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Prince Charming  more photos on facebook!

Eulogy: Rest in peace, our big dear gentle giant, Prince Charming. Prince returned in spring 2011 having an unusual mix of symptoms. We took extensive steps and did expensive tests to try to solve Prince's problems, but his neurologic symptoms worsened over time despite our best efforts. Prince was tentatively diagnosed as "wobblers syndrome"; he did not know where his hind hooves were and often stumbled or slipped, and his condition was progressing fairly rapidly. He was dangerous to himself and to others. On September 9, 2011, Prince took his last trip in our world and crossed the rainbow bridge, where he can now gallop happily without fear or pain or his confusing and scary illness any longer. Sweet Prince, please say hello to our other CWER friends on the other side, and rest easy gentle man.

Summary: Prince is a big, gentle giant of a baby! He came to us as a 15 month old. A young lady went to a horse auction alone and bought this adorable fellow as a 5 month old, having been told he was 5 and a full grown halflinger, ready to ride! He was also a stud colt, not a gelding. She had him gelded and cared for him, but sadly could not afford to keep her horses any longer and also was intimidated by prince's size. Concerned for where he might end up as a less-than-2-year old big draft with no papers and minimal training, she donated him to CWER.

Prince went home in 2007, and was VERY happy there for 4 years.  Prince was a very happy boy with his family, and did easy rides with his owners.

Sadly, family issues made it impossible for his family to keep him, and they donated Prince back to CWER in spring 2011. Prince has settled back into our world and our herd, and seems content here with his new and renewed friends.

History: Prince has shown himself to be a big, gentle fellow who loves people and loves ponies. Above, he's playing with little penny -- a 2 year old youngster pony who doesn't have any clue she's little!

June, 2006 update: Prince continues to grow like wildfire! This big fellow is now approximately 17hh at his withers, with his rump easily 2-3 inches taller. He remains a little thin as his body continues to grow as fast as we can supply him calories, but the vet describes him as healthy and growing wonderfully, and anticipates him being "HUGE"! :) This big, sweet gentle fellow is just so soft, so easy going. He has reasonable ground manners, is learning to be good for the farrier, ties wonderfully, and trailers well. His little friend penny, in the photos above, did a lot to draw out his personality, and help him mature mentally.

Prince will not be approved to begin riding training until at least fall due to his continued growth, and it is very likely it will be spring of 07 or even later before his body and his mind are ready to head for a new career. Shown here, Prince is simply allowing Tory to sit on his back, not bothered in the slightest. He also does brief, light workout sessions in the round pen occasionally, keeping the length of each direction to a minimum (our round pen is larger than most to accommodate training drafts.)

Spring 07 update: Prince was fostered for a year with the Campbells, and did fabulously. We cannot thank them enough for taking in and loving this gentle giant. Prince is now back at CWER, and getting ready to go to Southern IL to live with Jep and Cheryl/Mike's 2 other horses as his forever home. He'll return to CWER for his riding training likely spring '08, when he will hopefully be done growing!!!

Summer 2007 update: We delivered prince to his new home on the 4th of July! The big guy is happily making friends with Cheryl & Mike's other horses and doing terrific!

Winter 2010/11 update: Sadly, Prince's family have had family issues that make it impossible for them to continue to care for Prince, so he has returned to CWER. He had 4 great years with his family, including riding with their other horses, and he will certainly miss his home and his humans. The crazy winter weather was hard on Prince, and he is underweight but recovering here at CWER.

August 2011: Prince has been tentatively diagnosed with Wobblers Syndrome, a neurologic set of symptoms that are visible because he does not know where his hind hooves are, has incomplete control of his hind legs and occasionally a front leg; he is 'wobbly' hence the name, and can easily be pulled off balance by our <125 lb. vet. Prince was tested for EPM and the results were inconclusive but most likely negative.

Prince's diet was radically adjusted for EPSM aka PSSM aka tying up disease aka monday morning disease, an illness common to drafts who eat too much sugar/carbohydrates (grains) in their diets which can result in muscle wasting and loss of muscle control. Prince's muscle development improved, but his balance and control actually worsened.

Prince was moved to Miata's paddock, a smallish flat space where there are no hills or other places for him to be more likely to stumble and hurt himself, and watched carefully for weeks with his adjusted diet. Continued tests and exams yielded no answers, only continually the same or worse symptoms and no positive prognosis. We finally made the choice, and have laid Prince to rest. Rest easy, gentle giant. You're in our thoughts. Every. Day.