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The Story of
EB
 He
is one of the last sons of Ebony Masterpiece. Triple Threat sired
his dam. He started his show career with great promise. As a baby he
was the Reserve World Champion Yearling Colt, and the North Carolina
Champion Yearling Colt. He moved beautifully, and was a joy to
behold.
His
registered name is Eb’s Magic Threat. In many ways,
his good looks and blue blood turned out to be a curse for him, not
the blessing one would imagine. Eb was sold for an enormous sum of
money as a long yearling at the 1987 Celebration. He was sent to a
trainer in South Carolina. The new owners were full of high hopes
and great expectations.
Within
a week Eb was carrying pads, weights, and chains. He tried gamely to
carry all that weight, shifting his center of balance off of his
burning front feet and crawling with his back legs. He just
couldn’t carry the weight evenly, though. Eb would try and try,
but he would be uneven in his rear stride, or not high enough with
his front legs to satisfy his owners. So, he was sent to another
trainer. The story there was the same. The story was repeated again.
And again.
Six
times in five years, Eb was sent to different trainers. Each trainer
desperately tried to make Eb perform the “big lick” by using
progressively more cruel methods. The bits got more vicious, the
burning legs and feet more frequent. God only knows what Eb endured.
The
owners were disappointed. After five years of training expenses and
no World Championship, they decided to “take him down” to a
pleasure horse. Dr. Ken DeHaven, remembering that handsome yearling
he had seen, was moved with pity for Eb. The horse had been starved,
and his once-beautiful legs angled out unnaturally. His heels were
horribly contracted. Dr. DeHaven took him in, full of sorrow for
what might have been.
The
story of Eb’s rehabilitation is too long to tell in detail.
Suffice it to say that Dr. DeHaven had no idea what he was getting
into! The horse’s hooves alone took extensive time and expense.
This horse that had been with “professional trainers” for five
years wasn’t even bridle-wise! He was full of terror. It took much
time to even be able to mount Eb without the horse panicking in
fear. Any move toward Eb would result in a frantic attempt to
escape. Dr. DeHaven tells of Eb trembling with fear, as he would
stand to be mounted. Despite this, after all the horrors he’d
endured, Eb would still try to please.
 Over
time, Eb and Ken DeHaven became a team. Eb could relax, and trust a
human being. Time went by, and Eb’s rehabilitation continued
steadily.
Eb’s
Magic Threat and Dr. Ken DeHaven have won almost every Model class
they entered. They have won many Lite-Shod Championships. In 1999;
Eb’s Magic Threat was the South Carolina Model Champion and the
South Carolina Reserve Lite-Shod Champion.
Better
even than his show record, is the fact that Eb was the pride and joy
of Ken DeHaven. His grandchildren love Eb, give him treats, and ride
him.
In 2001,
I was honored to be able to purchase Eb's Magic Threat.
I deeply respect the trust that Ken DeHaven has shown
in me, and the responsibility that I have toward Eb. For
the first time in his life, Eb's Magic Threat is being
promoted at public stud. Eb's breeding soundness has been
verified by the North Carolina State University's College
of Veterinary Medicine. He breeds naturally or artificially,
and ships well. His bloodlines are unsurpassed. His beauty
speaks for itself. His kindness, intelligence, and prepotency
are reflected in his get. His foals are now in halter
and lite shod classes, and are winning.
And I, Margie Rhodes, am amazed daily that I am so fortunate
to have a horse of this caliber. My wildest dreams have
come true in Eb. Thank you, Dr. Ken DeHaven!
In
Memorium - Eb's Magic Threat,
born October 10, 1985 Died February 10, 2008
Eb's
Magic Threat was laid to rest on February 10. His grave
overlooks his pasture and his pond. Margie wrote this
about her dream come true:
Eb's Magic Threat, aka "Eb", was euthanized
this week. Thank you, Dr. Sally Vivrette, of Triangle
Equine, for your speedy response to a Sunday morning call
for help. Your presence helped me through my last duty
in taking care of Eb.
Eb
was a Tennessee Walking Horse with the good/bad luck of
having famous bloodlines. The good luck was that he brought
light to people's eyes, both at the beauty of him, and
at the sight of his pedigree. The bad luck was that the
light was too often caused by greed and personal aspirations.
He was expected, from a young age, to match the performance
of his predecessors.
Eb
did well as a 'show horse', winning many top ribbons,
including at the prestigious Celebration. The list of
blues is long. Naturally, Eb's time as a first line show
horse came and went. The downhill slide was full of pain.
The story of his subsequent abuse is far too common, and
not limited to the horse world.
Dr.
Ken DeHaven bought Eb at a sale many years later. Ken
was filled with sadness by the starved and fearful animal,
thinking of the young beauty he had once known. Ken gave
Eb a long and loving rehabilitation. I was privileged
to be allowed to purchase Eb in 2001.
 Eb
gave me the daily thrill of living in peace at Walkabout
Farm. It was joyful to see him, any day, any night. His
beauty extended from his refined head to his full and
giving heart.
May
you each find the "Eb" in your life.
May
my dear Eb rest in peace.
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