Wagon Teamster is struck in routeBy Charles Edwards, February 10, 2009
Dear friends of Daotah;
I just received a phone call from an East Coast Wagon Teamster, named Lauren, who let me know that at 11:27AM this morning, Mr. Bob Skelding ( http://www.wagonteamster.com") was struck by tanker truck while traveling through Scooba, Mississippi this afternoon on Highway 45.
I contacted the local hospital emergency room to find out how Bob is doing, but am waiting for a call back.
Initial reports are grim, as I was informed that all two of his Percheron horses were killed in the accident;
however the condition of his other two horses have not yet been confirmed.
I will post a story about Bob once I have more information, but at this time, please hold Bob and his family in your prayers.
Peace to you all,
The Team
Dolly is a recent addition to my team. She’s 10 years old and very well trained. She’s not a registered mare, she’s what is known as a Grade horse. Even though she is mostly Percheron, she has some other blood in her. The only way I can tell is that her tail grows too long for a Percheron and her feet are a bit small.
- Dolly was killed in the accident.
Deedee is a registered, 15 year old Percheron mare. She’s very docile and affectionate. I broke her to drive and ride when she was two years old. She was the easiest horse I ever broke. When she was two and a half years old she almost died when she was trapped in a frozen beaver pond.
- Read about her harrowing rescue - Saving Deedee
Deedee was bred by my grandpa Jake Sheaffer. Jake is 95 years old and is still breeding horses. She was named after a waitress at the local diner.
- Deedee was killed in the accident.
Doc is a 17.2, 1750 pound, 8 year old dapple gray Percheron gelding. He originally came off an amish farm and had been used for the past few years for wagon rides, parades and for pulling at the fairs.
He’s willing, well minded and stands well. In conformation and attitude I can’t fault him at all. He’s good in the hold-back, picks up his feet well and has a kind eye.
Joyce is Deedee’s half sister (they both have the same sire - Smokey). She’s also 15 years old and a registered Percheron. Her mother - Model lived to be 22 years old and had 17 colts. Both Joyce and Model are decedent from a registered mare that Jake’s father bought in 1920. Joyce is a very willing horse, but listens to me well. She was a very difficult horse to break. She’s named after another of the waitresses at the diner in Muir, Michigan.
Wagon Teamster Recovering
By Charles Edwards, February 11, 2009
I spoke with Mississippi Highway Patrol, Sgt. Mike Cain this morning for an update regarding the accident between Bob Skelding and a semi-tractor trailer.
On Tuesday, February 10, 2009, at approximately 11:27am/EST, Wagon Teamster, Bob Skelding, was traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 45 toward Meridian, Mississippi.
Visibility on this two-lane country road was good, under a partly cloudy sky. For reasons yet to be determined, the semi overtook Bob's and struck the back of his wagon at full speed; estimated to be between 65-70 miles per hour.
The impact of the semi totally destroyed the wagon and ejected Mr. Skelding clear of the vehicle; however, two of his Percheron horses, reportedly Doc and Dolly were killed upon impact. The two other Percheron horses, Joyce and DeDee are being cared for by local veterinarian, and are expected to recover.
Bob was taken, by ambulance, to Rush Foundation Hospital in Meridian, Mississippi where he underwent surgery to repair undetermined internal injuries. Bob is expected to recover and is currently in the Rush Hospital ICU; standard procedure for this type of injury, according to Sgt. Cain.
Bob's website has been flooded with posts of support, prayers, and well-wishes from all across the nation, as it seems the journey of a man taking life one day at a time brings all of us to the roadside to cheer him on. And there is a host us standing alongside Bob with our hearts and hands raised in chorus for healing and hope for Mr. Bob Skelding; Wagon Teamster.
Bob Skelding - Two Worlds Collide
By Charles Edwards, February 12, 2009
Wagon teamster, Ron Dakotah, once told me, after I asked him about the perils of traveling by horse-drawn wagon on modern roads,
- “…I don’t have time to worry about what is coming from behind me, I’ve got my hands full looking at what is ahead of me…”
When I told Dakotah of the collision where a semi-truck hit the rear of Bob Skelding’s wagon in Mississippi, he wept.
- “…I told you these people drive too fast and don’t pay attention to what they’re doing.
What a sad end to those fine horses; it just makes me cry.
We (those on the road) can’t worry about what might happen; otherwise, we’d just have to sit on a porch somewhere and not go out.”
He went on to say,
- “I don’t know how many times this could have happened to me over the last twenty-six years;
and I don’t think about it.
When I started this journey it wasn’t a big spiritual thing, it just evolved into that.
I have learned to ‘live’ my faith, not talk about it. So many people just ‘talk’ about their faith, but don’t ever step out in it. If you have faith, you have to show it.
And everyday I hitch my team up is an act of faith”
When I spoke to Bob Skelding two weeks ago, he had just crossed into Mississippi and was deciding on which route to continue;
- either further south, or east to the coastline.
Bob Skelding was enjoying the celebrity that comes with driving a team of horses at four miles an hour,
but didn’t seem the kind of person who sought celebrity and had the grace to accept those who came alongside him.
Bob and Dakotah also shared a common beginning to the “Journey of a lifetime”.
Both men had just come out of an unsuccessful relationship and wanted to think things through or get a “do-over” as Bob once said.
Gene Bonner, an over-the-road trucker and former Deputy Sheriff, was driving his truck northbound on U.S. 45 between Meridian and Columbus Mississippi around 11:30AM on the morning of February 10th.
It was a partly cloudy day with good visibility.
Gene was one of three trucks on the road with two trucks from the T.K. Stanley Company directly behind him. Gene stated,
- “I saw Bob’s wagon up ahead, so I signaled-left to pass him. The truck behind me did the same,
but as I watched in my rear-view mirror, I saw what looked like an atom-bomb go off when he (the third truck) hit Bob’s wagon. It was a sight”
- (Photo by Scott Boyd of the Macon Beacon)
Gene pulled to the side of the road as quickly as he could and approached a group of people who had gathered alongside the road.
- “I saw Bob lying in the ditch, and I asked if he was still alive and they said ‘he’s dead’.
I asked if anybody had gone over to him to see, but no one had, so I went over to see for myself.
I felt for a carotid pulse and he had one, so I stayed with him.
Gene went on to say;
- “…just about the time I felt for a pulse, Bob woke up and asked ‘what happened’,
so I told him.
The first thing he asked was how was his horses and about his dog, Clementine”
Gene then brought his dog over to Bob so the two of them could be together. Gene said,
- “The dog was sitting all by itself in the middle of the debris just shaking, so I took him over to Bob until the EMT’s arrived. Then I took the dog to my wife so our Vet could take a look at him. The Vet said she was in pretty good shape for a sixteen year-old dog, all things considering.”
Gene told me that, aside from Bob being unconscious, his only other visible wounds were some abrasions and cuts that would need some stitches.
- “…it was pretty miraculous that Bob didn’t have more or worse injuries”
Bob is recovering from the injuries he sustained from the accident last Tuesday; the extent to which has not been released.
I spoke to Sgt. Cain, of the Mississippi Highway Patrol, this morning and he reported that Bob was doing much better and was expected to recover fully.
Bob’s sister, Cathy Fagan, is at his side today. She is, at this writing, with a member of the Mississippi Highway Patrol visiting the accident site.
Ron Dakotah
- Thankfully, it appears Bob’s journey will continue; however, in what form or destination is unknown. As life is lived one day at a time, and with our eyes fixed firmly to the road ahead, what was once our physical journey, is transformed into our spiritual journey if we answer the call.
Drive on, Mr. Bob Skelding
