EZ Did It.

He is very sore,

very swollen and

very tired but he is a

very strong horse...

and proved it again!

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Video of EZ Breeze's rescue.

Posted By - Jerry Carnes Last Updated On: 11/24/2010 6:35:13 PM

CANTON, GA -- Dozens of rescuers gathered in Cherokee County to save a horse that has cheated death more times than Houdini.

"I witnessed a miracle," said Jody Hanna, who was there when the retired race horse was lifted from a 12-foot creek bed. "It was insane. It was horrific."

At a time when he's supposed to be enjoying the halcyon days of retirement, 20-year-old EZ Breeze has lived a life has been far from a breeze. Since leaving the competition of the racetrack to relax at the equine retirement home called Save the Horses in Cherokee County, his life of repose has been interrupted by medical issues like the operation to repair intestinal problems. EZ Breeze barely survived that one.

"They recommended he be put down," said Bobby Fricks, a volunteer at Save the Horses. "The said he had a 2-percent chance of survival, but he's still here today."
Living on borrowed time, EZ Breeze was taking a leisurely stroll through the pasture on Monday when he slipped and took a 12-foot fall into the muddy creek bed.
Hi head caught beneath roots, EZ Breeze slipped and thrashed about in an effort to right himself, but he couldn't.

At least 30 people joined in the the effort to rescue the struggling retiree. The Cherokee Fire Department responded along with the city of Milton's Large Animal Rescue.
At one point, it appeared EZ Breeze was a goner.

"We could see his tongue turning blue, his eyes totally distant," said Cheryl Flanagan of Save the Horses. "We hated to do it, but we started yelling at him, 'EZ get up!!'"
He did.

The rescue took 5-hours. Emergency crews recruited a crane from a local tree company. EZ was eased into a harness, and lifted to freedom...
"He started flailing his legs and hit the ground and stood up like nothing was wrong," said Flanagan.

Now, EZ Breeze laughs at those neighborhood cats who brag about nine lives. He's the horse who floats high above death.

"We didn't think he was gone make it," said Fricks. "He did it. Live to fight another day."

EZ Does It!

EZ Breeze somehow, slipped over a hillside and ended up in a precarious position in a ditch about 12 feet down the hill. If he tried to get up, he'd hit his head on the roots of the trees hanging over him. It was a narrow space and he had no where to go but up. Up is not a position he could achieve alone.

It actually took several horse rescue volunteers, Cherokee County Fire Dept, Milton Large Animal Rescue, a tractor, a crane from Timber Tree Service, many trained rescuers, Dr Amanda from Foxdale Equine and about 5 hours of figuring out how to make it work. EZ had to be hooked up with the sling, hoisted up over the crevice. That meant being 'air-lifted'. We had to make sure the crane would not slip into the same crevice EZ was stuck in. Believe me, it was very tense for everyone, especially EZ. About 2 hours into the rescue, EZ laid too still, his tongue was starting to turn blue. Thoughts of losing him at that moment was on every one's mind. I yelled, 'EZ' as I did for the past year when he had a seizure or was in distress. EZ has some serious problems physically. He is an older gentleman horse but with a strong will to live. He heard me and opened his eyes and started to thrash around. The thrashing moved him into a different position and he had to be readjusted in the equipment again.

We finally managed to get him up out of the deep hole that held him captive but he wouldn't stand when he landed on the ground. It took many more tries to get him up but finally success! Everyone gasped with joy. EZ was standing. YES! EZ does it!

A Rodeo Kiss!

When you think of the word Rodeo,

you may think of a wild event with daring cowboys riding bulls not gentle kisses, right! This is a sweet Rodeo, Cindy Rodeo Steedle. She adopted a foal born here from a rescued abused mare, Indigo. The foal, named Patience, is now 3 months old. She and her son brought a birthday cake to celebrate! How sweet is that!

Rodeo is our new spokesperson for the Rescue. She is inspirational and is truly a horse lover.

The picture is a bit dark but Patience is a black bay. She is tall enough to look over the stall. She is just 3 months old but a very large filly.

Camelot it is Not!

Every week horses are sold at an auction, called Camelot. It is located in Cranbury NJ. This is Lancelot with his little buddy. He is an 18 hand Belgium that we saved from the Camelot NJ auction Nov. 10th. He is at a quarantine farm in NJ and will soon join us here. He will be available for adoption soon. We had our other three horses, a Belgium, a Percheron and a pony or a yearling (not sure yet) coming available for adoption as well. Keep checking.

Life Does Go On...

Little Miss Pony's fuzzy winter coat is painted with squiggles and kind words painted by the owners grandchildren. Being with Miss Pony is always a fun time. Seeing her with the cast on her back leg makes you think her injury is going to get better soon. Dr Amanda saw the leg a few days ago. The break was so bad, it punctured through the skin.

This is one of the times we wish fairy tales would come true. Miss Pony's leg was getting worse. Sometimes we can't fix things, no matter how hard we try, no matter how much we want it, it can't be done. It surely was not for without trying.

The photo of the owner of Miss Pony looking into her eye, begging to for a sign it is the right decision is so close to my heart. At the rescue farm, we have had to make that decision for suffering animals too many times. Each time it is the same heart wrenching decision, never any easier.

Once the decision was made to help Miss Pony cross the Rainbow Bridge, another problem became apparent. The rented property Miss Pony and her humans lived on was no permanent resting place for the beloved pony. When asked if she could be buried at the rescue, we gladly said 'yes'. We assisted with the financial burden of the veterinarian visits, the euthanasia, the burial costs but most importantly, there was enough sadness for this loving family, they needed the peace the rescue farm could give to them.

Life

What a precious little pony. Every little girls dream, a beautiful pony. Then it gets shattered, literally. Little Miss Pony is well loved in the community. She knows all the kids in the neighborhood. They all know her. Everything was good until she escaped into the pasture with the big horses and she was kicked by a full size horse. Her rear leg was badly fractured above the hock.

The owner has had a very sad year. She lost everything in a house fire earlier this year, along with her pets who died in the fire. Then the flood in September, this mini's mate drowned. Now Miss Pony 's life was on the line. Is the break too bad to even be repaired? She couldn't afford to call a vet. Finances are very bad for the pony owner. Insurance hasn't paid for the loss in the fire yet. A neighbor suggested to call SavetheHorses. Hearing this sad desperate story, we called out Dr Amanda and asked to put the bill on our account. Was there hope for this little pony?

Forgive me but

I am lagging behind the Daily part of this blog. Here is one of my excuses. Sweetie.

On Tuesday, Sweetie, my 32 year old mare went down twice in the pasture. She had a stroke earlier this year, she has anhydrousis, Cushing's and her eyes are not as good as they used to be. She is doing really well considering all that, right? She has gained over 75 pounds this year. She was very thin after the stroke.

Luckily, by some weird chance, we found 9 horses destined for slaughter in North GA and Christine stepped in and saved them. Three were pregnant and Sweetie is the ultimate surrogate Mom, well surrogate Granny.

The babies have brought her back to life. About 6 years ago, we brought in several orphaned foals. She wanted one so bad. We finally let her have one and in a few weeks she was producing milk. That is a mother's love. She had never had a foal. PAX-TV did a story about her because it was such a happy tale.

When she falls down, or loses her balance and can't recover, she waits for human assistance. I got out the tractor, our make-shift sling equipment and we got her up easily the first time. The second time she fell in a ditch and it was down hill from every angle. I didn't want the tractor to

fall on her thinking there is no way we could get it off of her. Some great ideas were implemented as we figured out what to do, how to move her and where to put the straps. It was quite stressful, believe me. We, all of the wonderful volunteers, helped get her up. What a great feeling!

I will tell you about what happened in the past few days, next time.

Big Boy Belgium

Camelot dreaming, he was named Lancelot. He is at a wonderful, loving foster home in NJ. He will get to GA soon but we want to make sure he is healthy and ready to travel. He wasn't eating well but had no temperature. He is under the watchful eye of Lauren, a horse lover.

We are in need to reasonably priced transport for him. We are also in need of funds for the transport. We have a few donations already, thank you! We paid to have him transported to Lauren's so he didn't have to stay at the auction. Lancelot is a really big boy, like over 18 hands!

If your dream horse is big, this may be your dream horse. Guaranteed to make your butt look small! He may be a walk, slow trot horse but he is bigger than most horses. He will be available for adoption.

Hip #333 Is Home in GA

This Belgium mare arrived today, finally. It was a long ride from NJ. Especially since a stop to pick up another horse slowed the transport down. Originally, the new mom, Theresa, was told #333 would be 'home' during the wee hours of Tuesday. At 11 AM, not exactly wee hours, the trailer pulled up at the barn. This mare was not in good shape. She was lucky so many people helped with her rescue. She is thin and in need of love and care. She will get plenty of that now. She is now called Guinevere from Camelot. Not the Camelot we want to imagine. The Camelot auction where horses are always in danger of going to slaughter.

Belgium Horses Everywhere

Our first mare from Camelot went to a wonderful home in SC. That was Hip #227., now lovely called Queenie. She big and beautiful but she was so sad. Once she got home to SC, it was discovered she must have recently had her foal taken from her. She still has milk. How awful to be seperated from your baby then sent to an auction, just thrown away. Her new family is willing to help an orphaned foal if anyone knows of one in need. Remember she is qiote big so a regular size foal isgoing to need a ladder to reach her milk!

Wind Blows away Tack Seekers!

We went to the Tack Sale in Canton, GA today. We sold about $50. worth of tack. Buckets, halters and an old saddle. It was so cold and windy, it make it uncomfortable for buyers and sellers. We did meet some great people.

Cindy Rodeo Steedle was at the barn, along with her sister and her son, to help feed and turn in the horses. The regular volunteers came out, as well, to make sure everything was done, each horse was fed and tucked in for the night. It was a good day at the rescue. Isn't everyday great here?

Another Belgium Mare saved from Slaughter

Thank you to all who helped us save this mare. She is thinner than last weeks mare.

We saved another Belgium mare last weekend because of generous donations from you, the horse lovers. You came through again for this girl. Another mare, much thinner, is in the same situation. We had enough in donations to save her now we are trying to find a transporter to GA. It can be several hundred dollars unless we find someone going this way. Her destination is Powder Springs at a foster home. Any and all help is appreciated.

Our Muffin Man

Remember our Stud Muffin from Hall Co Animal Control ? It took many drugs to sedate him but the gelding went well. He has had some serious looking swelling but medication did help that a lot.

He is doing well and adjusting to closer human contact. He needs to learn to let us put a halter on him. Sounds like an easy chore with most horses, doesn't it? Put on a halter. This guy has fear you are out to hurt him. You are putting your hands near his face, your hands are going towards his ears, oh, he is so frightened. I know he will progress but it will not be fast. He needs a really patient caring human to foster or adopt him. Come and meet this Muffin.

Getting Behind but...

I have a good reason. The cute little puppy I am fostering had a fever of 105.5. He was sick! He has one very swolen gland. many scary thought went through my head all night. The Vet saw him this morning. He had an abscess and is now on medication. He is much better tonight.

Not for the Squemish!

Look at this sweet mare. She is nearly 17 hands at 3 years old. She raced as a two year old and won her race. She was full of potential of becoming a real winner. After the race, a bone chip was found in her knee. It is easily removed and her racing career may have been resumed but she contacted Mersa during her hospital stay and will never race again. He knee is enlarged. The owner decided to breed her since she was such a fast mare and so well bred. That didn't work either.

She came up from Florida just a happy, quiet mare. We didn't have much room (as usual) so we put her on a beautiful board fenced pasture donated for use for rescue horses. After a week or so, she found a broken board or she is the one that broke it. It torn her leg opened to the joint. The vet comes out every 10 days to do a recheck and to cut away the granulation tissue. Once the joint is closed, there is a chance of infection. It is a time consuming wound needing hydrating, topically dressing, wrapped and re wrapped. She is on oral antibiotics now but we started with an IV to get her a good dose of prevention.

I think she just grew too fast and isn't aware of how big she is. She seems so accident prone right now. She has nicks, she's skinned here and there. Could she just be a klutz or could she be cursed? Her name is ObamaMomma. I think by the time she is 4, she will be coordinated just fine.