Hip # 227

Hip 227 may not mean much to you or to most people but it means a lot to the horse wearing that tag, #227. It is an auction tag. No name, no information, just a number, another number waiting to go to slaughter.

A volunteer and horse lover, Elizabeth, called and asked if I could help. Help was needed for Hip #227. I didn't want to look at the page with all the horses destined to be killed for human consumption. These horses were at a holding lot in NJ called Camelot. Horses are put in large trailers and shipped to Canada on Sunday. It's they last ride, a sad ride. It is the end.

Once I did look at Hip #227, there was no turning back. We both made calls and inquiries, made a plan and dove in head first! The story is that she belonged to Amish people who used her to drive. She was teamed up with a Percheron gelding. He was saved by another rescued but they didn't have the money to take them both. Hip#227 was left alone and unhappy in the kill pen.

If you ever lose faith in humanity, think about real horse lovers. We posted for help to save Hip #227, the response was overwhelming...heartwarming. Calls and emails flooded my desk, donation were coming is every few minutes. Another volunteer and horse lover, Christine, called Camelot and closed the sale to us. We collected enough money to save her, get her transported to SC to a loving home, and save the last horse that had no bids. He went to a farm that works with children in PA.

Horse lovers care deeply. They do more than talk about what is happening to a horse, they react and do something good. Thank you all!

Pony Comes Home

It has been 3 years since this handsome little pony was adopted to a wonderful family. He had a forever home. At least that was the plan.

Everything went well for a while but life changes. Sometimes we do not foresee our future, no matter how well planned. The family ended in divorce, found homes for the other horses and this little guy came 'home' to the rescue. He is a sweet boy. He will need some training to learn to ride but he is very happy around people.

He will be available for adoption.

We did get another 'old friend' horse back today. I'll tell you about it tomorrow.

The Mustang mare, Ellie, we picked up from Animal Control, is pregnant. It will be waiting game to see when she will foal because we really can't examine her. She can hardly be touched, though we are making some progress. We have test strips that will tell within 18 hours of foaling but you need to have some milk from the mare to test it.

We don't need a vet injured, or anyone else in danger so we are just waiting. I know there are safe drugs that can be used to sedate a pregnant mare but she is a Mustang. She is one step out of the Wild. They just do not work against the strong survival instinct of nature.

We will continue to treat her kind, win her trust and see how far we can get becoming her good human friend. If anyone has any ideas, please let us know.

Keeping Up with the Daily News

Trying to keep up with FB, Yahoogroups, Twitter, web, tiring! I am going to make another attempt at keep this daily new up to date. Some of you who know me may want to take bets on whether or not I will keep it it. I will try!

Last week we took in 2 horses from Animal Control. A very undernourished, pregnant mare. We call her Ellie. She has a BLM brand but it is hard to read. Shaving the hair would help but she is terrified when you touch her face or neck. We are slowly working to make her trusting of humans.

Questions like, 'Why would someone breed a mare with bad conformation?', 'Why would anyone breed a horse when horse value is so low?', 'Why would anyone breed a horse that is terrified of people?', " Why would you let a pregnant mare starve and endanger both mare and foal?'. We will never know the answers but we will do all we can to help this mare now. She is getting special feed, special hay and nutritional supplements so we know she is getting all we can give her, all that she was missing. Is it too late? It's too soon to tell. The vet can't examine her because she is too terrified of humans.

Do you want to help? Donate a bag of Mare and Foal feed or a bale of hay or some funds to help her and her foal. There will be occurring veterinary bills soon, as well. This is just the beginning. If you are interested in fostering or adopting this mare, please let me know.