that make then. I was going to have to put my beautiful black stallion with this awesome breeding down and watch his lifeless face and see those eyes that were so beautiful staring back out me with all the life gone from them.
I delayed the decision because I just couldn't bring myself to call the vet for that shot.
In the meantime, our Bible Study class had decided to have a cook out at my farm. I timidly ask Bob if it would be wrong to pray for healing for Black Jack. We discussed the concept and finally decided it would not be wrong to pray for a horse. The Bible tells us that not a sparrow falls to the ground that God doesn't take notice. So why wouldn't He take notice of this amazing horse He had created.
After everyone had eaten Bob told our Bible Study class what we intended to do. He invited anyone who wanted to go to the barn and pray with us to come along. Some came and some had other commitments they had made for the evening. So we walked to the barn with a bottle of olive oil. Bob anointed Black Jack. Everyone laid hands on him and we prayed. Bob led us in prayer. He promised God we would give Him the glory for healing Black Jack but as always His will be done. So that is where the matter stood.
Of course I wasn't going to put him down before we knew what God had planned for him. So we turned him back out with the cows and some other young colts. Black Jack had to use his back end to walk up the hill to graze or for hay. He had to use his back end to go back down to the creek for water. We started noticing that Black Jack was looking better.
In the late summer, I called my friend Toro to see if he could put his lightest rider on Black Jack and maybe get him certified to use for light breeding. There were some mares I thought I could breed to him. We hooked up the trailer and took Black Jack to Toro. Toro is a very dear friend. His actual name is Eramus Moreno. But everyone calls him Toro. Toro was very surprised to see how good Black Jack actually looked. I had of course told Toro of his diagnosis and what the vet had said. And he expected the very worse.
I didn't see Black Jack for several weeks but when I did, he was looking even better. We decided that of course we couldn't show him. He was much to thin for showing under halter. The next time I saw Black Jack, Toro was riding him. I was amazed. Toro is over 6' tall and he is not a little man as you can see in the video.
So is there any question about what made the difference in Black Jack. There is no question in my mind. Do you believe in miracles? I do absolutely. Black Jack is enough proof for me but he is only one of many miracles our blessed Lord shows us every day. If you aren't convinced that God heals, watch the video again. I hear the words in my mind over and over, "you have no choice. We can do nothing for him" And we have not had a vet to do a single thing for him since that day because, Travis was right, the vets could do nothing for him but our amazing God is a God of love. A God who heals in miraculous ways.
Some ask me if I had him xrayed again. I say no because it would be a waste of money. I already know that God has healed this horse. Travis McVey has seen videos and I told him the story. He says there can be no other explaination.
Now watch the video again and I think you will see it in a new and different way.
God bless you all. May you look so that you can see the mircles in your life. It may not be as dramatic as Black Jack healing but they are there. Thanks for reading Black Jack's story and may your faith and love grow every day as our amazing God reveals Himself to all of us in wonderful ways.
Mary Lipginski
