In the spring of 1990 I had the honor of meeting Dr. Wayne Oler, a personal friend of Benny Damele and an old time curly breeder. Dr. Oler was a doctor of chiropractics. He and his wife Kathy lived close to Half Moon Bay in northern
Dr. Oler introduced me to Dixie D. I have never forgotten the wise and peaceful eye that Dixie D had. Dixie D was sired by Nevada Red, out of OB Pinto. He also introduced me Doc’s Smokey C, his second stallion and a son of Peacock D. But Dixie D is the one that I remember the best because of his kindly presence.
Dr. Oler allowed me to walk through his herd of brood mares and look at the foals. There was one mare by the name of Kathy’s Golden Curl, ABC 749. This mare was sired by Dixie D and out of one of Damele’s original mares. She had a colt by her side. But she also had a deep sense of understanding. She presented her colt to me and truthfully gave him to me. She did this by directing him to my side. So Kathy’s Golden made the decision for me, I was to buy her colt. That was a decision that I have never regretted. I will explain why later.
I took this colt home. He had been foaled on April Fool’s Day. For that reason I named him Jokey, Abc 1246. He was a sorrel. He was the smartest horse that I have ever met. I boarded him at a friend’s pasture. I wanted him to grow up in a herd situation. By boarding him with my friend, Jokey would have a band of 6 other horses to run with. One old mare adopted him and kept him company. She also made sure that none of the other horses picked on Jokey. As time went by I halter broke him and taught him to lead. All of this was done in the large pasture because there was no round pen and no confined space to work in. It was all done out in the open.
Joker, ABC-1246
One day I went to work with Jokey. When I got to the pasture I saw something that amazed me. There was one dog that was trying to chase the horses and trying to bite their legs and flanks. The other 6 horses, all adults, were cowering behind Jokey. He was the only one with the courage and good sense to face this dog. This yearling colt was the only one who had the ability to face and to confront the danger. He had become the herd’s defender!
But there was more to follow. Several weeks later Jokey was to save my life. I had come, as was my usual custom, to work with Jokey. He greeted me and we did the lesson that had been planned for that day. I then turned him loose and he went away to graze. I walked over to a black mare that hated people. I was foolish enough to try and pet her. This was a big mistake. She struck me and I fell down on the back of my head. The fall and the head blow stunned me. Then she reared up on her hind legs. She was taking careful aim and was going to trample me and crush my head. I looked away because I did not want to watch her kill me. I looked over at Jokey only to take my mind off of what the wicked black mare was about to do. I was NOT asking for help of any kind because I thought that there would be no help. But I was WRONG. Jokey suddenly looked up. He came running over to me and he literally stood over me to protect me. He then stared this mare down. She walked away defeated and her goal of destruction was foiled. Then Jokey carefully moved his feet so that he was no longer standing over me. He them calmly resumed his grazing. Jokey was a true curly. His breeding was of pure Damele blood.
On June 27 of that same year, Jokey was killed by a man who poisoned him. This same man was later arrested for beating and molesting childern. He was convicted and sent to state prison. But before he assaulted childern, he had first practiced animal cruelty. It was this animal cruelty that gave him the boldness to molest childern.
Dr. Oler told me one thing that I have never forgotten. He said that all true curly horses have an extra layer of fat just under the skin that is uniquer to the breed. Dr. Oler further stated that this layer of fat is very similar to the fat layer of a lab retriever. This was taught to Dr. Oler by Benny Damele. This statement is also verified by Sunny Martin on page 26 of the book “
Jokey was a true curly in all ways. And yes, he had that layer of fat that is unique to the breed. After he had been poisoned I took him to the vet. The vet was amazed at this little gelding’s calmness and common sense even while he was in great pain. Jokey died in my arms. I will never forget him and I will always be thankful that he came into my life. It is because of Jokey that I love this breed so very much. It is because of Dr. Wayne Oler that I understand how very special this breed is.
Sincerely,
Penny Johnson
ABC breeder
Bonners Ferry,