October 2010
Kate from South Jersey All Breeds Horse Rescue, New Jersey
Kate is a 19 year-old chestnut Thoroughbred mare who was rescued from a feedlot in Spring 2010. Kate was several hundred pounds underweight, covered with lice, rain rot, and sores and had a large crush injury on her right hind hoof.
Kate raced successfully, then had five foals. She was well cared for, but when her owner died, she was given away to someone who neglected and abused her.
It was soon discovered that Kate had EPM. Her symptoms were seizures, loss of balance, and staggering. Her medication alone costs approximately $800. Her improvement has been slow and steady, but she has been able to trot for the first time in months as a result.
This affectionate horse is a hit with both children and adults. Kate is now retired and needs sponsors to help with her care.
For more information on Kate and South Jersey All Breeds Horse Rescue, visit sites.google.com/site/sjabhr.
November 2010
One Money Bar (Taylor) from Crosswinds Equine Rescue, Inc., Illinois
One Money Bar, or Taylor, used to be a broodmare at a small farm in Northern Indiana. She was sold after weaning her most recent foal. Crosswinds was told that she kicked at her new owner and angered him. He chose to take out his revenge by tying her to a tree on a dog cable, providing her with only small amounts of water, and literally watching her starve to death.
Taylor was rescued in November 2008 with a body score of less than two, a puncture wound, and a badly torn hoof from trying to paw her way through the cable. The owner only spent two days in jail and didn’t even have his probation revoked (from a previous child molestation charge).
Taylor is now fit, healthy, happy, and has again learned to trust people. She is an easy keeper in excellent physical health with a glossy coat and light in her eyes. She is also now green under saddle and clearly enjoying her early riding lessons.
Taylor’s rehabilitation was long and expensive. Every dollar donated helps replenish Crosswinds' vet fund so they can help the next horse who needs it.
Taylor is now ready to move on to a new forever home. Riding photos and video can be found at www.crosswindseqresq.org/taylor.html.
For more information on Taylor and Crosswinds Equine Rescue, Inc., visit www.crosswindseqresq.org.
December 2010
Arielle from WhipStaff Ranch and Rescue, Minnesota
Arielle is a 10 year-old Arab/QH mare. When she came to WhipStaff Ranch and Rescue, she had a horrific injury to her back leg. It took over a year of rehabilitation to rebuild and strengthen the damaged tendons and broken sesamoid bone in her left hind leg.
Arielle’s former owner had lost his driver's license due to repeated DWI. He had made a bet that he could race a horse from one local bar to the next in under three minutes. He had gotten Arielle as a 4 year-old pasture mare with minimal handling.
Late on the night of July 4th, after getting drunk and shooting off fireworks with his friends, Arielle’s owner decided to play cowboy. Arielle was roped and choked down, blindfolded, and saddled. One man climbed on her and another pulled off the blindfold and smacked her- naturally, she bolted and ran through his "round pen," which was two strands of hotwire on steel posts.
When the rescue was called by a concerned neighbor, the rescue found Arielle on the ground, bleeding and still saddled with the hotwire wrapped around her leg. It was still shocking her.
Arielle could not put weight on her leg and her toe pointed at her belly. The vet was amazed she survived such a brutal assault. It took a year of bandaging, herbal supplements, and many vet bills, but today you would never know that Arielle had ever been injured. She runs like the wind.
Arielle's physical wounds have healed, but her psychological ones haven’t quite yet. She is fearful of ropes and won’t tolerate the smell of cigarettes or beer. She doesn’t like loud popping noises, such as gunshots or fireworks. That all said, she is a good girl. She is halter broke and will follow carefully beside you. She will allow you to touch her all over and pick up all four feet without being tied.
Arielle has potential to either be a pasture companion or to be ridden by a light/moderate-sized rider. She will probably not make a gaming horse or one that requires a lot of fast turns on her hindquarters. She'd probably be awesome as a trail horse.
By finding this special girl a home, the rescue can offer help to another horse like her. Arielle has never offered to kick, bite, or paw at anyone. She is well-mannered, just fearful of new situations. Arielle's adoption fee will be $250 to an approved home and she will have a no breeding contract.
For more information on Arielle and WhipStaff Ranch and Rescue, visit www.whipstaff-ranch.com.
January 2011
Taking nominations soon!
If you have or know of a rescue horse that should be Horse of the Month,
please email Diana at lunar_aradia@yahoo.com after October 1, 2010. Thank you!