Jo Jo’s Gypsy
Born
April 25, 2005
Pedigree
Sire: Johannesburg
Dam: Camptown Gypsy
View Pedigree
Progeny
2009: Cup O Jo Jos by Ground Storm
2011: Jamn Jive by Will He Shine
Racing History
2 Starts: 0 Wins, 0 Places, 0 Shows
Career Earnings: $140
Jo Jo arrived on the farm on August 22, 2014.
Jo Jo's Gypsy is young and strong and doesn't take any crap. Yet, even though she has seen the worst of the human race, she is still dedicated to those she loves. We don't dare tell Jo Jo's favorite red headed human no in front of Jo Jo. This mare is like a giant Mama Bear and twice as fierce!
About
JoJo's Gypsy has a story too. Unlike Kidnap Katie who was 'dead' when she arrived at the Haven, JoJo really should have been.
JoJo arrived in August of 2014 at the age of 9. She came to us through a local abandonment case, and was an extreme emergency - in dire need. She was one of 38 horses who were left in a wooded ravine. She was starved and near death - you could literally see EVERY bone in her body. She was less than a one on the Henneke body score scale. Jeanne, the founder of Our Mims Retirement Haven took her as her own horse because if she was going to die, she was at least leaving this Earth feeling loved. She was given less than a 5% chance of survival by our Vet, until she met Kaylee, Jeanne's granddaughter. In Kaylee, JoJo found her reason to live, and THRIVE. Even though she had seen the worst of the human race, she still found a way to not only love and be loved, but to trust humans again. Here is a bit more of her story,......https://youtu.be/hoA3J1guSfY and be sure to have a tissue handy.
Rehabbing JoJo was a LONG, slow process. You can't just throw food to a horse that has been THAT starved, even though that seems like the way to go. Slowly introducing nutrition, and the RIGHT nutrition was the only way JoJo was going to be given the slightest chance to live. Jeanne didn't want her scarfing down too much food at one time and throwing her body into shock.
Eventually, the OMRH board decided to add JoJo to the herd and make her an official part of the Haven. Today, JoJo, with the patience of Ann Cheek and her knowledge on nutritional needs for mares, is on an individual feeding plan. One of two things can happen with a horse that was as starved as JoJo. They can rebound, but never have the proper weight again, and be 'hard keepers', or they can do quite the opposite, and store all the fat they receive and be overweight (metabolic rebound). JoJo is the latter. With a very watchful eye, Ann has to find a happy medium for JoJo so she doesn't gain too much weight and be unhealthy again.
Jo Jo and Kaylee are still bonded. Jo Jo is fiercely protective of Kaylee. We aren't even allowed to scold Kaylee within earshot of Jo Jo without retaliation!
Jo Jo's stall quote, "Love conquers all" says it all.