Tennessee 30 now Tenneesee 4

Before and After pictures of Stella.


Tennessee 30 is now Tennessee 4.

Amazing what good grass can do!

Many of you remember the infamous Tennessee 30. It was 30 horses bought at an auction in TN. They were purchased for a low, low price and brought across the street from the rescue. To see 30 horses on an acre or two makes cars stop and look. Many calls were coming in to the rescue asking about them. They were thin, it was November and the grass was gone in a few days.

Who were these horses? Why were they here? The story is they were bought by a local horse trader. They are his horses and he can do what he wanted with them. At a low price, all horses are in danger of going to be slaughtered. Though we don't slaughter horses here in the USA, we do send them to Mexico and Canada to be slaughtered for human consumption. It is not illegal. The owner can do that and make some money. I called and asked him what he'd sell them for. He said $75. each so I was on the Internet telling everyone who would listen and asking them to tell everyone they know. A few of the horses sold fast. After a week or so the stress of going to auction, fighting for food, and being unhealthy and malnourished to start, they broke out with a contagious infection called Strangles. It is like strep throat. It takes a few weeks but it goes through the whole herd. The Department of Agriculture quarantined the herd. It took 4 months for the virus to get through the herd. During that time, people were picking out and paying the owner for the horses. We were collecting donation for feed and hay the horses. We wanted to give them every chance to recover. Volunteers from the rescue would take turns feeding and watering the herd. Snow, sleet nor ice was a deterrent in getting these horses healthy. As people purchased a horse, some would come and help out physically and financially. It did take a village to save the horses.

All the horses went to homes. Now months later, 4 were given to the rescue. These are nice horses but still need training and patience.

Suzy is a very pretty Chestnut QH type mare. She just needs to be trained. She was saved by a loving person, her injuries treated and ready to make some a nice trail horse. She is ready to go.

Willow is a black walking horse mare that was one of the most frightened of all. She must have been through some very mean humans. She will lead and eat from your hand but needs time and patience to move on.

Stella is a nice mare that is already trained to ride. Look at the pictures of before and after. She has come full circle from a malnourished nearly alive horse to a beautiful mare ready to trail ride.

Then there is one young chestnut mare that is terrified of people. Stella protects her. She must have been through some really horrible times to act so afraid of humans in her young life. She needs a very special person who will not hurry and understand her fear. She is gentle but wants to leave your space because she is terrified to be close to people. I am sure she has a good reason.

The Tennessee 30 is now the TN 4. Come and helps find a home for each of them. repost to all of your horse friends. These 4 horses need loving home and kind hearts. They deserve that. They did nothing wrong but end up in the wrong hands at one time in their lives...through no fault of their own. Please help us help them.

See the other horses available at http://www.savethehorses.org/

facebook at SaveTheHorses.org

Yes, I Am Back!

After a great vacation in Chicago, visiting family and a wonderful city, I am back at the farm. Living a busy life on the farm where I live, raise my grandson, run the horse rescue, feed my husband, foster dogs, etc.,it was fun going into the big city. Not to waste the trip since we were driving, I borrowed a van and transported dogs to a rescue in Illinois. The majority of people up there spay and neuter their pets so there are not as many dogs needing homes as there is here in Georgia. My 6 grand kids like riding with the dogs anyway.

Things started peaceful yesterday but the peace didn't last long. Gary, a hay man, opened the lower gate to leave and Patience, an almost one year old filly, made a run for the driveway. She really wants to see the world! She managed to get past Gary but he managed to close the gate so Sweetie, our 33 year old Granny horse who is devoted to Patience, stayed behind. Sweetie whinnied as patience ran from Gary again and again. She is a real 'patient-tryer' if there is such a word. She's a stinker for sure.

The driveway is gravel with ditches and very uneven. Sweetie could trip and fall, she has lost her balance out there before. That's why the gate is closed. If Sweetie does fall, it takes people, a tractor and a sling to get her up again. her old body isn't working the way it used to but she gets around great, she just doesn't get up.

As Gary coaxed Patience back down toward the gate, I stood at the gate waiting to open it to let Patience in and not let Sweetie out. Patience came running in and Sweetie turned and ran up the hill toward the house. I headed to open the gate and drive away in the van I borrowed. I turned to see Sweetie running fast to keep up with Patience. Just then, she stumbled, landed on her face then fell over on the side of her face and neck. She was going so fast, her back end flew over her head. It is hard to describe but she couldn't move at all. It was a horrible position. She couldn't breath because her body was crushing her head. I have only seen a horse in that position in a rodeo video. It was a broken neck. I was afraid she would not be able to walk again. Would this be Sweetie's last day?

I was running up the hill towards her screaming as loud as I could. I had to get the weight off of her head. Gary was at the top of the driveway but he heard the screaming. He said it was blood curdling. He turned around and came back to help. Roger the volunteer who stayed at the farm while I was gone, was in back of the house near his trailer. I kept on screaming even after I reached Sweetie. I had her back legs in my arms trying to push her body off of her neck. I pushed and pushed to get the weight off of her head. Roger came running as I was still screaming. We finally got her lying down. I was so afraid she broke her neck. I moved her legs and didn't get much resistance. I think she was in shock. God knows I was! Roger ran to the barn and got a tent. We needed to keep Sweetie out of the sun. It was so hot and humid. Sweetie has Anhydrosis. She doesn't sweat. She was already panting pretty hard. I wet her neck and face but I didn't want to wet the Georgia clay too much. I thought about the tractor slipping down the hill. We needed no more mishaps. There is a balance of decisions to be made at a time like this.

Roger called 911. The Fire Dept has a large animal rescue unit with a sling! We have gotten her up many times with a sling but I wasn't sure she'd be able to stand or walk this time. I don't know what damage was done. I can only imagine. I called 3 vets, they were all busy and it would take a few hours to get here. We decided to try and get her up when the firemen arrive. It was a miracle but she got up and walked within minutes. So far she seems to be doing well. Damage can show up days later. So far, so good. Every day is a blessing.

Now I am ready to leave, again, and return the van. Lucky my rescue friend who let me borrow it is patient. On my way there, I saw a chicken that fell from a chicken truck. I turned around and couldn't find her. I just saw her, I know she's there. I was near my sister's farm. I picked her up and we drove back and found the poor chicken. She was over heated and panting hard. We put her in the air conditioning hoping to stabilize her but she died about 2 hours later.

Yes, I am back.