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!

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.

The Borrowed Sling...bad timing.

We need our own sling.

We can make one.

A sling at a horse rescue is a necessity, really. A sling is also expensive so we don't have one. Thanks to Lori at another Georgia horse rescue, Sunkissed Acres, we had one for a few months. She had one donated and needed it for a downed foal but with great care the foal is up and strong. Lori loaned the sling to us and we really used it. Our 33 year old mare, Sweetie falls or lays down and need help getting up. Once up, she is off and moving just fine. It's the getting up she has a problem with.

Today, Lori called and needs to sling. Tomorrow I am leaving town for a week to visit my elderly relatives and I have volunteers taking care of the farm and checking on Sweetie. The first thing every morning about 6:30, I check to make sure she is up and the last thing at night, about 11 pm, I check on Sweetie. She does consume me sometimes but she is a wonderful horse that gave happiness to so many. She was Cohutta Highlanders Pony Club horse of the year. She evented at Kentucky Horse Park, competed in dressage, games, Eventing and trail riding. She taught so many children to ride and took care of each child who rode her, including my own child! Though Sweetie has never had her own foal, she has raised a few with much love. I am happy to honor her. I am honored to help her. Our wonderful volunteers feel the same way.

The timing is bad because we may need to sling and we don't have one available. We do have some improvised straps that would be used if she goes down or we can call the Milton Fire Dept because they have a donated sling as well. They have used it to save many horses. They are really horse heroes!

I am going to work on getting what we need to make a sling ourselves. The pictures are of the parts of the sling. I know someone knows where and how to make it for less than the $1500. is costs to buy. Put on your thinking caps, please, and help us get our own sling. It will be used well!

http://www.savethehorses.org/

Happy Endings!

Cortez started his life with someone who wanted to own a horse. As time went on, the owner moved and left Cortez behind. The neighbors cared for him for a while but no one felt Cortez was their horse. Somehow, Cortez injured his neck. He just missed his jugular vein which would have been fatal. That injury gave him a chance to have a new life when a caring neighbor called and asked us to take him.

We picked him up and brought him to the rescue farm. The veterinarian gave him a clean bill of health while we continued to treat his wound until it completely healed. Cortez gained weight, muscle and training to be ready for adoption. He also loved treats a little too much. He became nippy so no treats by hand were allowed to be given to Cortez. We didn't want to to create a 'monster', we wanted to make Cortez a great best friend for the right person. He was still given treats but they were placed in his feed bucket instead of fed by hand. He slowly was worked to do some saddle work and he took to it without a problem. He is very willing to please and is very trusting.

A lady who lost her horse 10 years ago felt ready to finally get herself a new friend. After spending some time with Cortez, she knew he was the one! Cortez left for his new home yesterday. He is with a family of trail riders. He is going to be happy and his new 'Mom' will be happy, too. All the volunteers and supporter of SaveTheHorses make stories like this happen. Thank you all so much.

Don't you love happy endings?