Page Title

Big Johns BIG story

The True Life Story of Big John

By Mary Stearn Conto

The irony of the situation was not lost on any of them the day
they drove Big John to the rescue farm. He is one in a million; an
18.1 hand magnificent creature of horse flesh, Cleveland Bay by
breed, and a certified hero by right.

A former police horse, Big John at age 26 had rescued and saved
as many lives in his long career as the Rescue Farm he now calls
home will surely do. And in yet another twist of fate, this was
the second time he had been "rescued".
Not always a police horse, Big John started his career as a gangling
yet impressive 4 year old in the eventing world.
His strength, height, bravery and unflappable personality earned him
every prize he and his first owner sought during
their six years of eventing, and the team was on their way to national
fame and an indelible reputation when tragedy
struck.

On a dismal, chilly and rainy fall day in Virginia, Big John and his rider
began the beautifully designed but challenging
cross country course that was to change his life forever. Looming mid
way through the course was a large timber
obstacle, and being one of the last horse and rider teams to go, the
footing was now muddied and slippery. Big John's
approach was perfection, and as he launched his huge frame up and
over, some spectators there even said he was
grinning. But the big horse's right hind hoof lost its traction, and he
propelled himself and his massive weight up and
onto the timber with a ear piercing crack that resounded with the pelting
rain. His rider thrown over and down the hill
on the other side, Big John hung lifelessly tangled in the timbers by his
left stifle. He crashed within seconds to the
ground in a heap of tangled limbs.

Swelling at his hip and lame on his left hind, Big John hauled himself up
and called to his bewildered and muddied
rider. A horse with a lesser spirit may have been put down there and
then. Big John's owner knew if any horse could
come back from an injury like this one, it was "the Big Guy".

And indeed he did. After months of recuperation for his shattered hip
and torn stifle, Big John's second career began.
Uniquely as tall in human terms as Big John was in equine, a 6' 5"
Mounted Police Lieutenant entered Big JohnÂ’s
Virginia barn to pick up another retired eventer that was to be donated
to the unit.

"I want THIS one!" the Lieutenant said as Big John stuck his massive
head over his stall door directly into the
Lieutenant's chest as he walked down the aisle. He was told about the
dramatic accident, told that in another three
months into his rehabilitation program they would have a better handle
on his future soundness, and told that if Big
John was not sound for the rigors of eventing but sound enough for
police work, they'd give him a call.

Exactly three months later, the Lieutenant answered his phone and
within minutes was on his way to Virginia with
truck and trailer to fetch Big John and swear him in as a Police horse.
Phase two of Big John's life had begun.

At age 11, Big John began a ten year career as an exemplary Police
mount and together they worked as the lead pair in
events on the mall in Washington, D. C., the Virginia Gold Cup, and the
1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia among
many others. For their heroic efforts during the bombing and aftermath
at the Olympics, the human/equine pair
received the highest commendations.

Ending such a stellar career with what was to be a gracious retirement
for both of them though, was eerily not to be.
Big John was to live his remaining years happily at a large retirement
farm, complete with rolling lush pastures,
babbling streams, and numerous other horses. They were to be well
cared for with dignity and love.

And they were, for a time. Tragically, the lone owner of the farm died,
and most of the horses were moved. By some
quirk of fate, Big John and his pasture mates down in the 'back 40' of
the farm were overlooked. Months later, and
after a summer long drought, the police went on their scheduled check
of their horses in retirement. Having heard
nothing from the farm owner, they assumed all was well.

They found the farm closed, the house vacant and not one horse in the
front acreage. Driving what seemed like miles
to the back pastures they were greeted by the sight of weak, trembling
and horribly emaciated animals. To their horror
they were to also find several owned by others already gone, lost to sun
dried pastures and a dried-to-a-trickle-stream.

Vets were called and in short order a few more horses humanly
euthanized on the spot, too far lost and suffering to be
nursed back to health. And yet there stood the big guy. Proud and
magnificent as always, they remarkably still saw
the "spark in his eye" that was Big John. And they brought him home.

At the police barn they vetted him up, fattened him up, loved him up.
Under the daily ministering of his fellow
officers, the sparkle in his eye came to match the fattened body, the
shiny coat, the mischief in his mind and the life in
his heart. And the love of his current owner's heart found him here.

Adopted by his new owner Big John lived, thrived and played the last
two years on a pastoral 600 acre historic farm in
Southern Maryland. Lightly ridden along the farm roads, Big John
continued to serve, proudly prancing and jigging
while going "to work" at what he surely saw as his role as "the farm
police". With an almost imperceptible limp and
no pain, head raised and eyes clear, ears pricked and ready, John
surveyed crops, tractors, other horses, cows and
the occasional chicken with the ease and intensity that he had shown
steadfastedly in his eventing and police days. Yet
today, Big John once again finds himself somewhat of a "Rescue"
horse.

A health issue required that his adoptive Mom find her beloved Big
John a new situation. Being the people oriented and
work loving horse that he is, Big John not only needs but deserves a
person who will care for him daily and show him
the love and appreciation he has so earned. In turning to Freedom Hill,
Big John's Mom knows he'll find him just such
a place.

The all volunteer group at Freedom Hill works hard 24/7 to rehabilitate
and place horses from the PMU debacle, save
horses from the horrific auctions and kill pens, and animals that were
starved and abused. To date, in the mere 10
months Freedom Hill Rescue has been open, they have to date placed
50 horses in new homes. What a testament to
their efforts!

Note from Freedom Hill : Big John has been adopted by a wondrful
family. He will live his life out in retirement in St. Mary County MD.

June 18th 2008 Big John died in the arms of his adoptive family in St.
Marys County. Cheers to you BIg John !
We look forward to meeting your Gallant Soul once again.....