HORSE LOVERS: Bob Skelding - The Healing Begins

Lawrence Journel World & 6 News ^ | February 14, 2009 | Charles Edwards

[Yosemitest]

Bob Skelding - The Healing Begins
By Charles Edwards, February 14, 2009

It is not unlike folks to characterize the actions of the citizens of Kemper and Noxubee County, Mississippi as angels,
in the aftermath of the collision that injured Bob Skelding and killed two of his four Percheron horses.
But, after talking to several people who were at the scene, seconds after the melee began,
I have come to see that
these folks are not other-worldly,
they are just good county folk

who performed at their best
when things were at their worst.

The portion of southbound U.S. Highway 45, on which the collision occurred,
is about one mile outside Noxubee County into Kemper County, Mississippi.
This section of rural Mississippi has the distinction of being twenty minutes to or from just about anywhere;
so medical assistance, either by road (for EMT/Ambulance) or by Helicopter (to a major trauma center) may be unequal in distance but are equal in time.

Those of us who write about events in the news never set out to ‘be’ part of the story;
however, on this fateful Tuesday, Macon Beacon publisher, Scott Boyd, became an important part of the survival of two of Bob’s horses, Joyce and Doc.

As Scott put it,

“…when I got to the scene, I saw the two horses lying under the wagon debris;
and then I saw them move a bit, so I went over to take a look.
There was a Kemper County Deputy Sheriff (Jeff Jowers) standing over near the road and I told him
that we need to get them horses up out from under the wagon.
There was about twenty people standing around, most of them bigger than me,
and I thought we could just lift the trailer off the horses. The horses still had their harnesses on, so we can control them.
The deputy looked at me and said,
‘…are you out of your mind? We’re probably going to have to shoot those horses.
Nobody’s touching them horses until the vet (Dr. Billy Calvart) gets here."

Scott has known the deputy for many years and was adamant when he looked back at the deputy and said,

“you had better not shoot those horses;
there isn’t going to be any shooting out here today!”

There was a bit of confusion surrounding the condition of the horses. One person at the scene, Ms. Ellen Jewell, of Macon, Mississippi, was on her way to a medical checkup, following a heart attack she suffered in December, when the accident occurred.

Ms. Jewell said

“…I called her (the 911 operator) and told her that we needed to get a vet out here right away,
and she told me that
‘there was no need; the horses were all dead’,
and then hung up the phone.”
Ms. Jewell went on to say,
“… there was a lady about ten cars back who raises horses…
she called the 911 operator and told her that we needed to get a vet out here also,
but the 911 operator told her the same thing she told me and then hung up on her.
We all tried to tell her that we could see that two horses were alive, but she just wouldn’t listen.

Ms. Jewel had arrived at the scene of the accident just seconds after the impact. She stated,

“the Kemper County deputy sheriff came on the scene after about fifteen minutes.
There was a bunch of people all standing around wanting to help,
but the deputy wouldn’t let them.
I left when I saw Scott Boyd arrive; I just couldn’t take it.
But I’ll tell you one thing,
I believe if Scott hadn’t shown up, those horses wouldn’t be alive today.”

I contacted the veterinary office of Dr. Billy Culvert to learn the status of Joyce and Doc.
His assistant Cathy told me,

“they’re (Joyce and Doc) doing great.
They had sutures to close the wounds they received from the accident, but now they’re out grazing.
They’re pretty big horses; I had to lead them from the front to the back,
and if you didn’t lead one, the other wouldn’t go anywhere.”
And so the healing has begun.

I spoke to Bob’s sister, Cathy Fagen, on Friday to ask how she and the family is coping
and what she thought of all the support being thrust in Bob’s direction.
She said,

“I was driving back from trying to gather some of Bob’s things (at the accident site),
and it occurred to me that if something ever happened to me
I could only think of a couple of dozen of people – outside of my children
– that would even care something happened.
When I look at all the emails, and calls,
and folks that have been in contact and I’m just in awe”.
She went on to say,
“…my little gate keeper here at the hospital told me,
‘honey, your brothers more popular than Oprah when she was here’
; I had no idea Bob was this popular”

So what makes men like Bob Skelding and Ron Dakotah so popular?
At the end of the day, they are just slowly traveling down a road minding their own business;
so what’s the draw?

I asked another wagon-teamster (who has been traveling on the road for the last twenty-six years) Ron Dakotah,
his take on why so many people are moved to see the man in the wagon.

“…our (Bob and Dakotah) life is a magnet to people who are trapped in the life they ‘have’ to live.
They come along and say ‘you are living my life’.
So, what I have come to understand that to mean is,
it gives people hope to know someone can indeed live as we live;
and maybe someday they can to.
We’re kind of place-holder for their dreams.”

Ms. Fagan was quick to let me know that the family would not violate Bob’s privacy
by discussing the nature or extent of his injuries;
however she would state that he is in serious and stable condition.
One thing that she would say was
how much she and the family have come to appreciate the people of Mississippi.

“…the people of Mississippi offer from what they have to give,
and I believe my brother is here today because of them,
and nothing else matters
except that my brother is alive in that (hospital) bed in there,
and we’re grateful.”

We look forward to hearing of Bob’s return to health
and to learn if he will continue the journey he started in August, 2008.
In the meantime, prayers are being offered daily for Bob,
and those of us who stand along the roadside and cheer the men in the wagon are cheering still;
God’s speed to good health and safety for the journey ahead.

[Yosemitest]

More information is available on an earlier post ...

PRAYERS Requested: Bob Skelding - Wagon Teamster is struck in route

The Macon Beacon, a local newspaper, has established a fund at the Macon Mississippi Branch of Citizens National Bank for Bob and the surviving horses.
The Bob Skelding Wagonteamster Benefit Fund
Citizens National Bank
P.O. Box 426
Macon, MS 39341

Tel. 662-726-5861

Donations can go directly to that bank or any other Citizens National Bank in Mississippi. The website to view branch locations is www.yourcnb.com or call 1-866-333-4CNB (4262) . If donating by check, please make it payable to "The Bob Skelding Wagonteamster Benefit Fund".

Well wishers can e-mail bob@wagonteamster.com and to Daughter Lisa. Comments are welcome to Bob at The Commercial Dispatch, at the bottom of the page.

Okay Freepers, you know what to do.

Thank You.

[Yosemitest]

Here's an update for the earlier post PRAYERS Requested: Bob Skelding - Wagon Teamster is struck in route

[nathanbedford]

The Percheron is a heavy draft horse also known as a cold-blood. Here is the Wikipedia description which shows animals much greater in size than those pictured. These might be Percherons but they seem to have been bred down in size and crossed with warm blooded horses:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percheron

[Rumplemeyer]

How did the tractor trailer manage to hit them when they were in the shoulder.

[dljordan]

I was called up for jury duty in Dickson County, Tennessee once in a case about an #$%$#@ dragging a horse behind his truck. The defense lawyer got one look at my face and I was out of there. I would have hung the dumb a**.

[Yosemitest]

You answer to how this happened is on "PRAYERS Requested: Bob Skelding - Wagon Teamster is struck in route" post.

[vetvetdoug]

I saw the horses; they are Percheron and normal for what I have seen.

[livius]

Thank you for this update. I saw a brief notice about this in my paper down here in Florida and I wanted to learn more about it. Aside from being concerned about Bob, I’m a horse owner and wondered about the horses. Thanks for posting.

[Yosemitest]

From what I can put together, Kemper County Deputy Sheriff (Jeff Jowers) and the 911 operator
have an attitude problem, maybe even a power-complex.
Sounds like the 911 operator needs replacing, and should be reprimanded, at the least.

[livius]

That’s what I thought, too. Very strange.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

ping

[HairOfTheDog]

Thanks - I think I’ll pass this along over there. :)

[HairOfTheDog]

From what I can put together, Kemper County Deputy Sheriff (Jeff Jowers) and the 911 operator have an attitude problem, maybe even a power-complex.

That was my take on it as well.

[Yosemitest]

I'm curious. Where did you get this image?

[HairOfTheDog]

Gosh - it’s been so long now I don’t remember the original source. I think it was posted on a thread here, among threads and stories about the Columbia disaster.

[Arizona Carolyn]

I wish the article would have gone into how they got the horses up on their feet. Thank goodness someone was there in time to stop the sheriff from shooting them.

I spent some time reading his journal from the beginning of his trip to the day before the accident. Well worth the read IMHO. Interesting about the horses, Joyce (who survived) once saved the life of Deedee (who did not). Doc was a horse he purchased for this trip and Dolly (who died) was very fond of Doc and vis-versa, she was also a bit of a clown and (I think) one of Bob's favorites. He also seemed to get quite a kick out of Doc who would pretty much determine when he was ready for a break or to stop for the day. This was a man very in tune with his horses...

Clementine, the poodle is 16/17 years old and he wrote she rode most days cuddled under the covers in the bed. I suspect that may be what saved her life, it appears the bed tossed over upside down into the ditch. The truckdriver who rescued her said she was sitting shivering in the middle of the debris field and the vet said she was basically unharmed.

I just find this incredibly sad and hope he survives.

[Arizona Carolyn]

word

[Arizona Carolyn]

Update on his condition from his blog -- newest first

e 2 - Info on Bob's Condition & Other News

Last Updated by steepdropman 31 minutes ago

Date: 02/15/2009

The following is the text from an email sent by Barb, Bob's mother.

Good Afternoon Everyone,

Things are about the same with Bob. Nothing really new to tell. He is holding his own, I think from what Cathy, his sister tells me and I'm thankful for that. I wish I could give you more in details of his condition, but i really don't know, expect for what they tell me. I am no doctor or nurse, but I do trust they are doing everything they can and Bob will improve daily. BUT IT WILL TAKE TIME. NOW IT IS JUST A WAIT AND SEE PROGRAM. Please continue your prayers, well wishes and messages as we thoroughly appreciate them and it will give Bob pleasure in reading them when he can. i will be late in posting tomorrow as i have to work, Monday and Tuesday, but i will do it when i get home. I am still in Michigan. thanks again, for all you do.

Kindest Regards,

Barb Skelding,

mother

Date: 02/14/2009

The following is the text from an email sent by Barb, Bob's mother.

HI Everyone,

I am sorry to be posting this so late in the afternoon, but its been real busy around here. Bob is doing well. When he first saw Lisa, his daughter this morning, he squeezed her hand. things are getting i think, a little better, but again only time will tell. But i'm sure its a sign of God's Will that things might change, however we need to take one day at a time. Cathy said he wanted to speak to Lisa and since he has a breathing tube in his throat, she told him to be shut-up and that probably is the only time she will get to say that, because when it does come out, knowing Bob, he will be rambling on and on. LOL.

Other than that, please continue to pray for him and know he is in God's hands and the nurses and doctors are doing all that is possible at the moment. thanks again for your kindness and well wishes and prayers.

Barb Skelding

mom

Date: 02/13/2009 @10:00 AM

The following is the text from an email sent by Barb, Bob's mother.

Good Morning Everyone,

I have just spoken to my daughter, Cathy, Bob's older sister and she tells me the same as yesterday that Bob's condition is stable but still serious. Again the doctors and nurses are doing everything they possibly can to keep him well and comfortable. you know the old saying, 'NO NEWS CAN BE GOOD NEWS'. Cathy can only see him just certain times aday and she said to me this morning, that we all have to be grateful that he is alive. i do believe our prayers are being answered. PLEASE JUST HANG IN THERE FOR HIM AND FAMILY. We appreciate all of your support and prayers. She also told me that she has pictures of Doc and Joyce being taken care of by Dr. Billy Calvert who is doing a marvelous job. She says, Doc has a long lasceration to the left hind quarter and Joyce has a small laceration to the left hind quarter. Both the Gelding and Mare are doing fine. Clementine is still being cared for and is doing well also. She wanted me to express what a great and kind and generous man Dr. Billy Calvert is, and how he is taking excellent care of the horses. Also she wanted me to tell everyone how generous, kind and loving the people of Mississippi are. I also would like to thank everyone who has said so many many prayers for our family and most of all Bob. He would not be here, i know if if werent for you people in usa and around the world. People who Bob doesn't even know personally but have touched their lives in some way or another. No amount of words can express our graditude and thanks for being there for Bob. I will write again as soon as i hear anything about Bob's condition or whatever. thanks again.

Barbara Skelding,

[Yosemitest]

Thanks for the update. It’s these blurry, watery eyes that ... well.

[livius]

Yes, I hope he survives, too...and can go on and complete his trip.

My horse is named Doc, btw.