It's been months since I wrote about Buddy--the THIRD blind horse named Buddy taken in by Catskill Animal Sanctuary--and the one whose lovely face graces the cover of my book, Where the Blind Horse Sings.

How delighted I am to report that after eight months of patient work--initially by Allen Landes, who took over with Buddy shortly after I was so injured that working with him could have been disastrous (see earlier entry titled "Back Pain"), and then by Walt Batycki, our devoted animal care director, Buddy has become an independent horse, capable of going out on his own and grazing for several hours. No panicking, no charging into fences, no maniacal circling.

A few months ago, Walt began taking Buddy out to a flat pasture and lunging him (the human stands in one spot, turning in a circle while the horse, at the end of a long "lunge line," trots in a circle approx 50'-60' in diameter). Lunging had been Buddy's only form of exercise with his previous owner, and while it helped him release his excess energy, it gave rise to a dangerous "default" behavior. When Buddy was frightened (as blind animals easily are, obviously), he'd trot in fast, frantic circles whether or not a lunge line was attached to his halter. Much like an autistic child who repeats the same motion over and over, Buddy would circle, and circle, and circle...increasing both his speed and the angle at which he leaned into the circle...until he would often fall down. Snapping him out of the behavior was HARD as HELL and involved some physical risk.

But time passed. Walt's patience remained. "You need to think about weaning him," I suggested, as I had begun to struggle with quality of life issues. Are we really helping this animal if the best he can do is leave his stall for 45 minutes a day to trot in a repetitive circle? No. Buddy had to be weaned. Suggestion turned to gentle insistence.

Buddy's crazed circling slowed. And then, for the most part, it stopped. Our third blind Buddy was weaned off the lunge line that connected him to Walt, who had so clearly become Buddy's security blanket. For a few days, Walt remained in the field, sitting close enough to Buddy so that if his pal did spook, the sound of Walt's voice would reassure him.

So now, eight long months and many chiropractor and massage bills later, Buddy is going out to the pasture...ALONE!!! Yes, Buddy has graduated! He's out now for a few hours in the afternoon. For the most part, he grazes quietly. Like his predecessor, the Buddy of Where the Blind Horse Sings, he lifts his head high and listens HARD if a sound is unfamiliar. If he's really spooked, the circling, still his default coping mechanism, kicks in. But you know what? He can generally calm himself now. That's right. The horse who could not be calmed and centered eight months ago can do calm and center himself. I'll bet that's the biggest victory he's had in a long, long time.

And Walt, if you're reading this: Thanks. You kicked ass.