Full Moon

Indigo came from Habersham County with a group of 9 horses that were going to slaughter. We were able to save them though a generous donor who bought them all 24 hours before the truck we coming to take them to Mexico for a cruel end to their innocent lives. Little did we know that a few of the mares were pregnant. Indigo was the last to foal. It was August 2010. She had a beautiful, healthy filly we named Patience. A college bound young man, Nicholas, slept in the barn many nights waiting for the birth. He named her Patience because it sure taught him to be patient!

I wanted to wean Patience from Indigo but wanted to wait for Nicholas to come back from college to help. He has a special relationship with Indigo. yesterday morning, we led Indigo into the trailer without much fuss. We drove 5 minutes to the 60 acre pasture that Indigo was familiar with. She spent a few months there when we picked up the Habersham group. We brought the pregnant mares to the rescue farm to monitor them and keep them safe.

Now back to Indigo and the full moon. She came off the trailer shaking. She may not have had good trailer experiences but we were kind and gentle. We took off her halter and she ran around the pasture with the other horses running behind her. All settled down in a few minutes. Everyone was calm when we left. Back at the rescue farm, Patience was calling for Indigo all day. 'Mom, Where are you?'. No reply from Indigo 5 miles away.

Pam went to the 60 acres to feed the horses. She didn't see Indigo at all. I thought she may be happily eating grass but I sent Bobby on the 4 wheeler to ride the land, check the fences and check for her. After an hour, still no Indigo. Then I got a call from the local restaurant owner, who is a horse person, that a black horse was seen on the corner. We organized a search party and everyone went in different directions. Wendall , Bobby, Judy, Brian, Brooke and me. We crossed paths and kept calling one another, no Indigo. I called the Sheriff and pulled over a police car to give them my number in case they get a call. About 10 pm, a call came that she was put into a pasture about 4 farms down the road. We ran back to the rescue farm and hooked up the trailer, grabbed some grain and a halter and drove back over to where Indigo was. We thanked the property owners. It was such a relief knowing where she was and that she was safe. It was dark and she was in a pasture with 3 bother black horses, As Bobby and Nick tried to figure out who was Indigo in the moving herd, they horses ran from the flashlight. We could see them in the full moon but they were spooked by us, the flashlight and that time of night. After an hour or so we decided to wait until morning and make it easier on all of us.

On the way home, I detoured on a back road. It was gravel with a tree canopy that was full and beautiful. As I went around a curve, there was a cow trying to get back to her calf. The mooing of both let me know she was missing her baby, like Indigo missed Patience. It was a full moon. I will think twice about weaning a foal again. It won't be on a full moon!

Looks Like Love!

Meadow, our newest rescue horse and her new beau, Cheetah! Happy Munching you two.

Looks like love to me.

Though Cheetah is blind, he leads a full and happy life.

It is sad how many people disregard a horse because it is blind. I had colic surgery done on a blind horse at UGA Large Animal Veterinary Hospital about 6 years ago. They were surprised to see how well my horse, Stevie Wonder, walked in, stood in the stocks, stepped on the scale and easily lead around the clinic without any hesitation. They told me they usually recommend euthanizing blind horses to their clients. I guess we have more education to get out there about blind horses don't we? Even to some veterinarians. Some may have not encountered blind horses. They can lead full lives and even compete in shows or ride on trails. Yes, they can be riden! They sure can be loved.

Where Do They Come From?

It is always an on-going questions, "Where do we get the horses that come into the rescue ?'.

Here is one example. Animal Control found horses on the road. The owner keeps them on a wooded acre. There is no grass so he crosses the street and ties them to trees to graze on the grass. A few broke loose and wandered away when animal control officers rounded all of them up and confiscated them. They explained that this is not satisfactory horse care and the owner was fined. He gave up this malnourished mare but kept the rest. Hopefully he will take better care of the 5 horses he did keep. Animal control will keep a watch on them to be sure. If a home wasn't found for this horse, she would have be humanely euthanized.




Now if we agree to take a horse, expecially a very malnourished horse, we need a place to keep it and have to be able to pay for it's needs. Hay, grain, veterinary care and farriers all are ongoing expenses for any horse and we already have so many to be responsible for. We need to consider all of our horses before we take in another. It takes a village of animal lovers that volunteer and give generously to allow us to keep up this never ending job of caring for needy horses.




Who came to the rescue? Our longtime volunteers, Julia and Chad. They agreed to foster the mare even though we didn't know much about her. However, there was a concern for their blind gelding, Cheetah. We didn't want him hurt or kicked. 'Meadow' turned out to be one of the sweetest mares ever. Cheetah was so happy to meet her, he couldn't keep his nose away from her. He can't see her so he had to become familiar with her smells and she tolerated his annoying nose without even a squeal. They became fast buddies in the pasture sharing grass.





Meadow is about 10-12 years old. She will be assessed for any riding ability after she gains weight and becomes healthier. She is now enjoying freedom of not being tied to a tree to find food. It is being served in a clean feed bucket, along with fresh water, hay and all the grass she can find thanks to our wonderful care givers. She is one of the lucky horses that did get another chance at life.

Haunted by this Ghost! He has 24 hours.

Update! I am sending $100. to animal control so we have some time. I hope a FL rescue steps in.

I looked at these pictures and I am haunted by them. This is Ghost. The horse was adopted out by animal control a year ago, not look what condition he is in. He is in central Florida. We are north of Atlanta, GA. (http://www.savethehorses.org/)

Gas is sky high and is would cost at least $300-400. to bring him here plus all the special feed and supplements he'd need until he got healthy. This poor horse deserves a second chance. He has been the victim of a human...again. It makes me sick that animal control only has given him 24 hours but they cannot afford to keep him. It isn't animal controls fault that they have a budget. It is the person who was supposed to be caring for him who is to blame. Animal Control adopted him out in good faith. It is their obligation to make sure this doesn't happen again. If they euthanize him, he will not suffer again. It's a sad ending. I am trying to do something but I have only today to do it. Any ideas? Thought? Please

Can anyone transport? Is there anyone who can take him in Florida? Any one willing to help support Ghost or keep him permanently?

I don't know his age or breeding or ability. I really don't care. All I care about it he gets a chance to live out his life with love and proper care. What can you offer Ghost so we are not haunted by this image of his starved body that only has 24 hours unless we become his voice and his angels.

He is in Tavares, Florida animal control. denise is the officer who is trying so hard to help him find a home.