Rescue Ramblings

Introducing: GOTTA GETTA GATOR!

2012-01-27T11:39:00.012-05:00

Starting February 1st, 2012 We will be raffling off a Brand New, 2012 John Deere 825i Gator! Known as the "Super Gator". It has a Winch, Hard Top, Extreme Terrain Tires, Electric Dump and a Windshield. Tickets are 50.00 each. You do not need to be present to win. You do have to be 18 or older to enter.

All proceeds benefit Save The Horses (www.savethehorses.org) and Canine Adoption Network (canineadoptionnetwork.org)

To get your ticket, You can mail a check or money order to:

Gator Raffle
c/o Canine Adoption Network
1000 Old Canton Rd
Ball Ground, Ga 30107

Please include a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope, name and phone number, so we can send your ticket to you.

Make checks payable to: Save The Horses. Winner will be drawn May 6th, 2012 at our Polo Event at Chukkar Farms.

Chukkar Farm Polo Club & Event Facility

1140 Liberty Grove Road

Alpharetta, GA 30004

Winner of the Gator will be responsible for picking up the Gator and taking it home.

We can't save them all,,, or can we?

2011-02-22T12:38:00.000-05:00

This won't be a very popular post,, but it IS something we all, as rescuers, are going to have to face sooner or later. It looks like the time is looming upon us.

The Slaughter debate is an ongoing issue. We, as rescuers, have stated that slaughter is inhumane and that there are other ways of dealing with the homeless horses in America. (Sorry, I refuse to use the term "Unwanted" horses, no such thing) There ARE other options available. There are sooo many horses right now without homes and being neglected and abused. We CANNOT find homes for all of them. Rescues are full and still, more horses in need of help everyday. In just the past month we have had:

1. 100 Appaloosas in Mississippi being neglected and looking for homes.
2. 50 donkeys in need of a new home
3. 7 Horses in Atlanta going to the auction
4. 80 horses in WV seized by the state and heading to auction.
5. 30 more in WV being starved

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are even more horses at every auction in America. There are more horses out there that nobody has discovered yet, starving in a field somewhere. The pro-slaughter people are already using the fact that rescues are full as another excuse to keep slaughter legal. Now is the time, as rescuers, to put up or shut up. We need to show the pro slaughter people, our Government and everyone else even considering to support slaughter that there are other, viable solutions.

No, we cannot save them all and find them wonderful homes, but we CAN offer them a humane end. Yes, I am talking about Euthanasia.

I would like to see every rescue out there host a Euthanasia clinic. It will be heart wrenching and one of the most difficult things you've ever done, but you are giving these horses that face an uncertain future, a humane ending to life. Horses that may end up in a slaughterhouse in Canada or Mexico, or standing in a field somewhere, starving to death because the owners can no longer afford to feed them and cannot or will not pay a vet to put them down humanely.

Stop "Rescuing" horses from Euthanasia. If an owner is advertising that their horse will be euthanized if they can't find him a new home, or they want to euthanize the horse due to an injury, if you truly want to help that horse, offer to help pay the vet fee. Euthanasia is preferred over slaughter, we have been saying that for years now. To "Rescue" a horse from euthanasia is contradicting that statement.

We have to be willing to show the country that we, as rescuers, are willing to stand behind what we believe in. We believe that slaughter is inhumane and that euthanasia is a viable alternative. If we keep on attempting to find ALL of these horses homes, we WILL fail, we are already failing. We cannot take in and find wonderful homes for all the horses in need. Deep down inside, we all know this to be true.

I'm not the greatest writer in the world and sometimes I can come across as being harsh, for that I apologize. What I won't apologize for, is that I am a realist. I don't look at the world through rose colored glasses and I expect the worst from people, rarely do they disappoint me.

This statement needed to be said. We all know that it would come to this sooner or later. If we all stand back and just say "Sorry, we are full, can't help any more horses" then the pro slaughter people win. We CAN help more horses, we just have to be willing to do,, and admit to it being,, the right thing...

Libby Deemer

"Hail Marey"

2011-02-10T19:45:00.000-05:00

Say Hello to Hip #576, now known as "Hail Marey". We weren't going to pull any more horses from the auction in NJ, but this picture was posted on my facebook wall this morning and I had to help her. Wouldn't you?

We were going to Quarantine her in NC, but due to her condition, we decided it would be best, for now, for her to stay closer to the auction so she can R&R for awhile. So we are putting her in Quarantine for 30 days at JNL Pocono Stables in Pa. We have heard wonderful things about them. And they will take great care of "Hail Marey".

If you'd like to donate towards Hail Marey's care,, our paypal is horseinc@aol.com

Not slaughtering horses is financially smart

2011-01-28T12:31:00.001-05:00

Keeping these horses alive keeps these horses contributing to the commercial horse industry.

When hay is bought, when vets treat, when trainers train, when facilities are repaired, when tack and medications are purchased, all of this is adding TO the economy, whereas slaughter takes away.

It's better for the commercial horse industry to keep these horses alive with their owners in this economy than it is to let them to be forced into giving them up and to let killers haul them to Canada or Mexico to "dispose" of them, or to build a new slaughterhouse in the US.

Terry W.

December, 2010
By Allen Warren – Horse Harbor Foundation, Inc.
Poulsbo, Washington

IN COLLABORATION WITH THE FOLLOWING LEADING EQUINE RESCUE SANCTUARY OPERATORS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES: Jerry Finch, Habitat for Horses, Texas; Hilary Wood, Front Range Equine Rescue, Colorado; Grace Belcuore, California Equine Retirement Foundation, California; Teresa Paradis, Live & Let Live Farm, New Hampshire; Katie Merwick, Second Chance Ranch, Washington, and Melanie Higdon, Hidden Springs Equine Rescue, Florida.

THERE IS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO THE CONTINUED SLAUGHTER OF U.S. HORSES IF THE COMMERCIAL EQUINE INDUSTRY PARTICIPATES
According to its proponents, if the slaughter of America's displaced horses in Canada and Mexico were to be halted tomorrow, there would be approximately 100,000 needing to be dealt with each year by alternative means which they claim do not exist today.

Those that would continue the practice of disposing of these companion animals, never bred or raised to be part of the food chain, and that totals only about 1% of the total U.S. population of horses each year, argue that equine slaughter for human consumption abroad is the only economical way to handle what they call the "unwanted" horse problem.

The purpose of this paper is to prove that not only does an alternative already exist, but that it can be quickly expanded to accommodate America's not unwanted but displaced horses if the commercial equine industry will stop using slaughter as a dumping ground for its byproduct and participate in providing for the true welfare of the animals upon which its businesses are based.

Elimination of horse slaughter would also remove the present incentive for bad equine husbandry and therefore reduce the number of displaced horses in itself by the simple laws of supply and demand, and also serve to improve the quality of all breeds.

That total of 100,000 horses sounds overwhelming until broken down by the number in the pipeline at any one point in time, and that is the factor that makes the alternative viable.

One hundred thousand horses annually translates to 8,333 per month. Divide this number by the 48 contiguous states these horses are found in and the average is only 174 per month per state. Broken down even further into the weekly cycle of livestock auctions and the number of horses that actually must be dealt with at any one point in time is on average only about 40 per week in each state.

The ultimate solution for homeless horses is to reduce this number dramatically through more responsible breeding practices, a massive public education effort to make both current and potential owners aware of their lifelong responsibility to companion animals that can live 30 years and other measures. However, a viable interim alternative for re-homing displaced horses does exist today if the commercial equine industry and the horse rescue sanctuary community join forces instead of battling over this issue.

It is indeed a sad state of affairs that all over the country equine rescuers are being forced to bid against kill buyers to save horses, using financial resources that could better be used for expanding and caring for those in their sanctuaries and foster home networks. These are supported almost entirely by charity with virtually no help from the $102 billion a year industry from which the problem stems.
Proponents of equine slaughter claim that the nation's horse rescue sanctuary resource is inadequate to handle displaced and neglected horses and many are even trying to revive equine slaughter in the United States based on this premise.

The fact is that leading equine rescue sanctuary operators across the country have developed innovative new programs since the recession began in 2008 to save more horses than ever displaced by the economy. This places them in a unique position today to immediately play a major role in re-homing and caring for the country’s displaced horse population at this time, thus eliminating the perceived need for equine slaughter while long term measures are implemented to reduce the numbers needing re-homing in the future.
Another myth being perpetuated at the moment by those who do or would profit from equine slaughter is that the nation's equine sanctuary resource is at capacity due to the current economy and therefore there is no place for homeless horses to go other than slaughter. The simple fact is that rescue sanctuaries are and always have been at capacity. When a space opens up either to adoption or loss of a horse due to natural death or euthanasia brought about for medical reasons, another immediately takes it place. That is the way they have always operated.

Programs such as in-place rescue, in which dedicated but financially challenged horse owners are provided direct aid to keep their animals in safe homes, have prevented thousands from being neglected or displaced already and these efforts are being expanded. The innovative Oregon Hay Bank program, created and operated by horse rescuers, has kept 800 horses in their current homes since January 2009 in that state alone.

A recent survey by the National Equine Resource Network revealed that about 20 per cent of all rescue sanctuaries responding have similar feeding programs in place in their areas of operation across the country, effectively doubling and tripling their actual resident capacity since every horse that doesn't need to be rescued provides a space for one that does.

Further, the population of horses in sanctuaries is in constant flux, with openings occurring on a regular basis. A recent study by the University of California Davis indicates that four out every five horses that are taken in by rescue sanctuaries are then adopted out to new private owners, creating a constant stream of openings for more needing re-homing.

A national pilot program, funded by a private donor, is already in place this winter in which 1,000 horses are targeted for in-place rescue with aid to qualified owners ranging from hay and feed, farrier and vet services and even facility repair when safety or containment are a factor. A total of $200,000 has been provided to selected rescue sanctuaries around the country for this equine crisis intervention program, and that translates to an investment of only $200 per horse on average to keep these horses in their current homes and out of the displaced population.

All America's horse rescue community needs to provide a viable alternative to slaughter is the financial support of the equine industry itself, and a simple way to provide this is to add a long-term care and re-homing surcharge to the fee for every horse being registered in the country each year.

The various U.S. breed registries add approximately 500,000 horses to their rolls each year, and a surcharge of $25 (Which could be viewed as a one-time long-term care insurance premium for these animals) would provide $12,500,000 annually toward making sure they never suffer the horrors of the slaughter house. And this would cost the registries nothing because the cost is passed along to the end consumer, the horse owner.

Since all breed registries have in their mission statements that they are dedicated to the welfare of their horses, this is a much more moral and ethical way to honor those commitments and would unquestionably resonate well with their ultimate constituency, individual horse owners themselves. If the funds being used for lobbying by the major breed organizations today to keep slaughter are redirected to re-homing and long term care when necessary instead, it would add millions more to this effort.
A SIX - POINT PLAN TO ELIMINATE THE SLAUGHTER OF AMERICA'S HORSES
The following programs are not theoretical, but have already been developed and implemented by the country's equine rescue community, and if expanded by funding from the industry, can eliminate the perceived need to send our horses off to slaughter for human consumption abroad in a relatively short period of time.

1. The creation of state and regional managed reserves to hold large numbers of horses safely until they can be absorbed back into the system. HSUS has already established two of these as a model and the cost for quartering and properly caring for each horse is miniscule compared to those on smaller sanctuaries. These can be established and operated by existing rescue organizations in each state working cooperatively and sharing the facility. Since much of America's farm and ranch land lies fallow at this time and many states have provisions for taking those dedicated to animal sanctuaries off the tax rolls, land owners will have the incentive to donate the use of these on long-term lease arrangements, thus minimizing the cost of establishing them.

2. Selected expansion of existing sanctuary capacity for rescues that establish business plans allowing them to accommodate and care for additional horses in their operations if more facility space is provided. Already many leading sanctuary operators around the country have expanded their rescue herds to deal with the crisis caused by the economy, and many more could if provided with the necessary funds to do so. Simply stated, if sanctuaries are at capacity, make them larger so they can accept more horses.

3. Expand existing and develop new sponsored foster home networks in which rescued horses are placed and supported with private individuals who have the facility and desire to keep horses, but are financially unable to. Interestingly, the economy has created more candidates for this than ever before as owners have had to give up their own horses, but still have the facility to provide a home for those owned by nonprofit sanctuaries. The largest pure equine sanctuary in the country today has the majority of its rescued horses placed in foster homes in three states and many others have these on a smaller scale, so the experience and expertise for helping other sanctuary operators develop them quickly is already in place. The cost for keeping a horse in a foster home is a fraction of that for one quartered on a sanctuary itself since there is no fixed overhead expense.

4. Expand the concept of in-place rescue to keep more horses with dedicated and committed owners in their current homes with temporary financial or feeding assistance. Currently there is a nationwide pilot program in place, privately funded, in which a small number of selected nonprofit sanctuaries provide local horse owners who qualify with financial assistance for feeding, minor vet procedures, farrier work and other equine needs if they agree to a sustainability plan to keep their horses. This is considered a hand up, not a hand out and the goal of this program is to keep 1,000 horses in their current homes this winter. The investment to do this average only $200 per horse and this program can be rapidly expanded nationwide since the mechanics are already in place. Still another established program is emergency feeding assistance efforts being carried out throughout the country. The Oregon Hay Bank was mentioned earlier and there are many smaller ones operated by rescue sanctuaries themselves. With funding from the equine industry these efforts can be expanded immediately and directly benefit its end consumer, the private horse owner.

5. The creation of state and regional training centers and networks, in which younger, healthier horses, which represent most of those going to slaughter today, can receive the training they need to lead productive lives and therefore be much more eligible for adoption to new homes. This can be based on the existing T.R.O.T.T. program for off-the-track Thoroughbreds which has been successfully implemented in California and the various mustang training competitions designed to make wild horses more adoptable. Again, there is nothing to invent in a program such as this, there are models already in place. Although some rescue sanctuary operators have the ability to train the younger, healthier horses being saved today, having this availability for those who do not would make many more of the horses in their herds adoptable, thus creating openings for more displaced horses. Also placing rescued horses in centers or with private trainers in these networks would provide temporary quartering for them, further alleviating the strain on the sanctuaries themselves.

6. A relatively new development in equine rescue, a growing network of sanctuary operators who work together to place horses they cannot accept themselves, has saved literally thousands of horses in the past two years. An informal regional group of only 11 in the Pacific Northwest has been able to place over 400 by posting horses needing new homes and sharing information. The establishment this year of the National Equine Resource Network provides a vehicle for not only creating and formalizing a national placement network, but also can be a resource for effectively distributing funding from the industry as envisioned in this paper. Currently there are two individuals who post horses daily needing re-homing that are listed directly or on various websites, and their records more than anything else belie the claim that only unwanted horses go to slaughter. The owners posting the vast majority of these horses have found themselves unable to keep them due to unemployment and other reasons created by the economy and are desperate to find them new homes to avoid slaughter for their beloved animals.

CONCLUSION
There is an almost immediate and viable alternative to the continued slaughter of America's displaced and homeless horses. It will require the country's commercial equine industry and horse rescue sanctuary operators to join forces, with rescuers taking on the task of implementing the programs described above and others, and the industry accepting financial responsibility for its byproduct. It's first and foremost about the welfare of the horses. There can be no debate that the plan offered here is much more humane than slaughter in terms of their welfare. Public sentiment is overwhelmingly against equine slaughter. Every true horseman, no matter what their position on the issue today, would like to see it end. In one way or another, it will either through legislation banning it or economic conditions such as the new regulations imposed on horse meat in Europe decimating the market. Now is the perfect time to act proactively and find a solution that works for all concerned, especially for our horses.

What do we do?

2010-12-31T23:28:00.000-05:00

A lot of people have written to me and asked about some of our policies. So, instead of giving you form answers, I'm just going to talk to you about some of the things we do, we believe in and what we don't do or believe in.

Our adoption contract protects the horse, not us, not you, the horse. It allows us to physically check on the horse whenever we want to. We retain ownership of the horse always. This protects the horse from being given away or sold at auction. You can't give away or sell (legally) something that does not belong to you.

We will not rescue a horse from euthanasia. With as many horses there are needing homes, we don't feel that euthanasia is a horrible thing, as long as it's being done by a vet, humanely.

We don't just take in healthy, rideable horses. We believe that no ONE life is any better than the next. Why is that warmblood gelding's life worth any more than our 24 year old arthritic, blind in one eye, Appaloosa? They are both alive, they both feel pain, fear, confusion and love. Some people believe that you can't be a good rescue if you don't have a lot of sound, rideable horses for adoption. My answer to that is, if all you take in are sound, rideable horses, then exactly why did you get into rescue? If the old mare from last Monday's auction, who had a broken hip, broken leg and nobody wanted, wasn't considered a "Rescue", Then I don't know what is!

The dictionary defines rescue as follows:

"Recovery or preservation from loss or danger"
"The act of rescuing; deliverance from restraint, violence, or danger; liberation".

I used to run a Nurse Mare Foal program. When we had to give that up, I tried to get other NMF rescues to work with the farmer I dealt with. They all refused. Why? Because the farmer I dealt with didn't have paints, he didn't take care of his foals, his foals were sick a lot. That's the very reason I worked with him,,HIS foals needed the rescue! It was all about their "Marketing Potential" with these other people, and that just makes me sick!

We do not adopt out on a first come, first serve basis. We want the best home for the HORSE.
We don't allow breeding of any of our horses, for any reason.Stallions will be gelded before leaving our property. We don't adopt out to homes that have barbed wire fencing. We will not adopt to anyone that has too many horses on not enough acreage. Two acres for the first horse and an acre for every horse after that.
We check references, call Vets and do home visits.

I know there is a lot of stuff I haven't mentioned, but if you have a question, feel free to ask. You can email me at foalfan@yahoo.com or simply just comment below.

Happy New Year!

The "Bernice" Project- Heartbreaking night in Tennessee

2010-12-29T18:41:00.000-05:00

This mare was well over 30 years old. She came into the auction with a companion, a gelding about as old, and in almost as bad of shape. He was purchased by a kindly couple who wanted to rehabilitate him. The auction owner offered the coupl...e the mare, but her condition was too much for them to handle, so they refused.It was obvious this mare had been living with her injuries for a long time. Reagan, stepped up and offered to take her, knowing she would have to help this mare end her suffering. This poor mare was in so much pain and now she had lost her lifelong companion. I am glad her pain has ended now. Rest In Peace Bernice.

Now, I named her "Bernice" because the Founder and President of our rescue, Cheryl Flanagan, has had a recent tragedy in her life. Her brother-in-law was in a horrible car accident and is in critical condition. I pray that he has as strong a will to survive as "Bernice" did. Cheryl's brother-in-laws name is "Bernie".

From here on out, Our efforts at this auction will be known as the "Bernice Project".

Please send your thoughts and prayers to Cheryl and her family.

Yet More Horses From Tennessee

2010-12-23T22:27:00.000-05:00

This is a picture of an injury under one of the horse's Jaw.

A woman I know went to an auction house in Tennessee today and found, what we believe, is the remaining ten horses from a group of 15 horses that were emaciated and standing in a field. One horse was too weak to get up and a foal lay dead.

Police came and informed the owners of the dead horse and it was removed. The next day, a woman went to take more pictures and the horses were gone. We believe the owners panicked when the police showed up at their door and got rid of the horses. They took them to the nearest neighboring town's auction.

We are purchasing the remaining ten horses. One horse has an abscess above it's eye and it is threatening to push the eye out of it's socket. Another (Pictured) has an injury under it's jaw that has become infected. We were told it was an injury, maybe it's strangles, we don't know yet.

We need your help. These horses are going to need intensive rehabilitation, vet care, farrier, feed and hay. Can you help us, help them?

You can go to our site at www.savethehorses.org/donate or our paypal is horseinc@aol.com

Here are the pics from the day these horses were originally found: Warning, graphic pictures!

This one was too weak to even get up.

This one was just a baby. Didn't even get the chance to experience anything except neglect and cruelty in it's short life.

Can you help us make a happy ending for the rest of the horses?

All they want for Christmas is a New Home!

What a Jerk!

2010-12-19T08:49:00.000-05:00

I'm not going to mention any names here. But I do have to write this story, simply because I cannot believe how one person can be so arrogant. Here is what happened:

I called a transporter yesterday to get a quote. His quote was more expensive than any others I have ever talked to. He was traveling to South Carolina, but didn't want to drive one state further into Georgia. I told him I'd call him back. I tried to find someone else going into Georgia, but couldn't. So I made plans to drop the horse off in NC at a foster home, to be picked up later. I called the transporter back to get a quote to NC. He told me to figure it out myself. I said I would and call him back again. He said that he wouldn't be back home until 3 or 4 pm.

So I figured it out, it was 711.00 to NC. I did text him and say we would take the ride,, however, two hours later, I called him back and told him I had found someone else. I had sent no deposit, no money whatsoever.

He called me later that afternoon and told me not to bother EVER contacting him again because he had reserved a spot for our horse and someone else could have taken that spot. I asked how we could have had a spot in reserve, since we sent no money whatsoever, and he stated that he didn't get paid until he delivered.

Now, I don't know about you, but I have never booked transport for a horse and didn't have to at least pay a deposit up front. I have never used this transporter before and when I talked with him earlier in the day, he never mentioned any of this,, so I was supposed to be psychic?

This guy was arrogant and very unprofessional. Even went so far as to state that All other transporters drove nothing but junk.

And yet, he was worried that we may contact him again sometime in the future!

Our "Wounded Warrior"

2010-12-14T18:48:00.000-05:00

Ez Breeze fell into a ravine and needed the help of many people, including the fire department to get him out. It turns out that among many cuts and bruises, Ez broke his jaw.

EZ Breeze was slowly recovering from his tragic fall into the ravine. Lisa was coming daily to help with he swelling therapy. Alisa was coming when she wasn't at work to give him love and comfort and everyone shared time caring for his needs. By Sunday night, the swelling was down enough for Dr Amanda to get a good xray. It showed he had broken fragments in his jaw on the left side of his face. The best thing to do was to remove as much as we can as soon as we can. Tuesday was slated for the surgery.

The surgery was a success and many large fragments of bone were removed. Ez is recovering slowly but surely. We could use some assistance with his ongoing vet care. So, if you have it in your heart to give this Holiday Season, could you please contribute to Ez? Just click below on the button that says "ChipIn". It's through paypal, so your donation will be secure. Thank you and Happy Holidays!

Cafe Press Shop Now Open!

2010-12-11T22:13:00.000-05:00

You can now shop at our new Cafe Press store and with every purchase, a portion of the proceeds goes to the horses in our program. "Horse Rescue Relief and Retirement Fund Inc" in Cumming, Ga. www.savethehorses.org

We even have iPhone covers in different colors and styles. So get some Christmas shopping done today AND help out our horses at the same time!

Just click on the title of this post or here >> Shop Now

We're Here To Love

2010-12-11T08:19:00.000-05:00

http://nickolesphotography.wordpress.com/2010/12/10/were-here-to-love/

I'm going on a rant!

2010-12-09T22:59:00.000-05:00

This is an old picture, but it has to do with what I am about to talk about. You see the skin missing from this poor babies face? Well, it's missing because the owner of the Nurse mare farm he used to live on, allowed a chemical company come in and test their products on the foals! This one had a bug spray sprayed on him and it burned his skin off! (He is healed and grown and in a wonderful home now!) But what the HELL is wrong with people?

Everyday I see old horses dumped at auctions. They worked their whole life for their people and what is their reward? Sitting in a kill pen, waiting on the slaughter truck.
I say, no more! If you are against the slaughter of horses, you have to stand up for what you believe in. Take a stand people and shout "NO MORE"! Here are just a few things you can do.

1. Ask your vet what his stand on horse slaughter is. If he/she says she is for it, find another vet and TELL your vet why you are seeking someone else.
2. Does your child attend a riding camp? If so, find out what they do with their horses at the end of the season. A lot of them send their horses to auction, and just buy new ones the following season.
3. Dude Ranches- If you plan on vacationing at a dude ranch, find out what they do with their horses come winter, they also send them to auction come winter and buy new ones the following season. Not all, but a lot of them.
If the Dude Ranch or Riding camp do send their horses to auction,, don't give them your business. By giving them your business, you are keeping them in business and more horses suffer.

Stop throwing your money at Shady rescue scams. Get references, TALK to people. I don't care how sweet someone may seem,, there's an "Artist" in "Con Artist" for a reason, they are good at what they do. If you donated money to help an organization rescue a particular horse, demand an update, picture, address of where that horse is. You have the right to see what happened to the money you sent, what it went towards. If they refuse, or can't tell you,, report them. Report them to everyone, even the Better Business Bureau. If you sent your donation via regular mail, contact the postmaster general, that's mail fraud.

Recently, I saw a video of some mustangs in a BLM round up. The horses were skinny and didn't look well. Everyone was saying "Well, it's a good thing they got rounded up or they wouldn't have lasted the winter." NO!!! You cannot say this was a good thing. If you are protesting the round up of the mustangs, you cannot be on both sides of the fence. Perhaps these horses might not have made it through the winter, but they are wild horses, if they die during the winter, THAT is natural selection, not dying on a penned up area with a broken neck from charging the fence. Sad? Yes, but in the wild, it's survival of the fittest.

My whole point here is this: If you are against horse slaughter, animal cruelty, neglect, abuse and the round up of wild mustangs,,,you cannot waver from your stand. You have to stand up for what you believe in,,or you'll fall for anything.

I shall dub you, " Angelina Jolie"!

2010-12-08T20:36:00.000-05:00

Sold as a two year old- 80,000 dollars,, sold to us at auction-250.00 The chance to see her thrive just being a horse? Priceless!

Here is what her tattoo told us: (Thanks Jessica)

Jolie's Delight 2/6/96 Fl bred
(Jolie's Halo x Private Delight by Private Account)
16 starts 1-3-3 $39,405 (placed in Allowance races,only win was in a $30,000 maiden claimer) last raced 12/6/99...most likely blew that knee then (forgot to check the chart on that race)
Auction results:
Keen Jan mixed sale $15,000 yearling; OBS Aug Yearling sale RNA $32,000; OBS Feb 2 yr old sale $80,000; EAS Dec mixed sale 2000 in foal to Power of Mind RNA $5200

Below is a video of Jolie's daddy winning the 1991 Donn Handicap, by 8 lengths!

Auction Horses 2010

2010-12-08T04:32:00.004-05:00

Two more from auction!

2010-12-05T06:46:00.000-05:00

This is "Merlin" formerly known as Hip #622. He is a 16.2 hand quarter horse and he is blind in his right eye. He was one of the last three standing in the kill pen. He will now be available for adoption. He is rideable, fairly young, but he doesn't like anyone approaching him on his blind side. His being blind in that eye is new to him and he just needs time to adjust.

This lovely TB mare was also at the same auction. She is not sound at the moment, but I'm sure, pending evaluation, with some rest and relaxation she'll be good as new. Supposed to be trained to ride. She is about 15 years old. She will also be available for adoption.
You can inquire about adopting either of these horses at www.savethehorses.org

"Cumming 30"

2010-12-03T05:15:00.001-05:00

This horse is just one of 30 that showed up one day across the street from our rescue. They came from a man that purchased them at a Tenn auction and he intended to send them to slaughter. The man agreed to allow people to purchase these horses for 75.00 a piece. Quite a few sold in the first few days and our rescue "Horse Rescue Relief and Retirement Fund Inc" or www.savethehorses.org will purchase all remaining horses.

In the meantime, we are paying to feed these horses, we have had our vet out to look them over, we put out mineral blocks, grain and are bringing in round bales of hay.

If you can contribute to the cost of caring for these horses,,the horses (and us) will be most grateful!

You can donate through our paypal horseinc@aol.com or you can go to our website www.savethehorses.org/donate Please mark your donations as being for the "Cumming 30".

Thank you!

Update: Soldier and Sergeant are in their Foster Homes!

2010-11-11T21:02:00.003-05:00

We need $300.50 to bail him out of the kill pen.

This is Sergeant. He is a 16.2 hand Belgian. He came straight from working, to the auction. He worked hard all his life and was, just like "Soldier" below,, Thrown Away.

Sergeant can ride and drive. He is about 15 years old and still has plenty of love to give. He's a real sweet guy!
If you would like to help Sergeant or his friend Soldier, please go to www.savethehorses.org/donate
You'll be glad you did!

Help a "Soldier" out on Veteran's Day!!

2010-11-11T15:51:00.003-05:00

"Soldier" (In honor of being rescued on Veteran's Day) would like to come home. He is safe now, his bail was raised, but we still need to get him home. We need 475.00 to get him home.

Soldier was used to ride and drive and his big crime in life was getting old. So he was thrown away. Soldier has a lot of love left to give! Wouldn't you like to be that recipient?

Soldier is a 16.2 hand Percheron Gelding.

So please, Help a "Soldier" out this Veteran's Day. Our paypal address is horseinc@aol.com or you can visit this link www.savethehorsess.org/donate

All I want for Christmas is to go home!

2010-11-10T11:21:00.000-05:00

My name is Lancelot and I am a 19 hand Belgian horse. I was saved from going to slaughter and now I'm ready to go home! I'm in a holding facility in New Jersey and I'd really like to get to my new home before Christmas. Can you help me get home?

If you can help, please send a donation to www.savethehorses.org/donate or use the paypal address horseinc@aol.com

What a Goliath!

2010-11-07T14:42:00.002-05:00

The Belgian gelding ended up being bigger than originally thought. He is NOT 17.2 hands, more like 18.3 hands. The pic isn't great, but the woman in it is 5'2" and you can't even see the top of his withers. He is a gentle giant though. He thinks he is a miniature!

He is currently in a Temporary holding facility in NJ. His transport cost will be 475.00. If you'd like to help by donating towards his transport costs, please visit this link : www.savethehorses.org/donate or the paypal address is horseinc@aol.com Thank you!

Zenyatta!!! Worth The Wait!

2010-11-06T20:01:00.001-04:00

Zenyatta is 6 years old won 19 consecutive races, lost the breeder's cup by a nose. However, she came from dead last to second place in a big hurry!
My hat is off to her owners and her trainer who waited until she was 4 years old to start racing her. Her trainer was quoted as saying "She wasn't ready until then." Truer words were never spoken. No horse is ready to be racing at two. They shouldn't even be ridden at a walk at two years old.

Zenyatta is living proof that waiting and letting the horse mature properly can be very rewarding. She has proven that she was "Worth The Wait".

Update! The Belgian Mare is Safe!!!!

2010-11-04T16:18:00.002-04:00

The lovely Guinevere is on her way home as I type. Thanks to all those who donated and sent kind thoughts and prayers.

NOW you know winter is upon us!

2010-11-04T09:10:00.002-04:00

People don't want the added expense of feeding their horses over the winter, and are dumping them.

http://nashville.craigslist.org/grd/2039175619.html

They are giving away 60 horses!

No Such Thing As An "Unwanted" Horse

2010-11-01T16:54:00.001-04:00

People ask me all the time why I work with horse rescue. Why not people? Well, my answer is this: There are so many resources and laws helping and protecting people, but not for horses.
See the mare in the picture? Look at her face, she has given up hope. Yes, you can tell this just by looking at her. I've seen that same look countless times.

Was she an unwanted horse? No! There is no such thing as an unwanted horse. At some point, some person, somewhere, bred their mare to get THIS horse. She was probably loved by somebody in her life and now she has lost that person. Stuck at an auction house, waiting to be shipped to the slaughterhouse.

Horses are not a livestock animal. People in the USA do not eat horses. We ship them in horrible conditions, to foreign countries to be slaughtered and the meat sent overseas.

This is why I rescue. These horses have no voice. However, they do have feelings,,they can feel pain, love and fear. I choose to be a voice for the horses. Won't you join your voice with mine and help stop horse slaughter?

**Note** The mare in the picture was saved and has a home.

Daily Challenge Tally

2010-11-01T11:30:00.002-04:00

We are curently at # 278 in the national rankings!

We are # 7 in the state of Georgia!

Please vote every day. Just click on the purple button in the right hand side of the blog.

Thank you for voting!