Heritage Horse Tales - Chet & Puzzle

The Importance Of Being Puzzle

Whether you believe in a higher power or not, sometimes the universe just seems to bring certain souls together for a reason. After the second Gunnadorrah Station rescue, a pair of young colts - probably half brothers and later named “Puzzle” and "Chet", were quickly snapped up by a lovely lady called Naomi (Puzzle), and an OHHA member, Lynne, who purchased young Chet. Both colts were very nervous and new to the world of humans. Although only just weaned, the colts initial experience of people had not been good.

Puzzle, at rear, and Chet (with small umbilical hernia), at front

Chet went to a loving home with Lynne and for many months received a great deal of care and attention, going from nervous colt to calm and healthy yearling. Very sadly, when Chet recently went to have his umbilical hernia removed, he suffered an allergic reaction to the anesthetic and died. The OHHAWA shared Lynne's shock and grief when we heard this news and despite the fact that such allergic reactions due very occasionally occur, Chet was a great loss and will be sadly missed.

As for Puzzle, well, Naomi loved her new colt...but Naomi had a friend, Fiona. Fiona, who was kind enough to allow us to share her story, suffered from recurring depression. Starting in March this year, Fiona and her family went through what could only be described as heart wrenching personal tragedy. First of all, Fiona lost her husband in a motorcycle accident. Several weeks after this the family pony, belonging to her young daughter, died.

Four weeks later the property Fiona was renting was purchased by developers and her lease was terminated. Fiona was asked to move.

Fiona fell into a severe depression. She had trouble getting out of bed and her family and friends feared the worst. Then Naomi had an idea...she told Fiona about Puzzle. She said that the newly acquired young colt, also rather lost and alone in the world, needed someone to spend time with him and tame him down, and Naomi was “too busy”. Would Fiona please help?

So Fiona made the effort and got out of bed, and went to see Puzzle...almost every day. She sat in the yard and talked to the wild colt, for hours at a time. By the end of the first week she was sitting at his feet while he ate. And as Puzzle got calmer and tamer and better fed, Fiona got brighter. Over the coming weeks she helped halter break Puzzle, taught him to lead, be brushed and to have his feet picked up. She even taught him to shake hands. Puzzle bonded strongly with Fiona and began to follow her everywhere.

Naomi saw what was happening and made an incredibly generous and caring decision. She gave Puzzle to Fiona. The unutterable joy on Fiona’s face was thanks enough for Naomi. Now Puzzle, happy with his new owner, is going from strength to strength. Just like Fiona...

We look forward to catching up with both of them in the future...and Sheila is now busily looking for another heritage horse for the wonderfully warm hearted Noami.

Animal therapy – and that connection between living souls – is certainly a powerful medicine and should never be underestimated. What you give out, you get back, and all the beings that share our planet are certainly deserving of equal love, care and respect. They might one day be saving us, after all.