01.31.08
Interview with Q, barn fire survivor
The Q Report: An Interview with Quintin de Verneuil BWP (A horse named Q)
by Michaela (I think?), passed along to us by Sophiea, Q’s human
Q. Where were you born??
A. I was born in Belgium. My mother was Hanoverian and my sire was the only thoroughbred son of Laudanum. I immigrated from Belgium when I was three.
There were some difficult times and I was attacked by a dog. It was a battle to the death and I survived but not without permanent leg injuries. I was on skid row in a barn being sold when I saw the human walking through the barn so I grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into my stall. Cannot let the good ones get away I say.
Q. What about your family??
A. Family? I have a herd with my alpha mare in charge of course. I always say Let a mare be in charge and what needs to be done - will be done. Get the right mare in charge and there will always be hay in the manger, grain in the bucket, fresh water in the pail and no fighting stallions. A mare is so much better at keeping things under control than a gelding.
Q. What ‘s the worst thing that has happened to you?
A. The fight with the dog that ruined my legs and my career, and bad trainers- one even broke my nose - have been low points but the Revere Saugus barn fire in 2004 and losing my stable mates was the worst.
Poor Esco, Amber and Orlik. I thought they were behind me when Jose ran through the fire opening the stall doors and taking us out. I ran but they just died in their stalls. Orlik ran back I don’t know how - he was out and being held for the cameras and that human let go. Orlik ran back in and died in front of our stalls. I saw him rear and heard him scream when the roof collapsed – it was horrible.
I found out how good the horse people are. People drove off the highway to help when the barn was on fire, some who didn’t even know us ran in and took some of us out, some held us with twine because there were no halters for those of us who ran out. When we were moved to Janna’s to be cared for they came from everywhere trying to help. They tried to bring what they could for us, a bale or a trailer of hay, a blanket, a brush or a halter whatever they could. Even after the barn owner took everything for himself the horse people brought more for us and our humans. The horse people of the north shore and southern New Hampshire are the best horse people there are. I and the human can’t thank them enough.
Q. Do you have any special talents??
A. There are so many. First, I build rider confidence in my rider.
I was in charge of the Help Desk at my old barn. We had a server always going down during feeding and we have to pick him up all the time.
However, my true love is writing, my best works are penned as Q. L. Caballo - The Quintin Chronicles - pleasant little Children’s stories about my life and adventures with Santa, Leprechauns and ghosts, all the normal folk. The human put the Christmas Stories on YOUTUBE finally, on the Quintin Chronicles. Some can now be seen on youtube!
Q. What’s the funniest thing you ever did??
A. I once bit an annoying barn cat and he chased me around the riding rink. Everyone thought it was hysterical a 1400 pound horse being afraid of a cat but of course I pretended to be afraid. Must keep up their self-esteem you know otherwise mice in the grain room.
Q. What’s the worst thing you did??
A. All I will say is I have opened a few things - car doors, trunks, jacket pockets, purses, back packs, stall doors and a few beer cans. I look at it this way it is my property if it is near the hoof. Besides the only thing I ever get in trouble for taking is the DunkinDonuts Coffee – it is for medicinal purposes.
Q. Is there anything else you would like to say??
A. Please help horse rescue groups like Second Chance Ranch Equine Rescue in East Longmeadow MA and Second Chance 4 Horses in Bernville PA [also Live and Let Live Farm in Chichester NH]. There are so few places for us to go when things go bad for our humans. Anything you donate can help. You never know they may have to help a Horse you know.
One of the reasons I decided to interview myself was to promote Equine Rescue. Who knows where a broken horse like me would have been if I had not found the human when I did. Please try to help.
Q’s youTube Channel
Amadeus, a stable mate saved after the fire…
Fire mention in Boston Globe…
