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HLUaJBy Jennifer Garreau

It's been a long haul on the roadto recovery for Wendy Halweg andher cherished barrel horse Dually;a journey of dedication to theirpartrrership and an emotional rollercoaster ride resulting in leaminginvaluable life lessons. Theirs is aremarkable comeback story.Halweg lived through everyhone owner's worst nightmare.After taking third place at the Ft.Pierre Rodeo, Fourth of July 2009,and well on her way to her firstspot in the Badlands Circuit Finals,Halweg awoke to find Duallymissing from a secure pen at theStanley County Fairgrounds.In a frantic three-hour search,by Halweg and the local deputySheniff, the story of Dually'sfateful ride was beginning tounfold ending in finding theQuarter Horse-Thoroughbredcross, who was valued at $75,(rc0,in a pen at the Ft. Piene sale barnwith severe injuries.Sometime after 4:30 a.m., onJuly 5,2009, with Halweg sleepingin her horse trailer just 50 feetaway, Flint Dahl rode Dually off

the fairgrounds. According to thepolice report from that portentousday, reports were made that twovehicles had been damaged by ahorse that morning and that a horsewas tied to a vehicle.

"When I found him I wasn't surehe would ever fully recover, thewhole thought ofever being on himagain was not even conceivable tome, let alone the idea of competing

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on him again," said Halweg. "Hewas hurt, rope burnt really bad.He was on two legs and sweatywith sweat marks clear back pasthis flank, there was a lot of bloodand a lot of rope burns. He wasgaunt and missing shoes."Acting quickly Dually wasrushed to Dr. Thornberg at DakotaLarge Animal Clinic in Harisburg,S.D., where the full extent of his

injuries were revealed."On his front left leg hefive tears in his suspemion teand on his back right legwere rope burns fiorn a ropehad been wrapped around hitwice, it had burned so deep thad torn into the teodm sheathhad a lot of rope brlnr on his and it had srvelled up so muchthe skin *'as jusr rigfit- reaburst. Thel had also made abridle for him our of a ropeall around his mouth and thrhis mouth he u'as rope bumt,said.Dually a.lso suffered mlacerations and a quaner craa hoof. Dr. Thorn@ testified"in 30 years he has nerer seemany or such H rope burna horse."The horse spetrt nead)' a mat the veterina4' clinic bHalweg was aHe to bringhome and begin the two-rehabilitation process. ['hile aveterinarl clinic. Hals'eg madS5-mile trip dailr to see her hevery dar after s'ort."Keeping him sound was

Continued on pag

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Dually and Wendy running barrels. Photo by Kim Forgey, Pink Pineapples

18 TODAY'S HORSE MAGAZINE. APRIL 2OI2

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Wendy and DuallyContinuedfrompage 19,r ---tatt Furr'-rx**-".

Dahl was charged with felonygrand theft and misdemeanorcharges for inhumane treatmentof animals. He was sentenced to570 days in jail after taking a pleaagreement and pleading guilty tofour misdemeanors. With timeserved in jail and at an in-patientalcohol treatment program andwith 495 days suspended, Dahlwill have to spend 15 days in jailover the next three years, includingevery Fourth of July. He is alsosente4ced to three years' probationand has agreed to pay Halweg$25,000 restitution. In return,Halweg has agreed to not sue Dahlfor Dually's injuries."Hopefully in some way theevent has changed his life and thathe's not that person anymore,"said Halweg. "I really started outlike why me! Why? What didDually do to deserve this and Idon't look at it in that way at allanymore. There has been so much

good to come out of all of this forme, and I hope for Flint as well. Ihope it changed his life and that hechooses a different path becauseof it.""No matter what you are thrownit's a leaming experience. I'velearned that just because it's abad day doesn't mean your lifeis upside down. You can't feelsorry for yourself because thereare so many other people in badsituations, too. You Iearn to put itall in God's hands and trust andsee what happens," she said."Most of all it has strengthenedmy faith and has shown me thatthere are so many Sreat peopleout there. There have been somany supporters and so manyneat people I have met throughthis. It's amazing how out of thebad how many people are willingto help contribute. lt was amazingto me the number of people thatstepped forward that may not haveanything, but contributed $5 to thevet bill. Bogie and Penny Webbfrom Webb Farms. in Volin, S.D.,let me borrow a horse all year.

He has really nice horses and is agreat trainer and I've learned a lotfrom them in the last Year," saidHalweg."I just can't say enough aboutall the support and what createda family that has come out of thistragedy. They have no idea howgreatly they helped me in mYprocess of healing. I have reallybeen blessed in this whole ordeal,"she said.Halweg and Dually's futurelooks positive. Halweg recentlY

married bronc rider Trar is Becand moved to the Rapid CityDually will be 15 this 1ear.are going to run and u1 ro get smoney won. We *'ill see howdo and how Duall.v holds uppick and choose rodeos basewhat he needs more so lhan I need. I hope to make the cifinals. I'd like to rrin the averbut it's a tough circuit and wejust put it in God's hands andwhat happens," HaJ*'eg-Besaid. "

Photo by Alisha Barry), Chutin FlWendy andTravis Bechen with Dually.

20 TODAY'S HORSE MAGAZINE. APRIL 2OI2