OklahomaHorses Magazine July 2023

July / August 2023 • OklahomaHorses 9 Blaze’s Tribute has helped to rescue nearly 2,000 horses since it opened in 2001, but Rudy quickly found a special place in Cross’ heart. Overcoming Obstacles Much to the surprise of Cross and all the staff at Blaze’s Tribute, Rudy’s story gained worldwide attention, and thousands of people began to follow his journey to recovery. However, Cross said, the rescue also received backlash from people who thought Rudy should have been euthanized instead of undergoing treatment. Those people thought his injuries were too much and that he must be suffering terribly. However, with years of experience in rescuing horses, Cross knew without a doubt that Rudy wasn’t ready to call it quits. “He never acted depressed,” she said. “He had such a zest for life and always handled his daily cleanings well.” Despite his many injuries, Rudy seemed happy and loved his new life at the rescue, Cross said. He loved being the center of attention and seemed to know that people were following his story. Whenever anyone would come to see him or interview staff members about his story, Rudy always wanted to be right in the middle of things. Fortunately, the number of people cheering Rudy on far outweighed the naysayers. “We received so many phone calls that first week, and it was overwhelming trying to keep up with social media,” relayed Cross. In fact, the rescue’s following on social media exploded as Rudy’s story continued to spread. Blaze’s Tribute gained thousands of new followers on its Facebook page, doubling the number prior to Rudy’s arrival. Although the attention was a lot to deal with at times, the staff members were thankful. After all, Rudy’s story was shining a light on their mission to save unwanted and abused horses. As the weeks passed, Rudy continued to heal, but without ears. There was some concern that he might not be able to keep his ear canals clean and dry. He loved to roll in the mud, and trying to keep him clean was often a losing battle. “At first, I wanted to micromanage him during bad weather, but I soon realized that he knew how to take care of himself,” said Cross. “He knew how to take care of his ears.” Building Lasting Bonds Aside from his bond with Cross, Rudy developed two strong bonds with other horses at the rescue. An old gray gelding named Double D came in at about the same time as Rudy. Both were in quarantine and stalled next to each other for several weeks, and they became instant best friends. For more than a year, Rudy and Double D were nearly inseparable, but Double D was battling cancer. In March 2016, his cancer became so aggressive that he had to be put down. Double D’s passing significantly affected and visibly depressed Rudy, but at about that time, Crash, another gray gelding, was returned to the rescue after his adoption didn’t work out. Cross said she was heartbroken that Crash had been returned, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Crash stayed near Rudy as he was grieving, and soon, the two geldings formed a strong bond of their own. Many people found inspiration in Rudy’s story. Cancer patients came to see him, wanting to get photos with the horse that had overcome so much. People from all over the world sent Rudy things — such as a special fly mask with filled-in ears or a hand-knitted scarf. Natalee Cross, founder of Blaze’s Tribute Equine Rescue, bonds with Rudy. Photo courtesy of Fat Cat Photography LLC. Best buddies Double D and Rudy love to run and play and get dirty. Photo courtesy of Fat Cat Photography LLC.