Zeus

My contact information was shared by one of my clients with a woman who lived down the road from her, and had an “interesting equid” living on her farm. She wasted no time contacting me, and told me his name was Zeus and that she had a very difficult time finding someone who could trim his hooves without it being a traumatic experience for everyone involved. These are generally the cases I can’t say no to. My listening heart tells me when I have to go, and this one was a resounding yes. Oh, and the “interesting equid” is a Zedonk! Also known as a Zonkey. Basically, a cross between a Donkey and a Zebra.

When I arrived, he was in a stall with a halter and lead rope on, and being held by a man. His hooves were terribly long. I generally take pictures with cases like this, but I did not feel the green light to interrupt our greeting process. I asked some questions, and as we talked I reached into my tool bag to take out some essential oils. “Peace and Calming” and “Lavander”. Zeus chose the Lavander. I watched the tension leave his body, and told the man to loosen his grip on the rope, asking him to smell the lavander too!!

I started by picking up his left front hoof, and just picking it out and placing it down. It was so overgrown. I did the same thing with the other front hoof, and he obliged. He did not give me access to the hinds, and I honored his request. I went back to the front. It took awhile to trim the first hoof, as he kept asking to have it back. I gave it back every time until he realized someone was actually listening to him. I was granted access and was able to trim both front hooves peacefully that day.

The next time I returned I was able to trim the fronts and hinds with feed in a bucket. It took around an hour as he asked for all his hooves often. I think he was in disbelief that someone even cared to ask his opinion and grant his requests no matter how many times he asked. All was going well for several months until one day he did not want to be caught. He knew the “MO” prior to my arrival each time. He didn’t care about treats or feed in a bucket. I walked out into the pasture where he was and sat on a rock. I knew in my heart that he has something else to say, and I was the only one who ever asked his opinion. He communicated to me that he wanted me to get him out of there.

The human equation at the farm was not very cohesive. I will leave it there. He took a chance to reach out to me to help him in his plight. I kind of felt helpless. He knew that I received his SOS. All I could do was wait.

I did not see him again in over a year. To my surprise, the woman at the farm contacted me again and asked if I could find a home for him. I had just been to an annual event at 13 Hands Equine Rescue in Clinton Corners, NY, and noticed that they had some zebras there, so I made an inquiry on Zeus’ behalf, and they said they would take him. I gave that information to her, and I heard nothing for a long time. I received a call several months later from her to see if I could come and meet the Vet at her place so she could have Zeus sedated for hoof care.

The Vet and I met there at the scheduled time, and Zeus was again, up on the hill, and in no way was he going to be caught. He stated his case to me a year ago, and he meant it. He wanted out. He knew I knew his plight, and that I was the only one who did.

More time goes by… I can’t really recall how many months, but she called me again and finally asked for the contact information again for 13 Hands. This time she made the call. They came the next day and backed the trailer up to the gate, and with no objections, he walked right into the trailer! I was not surprised. After all, he asked me to get him out of there several times. She sent me this picture they sent her of him in a stall safely in their care on September 8, 2025!

I was so happy to know that he finally was given his wish. I wanted to go there just to visit him, but had to wait for an opportunity. That opportunity came last week on June 30th.

One of my clients, who adopted 2 horses from 13 Hands in 2024, had some medical issues and had to send the horses back for temporary care while she was in treatment. She asked if I could trim the horses there. I told her I would. Then, I had received a message from a PHCP student about a mentorship, who happened to also work at 13 Hands! You can’t make this stuff up!!

After we were done trimming my client’s horses, I followed her to the place where Zeus was living with other horses, donkeys, zedonks and mules! We were looking at them and talking on the outside of the fence. I said… It’s time. We climbed over the fence. She stayed near the fence and I slowly walked over to see him. I was part of the way towards him and called out his name. He immediately knew my voice, his ears were forward and he began to walk towards me as I was walking towards him until we met. I confess, I had tears, but they were not the same ones I had years earlier when he communicated his plight to me. I leaned forward holding out my hand as I spoke to him. It was more of a silent communication. One vastly different then all the ones we shared before he came here. It was a full circle moment that took years.

Thank you Taylor, for helping to make this moment happen!

“Let's just be fabulously where we are and who we are. You be you and I'll be me, today and today and today, and let's trust the future to tomorrow. Let the stars keep track of us. Let us ride our own orbits and trust that they will meet. May our reunion be not a finding but a sweet collision of destinies!”
― Jerry Spinelli, Love, Stargirl

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