Babes in Need Bonnie and Sassy

I received an email from a former volunteer who lives in Illinois now. She said some Nurse Mare Foals in Florida need help ASAP. A rescue in Florida, Beauty's Haven Farm, agreed to take the foals when the person who runs the farm 'rents' the mares out.

Sounds odd? It isn't as odd as we think. There are people who breed expensive horses, maybe to race or horse show. They want to breed their mare and get her back into competition ASAP. When their expensive baby is born, the 'rent' a wet mare (nursing mare) to take over feeding and raising the expensive baby. This is what a nurse mare farm does. They breed mares, any mares to any stallion because the foal has no value. They breed for the mares and her milk so she can be 'rented' to raise the expensive baby. What happens to the foal born to the nurse mare? It can starve, die, be shot, no one really cares much in the nurse mare business.

Beauty's Haven agreed to help the 3 foals but had no room. I have a great foster home in Milton, FL, Patty, who was very willing to take all 3 babies. We just needed to raise money to transport them the 6 hour trip to the Panhandle. Double B equine transport gave us a good price on $400. We split the costs with Beauty's Haven. Rescues working together get more done. While waiting for the blood test to be done, one of the foals found a home. We now have Bonnie, who is a 4 month old Draft cross and Sassy who is an Appendix Quarter Horse/Thoroughbred cross.

Look at those faces. They deserve to have good homes, long lives and gentle humans in their lives. They may come to our Georgia farm if they don't find homes in Florida.

Thank you for all your continued support. This is how we continue to help horses in need. You are their angels.

Yes, More New Arrivals.

Beautiful Dun Mare and her Mule colt, new arrivals.

I really didn't want to do it. I am struggling to care for all the horses here at the rescue farm and at our North Georgia location. Our grass is gone, hay prices are going up and I lay awake worrying about the future. So when someone sent me a Craigslist ad from Statesboro Georgia, I ignored it, almost.

Well, it was not just a mare but it was her 2 month old baby. It tugged at my heart so I opened the ad and I say a very malnourished mare and her cute little baby mule. OK Statesboro is a 4 hour trip, one way! I know without much help here lately, I can't leave for a whole day. I posted the ad to my SaveTheHorses.org page on Facebook. Someone said they could foster and many even adopt the mom once the baby was weaned and they lived in South Georgia and they could possibly transport. Things were starting to look good. Now I have a foster home who can pick up the horses and keep them a while. I called the owner from the ad. he said the mare is getting in fights with the other mare, most likely to protect her baby, and is going through the barbed wire fencing. He wanted her out of their and fast. He said if she wasn't sold by Friday, she and baby would be at auction on Saturday. Now the pressure was on me. Can I get this done? Do I have all my ducks in a row? I think so. The owner and I agreed on a price of $150. The price between life and death for these two innocent victims.

I sent the money through paypal so the owner would have it and know I am serious and will get his 'problem' mare and foal out of there. he said he'd give me a few days to move them but not too long. After all, horses fighting where there is barbed wire is a problem. I contacted the possible foster home and was told it was not possible to pick up the horses. WHAT? Wait, I am 4 hours away, they need to get out ASAP and I need Plan B which I didn't have. Sit down, take a breath, now think....

OK Who has a truck and trailer and time? I asked a few people and get a 'yes, I can' from a great friends daughter. Of course, a pony clubber who loves horses and it a horse whisperer. Brigitte headed out of the trip with another great young volunteer, Nicholas. They managed to get there and back before dark . That was another $200. in gas but money well spent. I am sure you agree. The mare and foal have been happy to have room to run and get regular meals. I may have a good home lined up too.

Just in a day's work here at the horse rescue.

Thank you for all your support. We couldn't do it without you.

Lobo

Gwinnett County Animal Control went out an animal abuse call and found several malnourished dogs and one malnourished horse, too. They confiscated them all. After they were awarded custody after the court case, the needed a place to send Lobo so he would get the love and care he needs to gain weight, recover from neglect and maybe find a forever home.

We don't get many calls from people asking for older, neglected horses especially one like Lobo, who has an incontinence problem. We have to hose his legs, dry them then slather Vaseline on his legs so the urine won't scald his skin. This isn't the first horse we have had with this problem. We are OK with any problem. We just take a little extra time to love on him. Maybe some good hearted person will be happy to have Lobo live out his life on their farm. If not, he can stay here forever. It would be a great help if someone would like to help by sponsoring him. It costs us about $300. a month to keep a horse plus special needs or supplements, farrier, vet care. Even a $5. a month promise will be a big help. It can buy a bale of hay.

Lobo looks like a Saddlebred horse. He is about 28 years old and so very sweet. Come and meet him, groom him and he will steal your heart. Gwinnett County Animal Control delivered him here only a few days ago. He needs lots of good friends like you, kind humans. He needs to know there will always be a next meal and hay to eat. That's what we do!