Mood:
sadIf you have any thoughts you may also, comment.
Dear Lipizzan Lovers, and especially those of you who know Smokey or have one or more of his children/grandchildren/great grandchildren.
And. . . those of you who are new to Lipizzans and don’t know him, Smokey (Maestoso II Sabrina) was born on Washington's birthday in 1976 at Tempel Farms; has been with me for 24 years; has been an ambassador for the Lipizzan breed beginning 1983; has been a patriarch sire of more than 90 Lipizzan and half-Lipizzan children; successfully competed in United States Dressage Federation dressage at every level (except Grand Prix), placing at all levels for USDF, and finally to Intermediare (second highest level of competition), and was second, reserve chamption, in the U.S., all breeds of horses competing, at Intermediare Freestyle (ridden by Jennifer Roth, whom Smokey inspired to breed and ride Lipizzans). After that, Smokey suffered a life threatening injury (car accident) that ended his competitive show career. He was not expected to live, and if he did, not expected to be sound or breed. Yet, he did recover. Smokey's picture album is on www.Lipizzan.com
TEN DAYS AGO Smokey was giving rides to my 3 and 5 year old granddaughters (see pix below). We pulled his shoes off 5 days ago (which he has worn most of his life) and, what a guy . . . he did three airs above the ground in the arena.
However, RIGHT NOW now Smokey is in intensive care, in a sling/hoist, in a vet hospital in Salinas (Steinbeck), recovering from a devastating event.
It is NOT TIME for Smokey to leave the planet. As many of you know, he has been an inspiration of faith and hope for many, people during his lifetime (especially me with my crippling back condition - I always joke that he is more sound than me), AND Smokey has been a true ambassador for the Lipizzan breed since 1983.
Also, Smokey still needs to teach my two granddaughters and my 5 month old grandson how to ride before he leaves us.
I don't know how many more days I can keep him in the hospital because the bill is already $8000 and I'm completely tapped out. His Intensive Care Unit stall with the sling, round the clock care, and IV's costs $1500 a day.
I'm willing to sell some of his offspring really for very discounted prices to the right owners to raise money to save Smokey's life.
My email: Lipizzan@hollinet.com
Thank you.
Laura Wiener-Smolka
Below: Smokey in the hospital today, with hoist straps loosened and fast mask support off, eating treats (and his exhausted, bedraggled mother, caretaker, owner, me, Laura).
