HAY DAY - OCT 10 2010

HAY DAY was a fabulous event! We had a gorgeous day and plenty of people took advantage of the beautiful weather to join in on the fun. Volunteers started early in the morning taking care of the horses and assorted petting zoo residents, making sure they were fed and settled for the big day. Tents were raised, grills were started, and lunch tables and chairs were set up. By 12:30 pm, we were ready for our first visitors.

We saw over four hundred people on HAY DAY. The children were having a wonderful time getting their faces painted and visiting with the goats, pigs and sheep in our petting zoo. Tank, our mini horse in the petting area, had lots of petting and shared attention with his best friend, Peanut, the mini donkey. Dickie, our little dwarf mini also enjoyed the gentle stroking of small hands. Ducky, our lovely duck, spent the day in the water trough, allowing the kids to pet her downy feathers. The chickens raced around the area, attempting to elude little hands trying to catch them. Everyone in the petting zoo had a great time!

Tours of the barn were also a big success. Roy and Sapphire shared a stall to keep Roy safe, and everyone who walked through was treated to a visit to Roy, who seemed to thoroughly enjoy all the attention.



Some of our volunteers brought their own horses to help provide pony rides, so a few of our stalls had new personalities spending the day with us, while regular residents spent the day in the pasture watching the scene. All of the horses had visitors offering special attention.

The food line remained steady throughout the day and volunteers did a great job of getting the food cooked and served. Pulled pork sandwiches, cole slaw, chips, and cookies were available to feed the hungry crowd. On this hot day, lemonade was a big hit along with iced tea and coffee.




Veggie burgers were available for the vegetarians among the group.






Of course, the lines for pony rides were long: the children absolutely loved riding the ring on one of our beautiful horses. The smiles on the riders' faces were huge!





Tater, Doodlebug, Maizie, Flash, Hashbrown, Sassy, Bella, Gypsy, Frye, Bender, Buster, Star, Steward, and Pepperoni all took turns letting little cowboys and cowgirls ride them around the ring all afternoon. Volunteers walked alongside the horses and their riders to ensure a safe and enjoyable ride.

The hay rides were lots of fun for everyone and, while I didn't get a ride myself, I'm told they had some fun thrills on their travels across the pastures. There was plenty of laughing and holding on to each other!

Many of our volunteers manned tables where art work, t-shirts, Bravo blend coffee, posters, and lots of gift items were available for sale. Other tables provided face-painting, raffle prizes, and acceptance of donations for hay, which was the big purpose of this day.

All in all, the day was a wonderful one. You could see by the smiles on faces that everyone was having a great time. Folks visited the horses and made new equine friends wherever they turned.

People were generous, which was wonderful to see in these tough economic times. This annual event is a lot of work for our volunteers, but they all look forward to it each year. What a great day!!!

ROY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2010



Roy at Stone Mountain

Roy, our wonderful 28-year-old (or thereabouts) Carriage horse, who came here from Stone Mountain about 5 years ago, is likely dealing with a brain tumor. Recently he has had episodes of spinning in circles until he falls. Bloodwork was done, but revealed nothing to indicate why Roy is spinning. With normal bloodwork results, it is presumed that cancer is unlikely, leaving us with the distinct probability that a brain tumor is the cause of Roy's behavior and weight loss.




After spinning Sept 25, 2010

In Roy's fragile condition, it would not be easy for him to travel for an MRI. The motion would only make him more unstable. Besides, if an MRI showed a tumor, Roy would be a poor candidate for surgery in his current weakened state. Anesthesia would pose a serious danger to him. At his advanced age (and I'm told that 28 years is a long time for a horse of Roy's size), we would not wish to put him through any misery that could not hold out the promise of increasing his quality of life.

For now, we are watching and waiting to see how we can best support and help our beloved Roy. He still walks the barn and the yards when he is able and spends time in the covered ring, where he is least likely to hurt himself when he falls. I'm told that, lately, he seems to be learning to control his spinning by leaning against solid objects. That will be truly helpful in keeping him from falling and injuring himself. Most of the time he seems comfortable, and we've seen no signs of pain.

Roy in good health a few years ago

A sweet one-eyed mare, Sapphire, is often seen with him. When I was last there, Roy had fallen in the ring and Sapphire stood close by as if watching over him. We will watch her as well to see if her behavior may indicate a change in Roy's condition.

When Roy is ready to leave us, we will do everything we can to make his passing easy and gentle. While he is with us, we will revel in his presence and spend precious moments showering him with love and attention.

Roy - September 21, 2010

Roy in 2009

Roy is a handsome, large horse who has been at the rescue for about five years. He was a Carriage horse at Stone Mountain before he retired here with us.

Roy was scheduled to be euthanized the day Save the Horses picked him up. He was very thin and his owner thought there was no cure for for his condition. But, with loving care from rescue volunteers, he remained in good health until about 10 days ago. He seemed to have a mini mal seizure or, perhaps, a heart syncopne. During the episodes, Roy spins around until he eventually falls.


Dr. Marcella recently put him on steroids which seemed to control inflammation and help stabilize Roy, at least briefly. The hope was that we could eventually wean Roy from the steroids and place him on less problematic anti-inflammatory medication.

Spot on Roy's eye

Yesterday a spot appeared in his eye that was not there before. We are hoping blood work will show us the cause of the problem, but cancer or a brain tumor is suspected. Either of these conditions would be devastating. His age  (around 28 years) and condition make further testing and anesthesia dangerous for him. In the meantime, Roy is not improving and is slowly weakening. Watching him waste away is painful for all who love him.

On a personal note, I always enjoy seeing Roy on my Saturday mornings as a volunteer. Roy is always wandering around the rescue, free to roam at will. I would often see him stretched out in the pine shavings in the barn during the winter months. He looked like a giant dog settled into his bed of shavings; he practically dissolved in them since his coloring was so similar to that of the shavings. The sight of him there would always put a smile on my face. Although he is a huge horse, at least to me, a novice horse woman, he is definitely a gentle giant. It's such a joy to see him walking through the barn or out in the yard, making his rounds and supervising the staff. I hope that Roy can continue to make me smile on many more Saturday mornings.

All of us at the rescue are praying for Roy and his caregivers. We wait with grave anticipation for test results and decisions resulting from them.

MYRACLE GOES HOME

After Finayle's death, Myracle was having a hard time adjusting. Her mother had been her only equine companion for the 19 days of her life. Her foster, Judy, tried to place her with some other horses on her farm, but Myracle would have none of them, kicking, biting, and bucking. Our little filly was quite the handful and only Finayle seemed able to handle her tantrums. Although she did not need a nursing mother, Myracle needed a companion horse, preferably a mare that could provide her with the kind of affection only another horse could offer.

As a last resort, Myracle was brought to the rescue to see if Sweetie, our 35-year-old "grandma", could soothe the filly.

It worked beautifully. Sweetie quickly responded to Myracle's cries. Unfortunately, Myracle is just too young and rambunctious for the aging Sweetie and a long-term arrangement would be too much for the older horse. Another substitute mom would have to be found.

It didn't take long for Myracle to get an adoptive family. Adopters Dawn and Zach were the ones who initially brought Finayle to HRRF They lived very close to the kill buyer who agreed to sell Finayle. Of course, it would not have been wise for Finayle to remain in such close proximity to her abuser, so Dawn brought her to HRRRF. But with Finayle gone, it was time for Myracle to go to her permanent home.
 

Since Finayle's abuser had recently moved away from the area, Dawn and Zach felt it was now safe to bring Myracle to their farm. Dawn and Zach have a beautiful Morgan mare, named Suzie, who had lost two foals before they got her from an abusive situation. Could Suzie be the right foster mom for Myracle?

Pictures say a thousand words and as these photos show, the introductions went very well. It appears that Myracle has found a substitute mare who can help her get through the loss of her mom.

We wish you well, Myracle and it will be wonderful to watch you grow. We're sure that Finayle is resting in peace knowing that her little miracle is being well cared for. And Suzie finally has a foal to nurture. Miracles happen at HRRRF!

STRAWBERRY - POST-SURGERY

Strawberry, our beautiful 15-year-old Medicine Hat paint who arrived at her temporary foster home in Florida on August 28, 2010, had eye surgery on September 1, 2010.

Although cancer in her eye was not at first suspected, there was clear evidence of cancer on her vulva. Dr. Lee determined that Strawberry's eye was so severely damaged, she needed to have it removed. As it turned out, the eye was squamous cell carcinoma, just like her vulva, but Dr. Lee removed both and believed he got clear margins, so Strawberry is officially cancer-free at this time.

While we have not ridden Strawberry, we believe she could make a good riding horse. Before being abandoned, she was purchased as a riding horse for a family's daughter. Strawberry's foster, Patti, says that Strawberry is a little mistrustful of humans, perhaps due to some unkind treatment at some point in her life. Patti said she had some difficulty trimming her feet; Strawberry was nervous and uncomfortable with that. Despite her anxiety, Strawberry allowed Patti to saddle her and even lay across the saddle. Strawberry needs an adopter who has patience and affection to offer to help her regain her confidence and trust.

Strawberry is recuperating nicely in foster care in the Pensacola area of Florida and we expect a full recovery. With expensive surgery, such as eye removals, HRRRF is pressed for donations and welcomes any assistance from our wonderful circle of friends. Strawberry is now available for adoption, and with her gentle disposition, we know she will make a lovely companion for some lucky individual or family. Patti says she is even unafraid of her dogs, chickens, and peacocks!


This beautiful girl will need a home where she can be inside during summer days and hot weather to protect her eyes from sun damage, which is generally the cause of squamous cell carcinoma in light colored horses. Of course, she could be out at night and during comfortable winter days, when the sun is not so strong. Most of all, she needs love, kindness, and a compassionate human companion.

To make a donation, please see our website at http://www.savethehorses.org/. To make an inquiry about adoption, please contact horseinc@aol.com. We would love to find a permanent or foster home as soon as possible. Other horses in Florida are waiting for space once Strawberry is adopted, so spread the word about her.

MYRACLE AFTER HER LOSS September 5, 2010

After her mother's death, Myracle was, of course, upset. Born on August 12, she was only 19 days old when Finayle crossed the Rainbow Bridge on August 31, 2010. Myracle has been surrounded by human caregivers since the moment she was born and naturally found some comfort in the many volunteers who are helping her get through the loss of her mother. On August 31, 2010, the night Finayle died, Judy Henson (who was fostering yiracle and Finayle), wrote on Facebook:

September 1, 2010: "Last night was tough. As you would expect, she (Myracle) was missing mom. Sweet Lori stayed with me and we sat in the stall and tried to soothe her until about 9:00 PM. My husband and son Bobby came home and took one look at me and said go to bed. Bobby went out and sat with her until it was his bedtime and then Brian (my husband) grabbed some cushions and our Dog Sally, and hit the "hay" literally until 2:00 AM (I can't believe that man hasn't left me yet) and then we fed her some more milk and got her to sleep again. She did good and we went out again at 6: AM and started our day. Dawn (Myracle's new adopter) came around 9:00 AM and the decision was made to take her to Cheryl's and see how Sweetie would respond.

Sweetie loves babies. Here she is with
our newest baby, Patience.

We put Myracle in the large arena by herself to gt acclimated to the arena and she started calling for her mom. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sweetie walking towards us. She had heard Myracle's cry. Cheryl opened the gate and Sweetie walked in to greet her. I was waiting for Myracle to deliver a nice swift kick to poor Sweetie (like she did to all my horses) when all of a sudden they kissed, talked and then Myracle tried to start nursing Sweetie!!! OMG I could not believe it. If I had any tears left I would have cried. Amazing things happen at that rescue. I think I may have just witnessed another miracle."

September 3, 2010: "Today Our Baby went to her new and hopefully final home. Zach and Dawn (her adopters) wanted to try her with their Mustang mare who had previously lost two foals (before they rescued her from the kill truck) and see if they could become companions and perhaps their mare might even start producing milk again. We loaded her up and put a little halter on her and took the short ride to their place. Her mare is very docile and we slowly introduced them and everything is just fine so far. Myracle did try to nurse her very quickly and it didn't seem to bother her mare at all. So when I left all was well. Dawn and Zach said they welcome anyone who would like to come and visit as they know Miracle has a lot of our hearts."

Farewell Finayle. Rest in Peace.

We'll be following Myracle's story for quite some time to come. All of us at the rescue, whether or not we have met this beautiful filly, have spent much time worrying about her and her mother. Finayle has left us to care for the baby she could not stay to raise herself and we will honor her sacrifice and watch over Miracle. Although Myracle has a new family, we remain committed to her and will be there if and when we are needed. We wish Dawn, Zach and Myracle lots of joy and happiness together.

To be continued . . .

FINAYLE AND MYRACLE

Finalye, August 9, 2010

On August 9, HRRRF purchased Finayle for $200 from a kill buyer. She was taken into foster care because of her awful condition. A vet visit confirmed that her condition scored a 1 on the Hennekke scale, indicating her severely depleted body weight, which certainly was not surprising to us.

Finayle is down on August 9, 2010

However, we were completely shocked to learn that this dangerously undernourished horse was pregnant and due to deliver within days. Information was spread quickly on Facebook and soon hundreds of people were talking and taking an interest in a horse that no one would have otherwise heard of.

Anxious volunteers quickly gathered to prepare for the impending birth. Good thing, too. On August 12, only three days after her arrival, Finayle went into labor. A handful of volunteers were on hand to assist. The plan was to try to have Finayle deliver on her feet, hoping to enlist the support of gravity and put less demand on Finayle's breathing. But, with almost no muscle strength, she was unable to stand for the delivery. On the ground, one volunteer helped the foal by pulling for what seemed like hours, but was much closer to a few minutes, and suddenly, there she was, alive and beautiful.

Myracle's first day, August 12, 2010

Human stress levels were extremely high. The chance of losing mother and/or baby during the ordeal of birth were very real, so there was great joy when the foal arrived safely and looking pretty good, although thin. She was named Myracle because, in truth, that's exactly what she was -- a miracle.

Every day after that was an adventure. Photos of mom and baby were all over Facebook, everyone ooohing and aaahing and rooting for these two amazing creatures. Finayle only weighed about 550 pounds, so rescue volunteers were watching carefully to see if she could handle mommy duties.

Finayle had a tough road as thin as she was.

Worries persisted since baby Myracle's insistence on nursing was draining mom of energy and nutrients she desperately needed. She even wanted Finayle's grain! Behind the scenes, volunteers suggested different bottles and formulas and the search was on for other nursing sources. Eventually, Myracle began accepting some foal lac and milk pellets and has been growing and developing well.

Myracle, August 23, 2010

Finayle, too, seemed to be improving. At last weight, she was up to 680 lbs, still painfully thin, but headed in the right direction . . . until Monday, August 30. She was down and was experiencing a lot of pain. The vet, Dr. Duvall, was called and arrived quickly. She administered some medications and Finayle began passing gas and seemed more comfortable. Volunteers offered massages and constant vigil during the night. Facebook buzzed with questions and you could almost hear the collective intake of breath as we all waited through the night.

Finayle and her filly, Myracle

The morning message was not good -- Finayle was again in pain and Dr. Duvall had been called back. She worked on her for awhile and we learned that the vet would return at noon when a decision would likely be made . . . for good or bad. All afternoon we waited for word, chatting with each other on Facebook, dreading to learn the  outcome, but hoping that no news was good news. At 5:30 on August 31, we learned that Finayle had crossed the Rainbow Bridge around 5 p.m. with the aid of loving friends and Dr. Duvall. Sadness permeated the quiet messages of mourning, and concerns for Myracle were expressed.

Mom and her baby August 17, 2010

Today is September 1 and all of our lives have been changed in some way by the loss of Finayle. Although I never actually met her, her photos were so compelling that I find the tears hard to contain, tears of love and anger. Her presence and passing are haunting, but this is what rescue work too often involves. We live on an emotional roller coaster, full of elation and delight with each successful rescue and full of sadness and anger with the loss of a rescued animal because of someone's cruel abuse or neglect.

Finayle & Mracle Aug 30, 2010

Finayle with Dr. Lee on August 31, 2020

Finayle is safe and whole now and we can let her rest in peace; her legacy is Myracle and we will do everything we can to give her a life full of kindness and love. We honor Finayle for her courage and strength which helped her survive long enough to bring a miracle into the world. Finayle's story has come to an end, but Myracle's story is just beginning.

PASSION -- WE NEED A HORSE SLING

This photo of Passion was taken on July 21, 2010. As the photo shows, HRRRF could really use a sling for horses like Passion. We have had a number of older horses who have had difficulty getting up when they lay down, or, worse, fall down. We have had to use a variety of make-shift slings to suit these problems. Our slings may work, but they often take quite a bit of time to set up, causing more stress to the downed horse. Because the fit is not terribly reliable, they are not always comfortable for the horse. A sling costs around $2,000. We invite all of our readers to spread the word to see if we can find an affordable sling or to help us raise money to purchase one.


Passion is an older mare that really worked hard her life as a school horse. She arrived about three years ago with some lameness issues, but she has had other problems to contend with. She foundered in one leg, her fetlock dropped, and she suffered through a bad case of strangles.

Just before this photo, her good leg was being stressed as it bore the weight of the bad leg. We had the vet and farrier out to work on her. Because she was in pain holding one leg up for the farrier to trim, we rigged up a make-shift sling. If anyone needs a sling, we do! We are great at improvising though. Look at our contraption! It worked. We are hoping a brace can be made to support her leg. She has overcome many obstacles. She can do it again. She is a very groggy in this photo because she was sedated by the vet. She was actually enjoying the rest!

Passion is doing well at this time, but there may be a "next time" for her. We'd love to be prepared with a proper sling to help give her appropriate support.

posted August 31, 2010

STRAWBERRY -- AUGUST 29, 2010

Meet Strawberry.

She is a 15-year-old Medicine Hat Paint horse. She was bought by a family who wanted her for their daughter to ride. They left Strawberry at a local farm and never returned for her. The farmer was selling the property and needed to get Strawberry out. A great foster in Milton, FL took her in.

Strawberry had a bad right eye that we were originally told was not cancer, but that the damage was severe enough to remove the eye. During her vet visit, it was discovered that she did have cancer on her vulva, but plans were made to have Dr. Lee remove that along with Strawberry's eye.

After Strawberry recuperates from her surgery on Sept 1, she will be available for adoption. She will need a place where she can be stalled during the hot summer months and cold winter nights, but during nice weather, she can spend some quality time outside. Strawberry is a sweet and willing girl who will provide love and joy to her new family.

Strawberry the day of her surgery

All donations are welcome. Strawberry's surgeries will easily run over $500, not including expenses for her general care. Horse Rescue, Relief and Retirement Fund has been financially stretched lately with so many horses in need, thanks to the economy. We are grateful to all of our donors for any amounts they can give.

Note: Medicine Hat Paint horses have very particular markings, being mostly white with color on the head and ears (like a "bonnet") and were highly prized by certain Native American cultures. If they had a colored "shield" on their chest along with the "bonnet", they were considered invincible in battle.

Silent Art Auction September 4, 2010 from 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.

FOR ADOPTION: LENNY

Lenny was owned by a family who thought it was okay to let baby Lenny grow up in a dog pen. He lived there until he was 18 months old. Lenny is about 20 months now. He never got to run and buck and play. Living in such a small area also stunted Lenny's growth.

He is not going to be over 14 hands. He is a gaited tri-colored gelding. What Lenny needs right now is a green pasture where he can run and play for the next year or two. Lenny loves people and attention. He needs companionship and love to grow into his potential.

August 23 2010

FOR ADOPTION: DEJA VU

Deja Vu is a sweet little Appaloosa pony mare. She is about 24 years old, loving and sweet. She can be ridden and lead around with a child on her back. She loves attention and carrots. Deja Vu only needs a dirt lot without much grass. She doesn't wear shoes so an occasional trimming keeps her feet healthy. Deja Vu is looking for a loving family who wants nothing more than to love and care for a sweet and gentle horse. Only kindhearted horse lovers apply.

August 23, 2010

Hail Mary

We got a frantic call late afternoon on February 18th, 2009. A lady was driving by a pasture where she saw a skinny horse a week before. She called the Dept of Ag last week to report what she saw. The lady was actually a state equine inspector a few years back. Yesterday when she went by, the horse was down (lying down) and the weather was getting bad. Another lady driving by saw the horse down and the distressed looking lady over the horse. She too stopped. They both made phone calls looking for help. Someone called me and the ball started rolling. I called Animal Control, the Marshall and then got a call from the Department of Ag asking if I could help. I told the woman calling we were on our way. She asked if we had a sling. I said 'no' but I have people. My volunteers have made make shift slings with lead ropes, girths, saddle pads or whatever we have around and we, together, are a good team. We have gotten horses that are down up more times then I can count! Some older horses just need a boost, then they can walk. Sometimes it's just old age with wear and tear, sometimes it's injury, sometimes it's weakness, but no matter the reason, we can do it. The very experienced volunteers did what they had to do.

We arrived just before dark. There were several people on the scene: lights flashing, passers-by curiously watching. Someone said they just heard over their police radio that a tornado may be forming in part of Cherokee county. The wind was blowing, hail was coming down and the tornado sirens were blowing right across the road, loud and clear. Someone told us we could leave if we didn't want to get her because the owner was willing to shoot her right there. We were there to save this horse, not let her die like that.

My team was focused on getting the horse, not any weather problems. We were going to get this horse or die trying. We really believe that doing good will come back to us so none of us was worried at all about any tornado or being pelted by hail. We cared about the horse.

We got our ropes and equipment. Then we gathered and put everything in place around the horses body. After a few tries, getting the horse in the right position, we all pulled on 1-2-3! Yea, the horse was up, everyone stayed beside her weak trembling body and slowly walked her toward the gate. It was locked. No one had a key so we hammered the gate chain and opened her way to the trailer. She walked right on and three of the volunteers stayed in the trailer in case she went down. It was about 15 miles and the trip went well. She knew how to back off but she was trembling, mostly from being cold and being down so long. We got a stall ready, put a heat lamp in the stall and towel dryed her. She was a tired but happy mare. She had some warm mash, good hay and then we took care of ourselves. We were soaked and cold from head to toe. It was really funny seeing us all walk like penguins because our pants were so cold and wet. I think we will call this mare, HAIL MARY! She made it on a prayer, many prayers!

PHOTOS
Hail Mary was wet and cold but by morning the sun warmed her malnourished body.

She hung her head and seemed depressed so everyone spent extra time loving on her. She began to eat and enjoy walking around more and more every day. She would still go down and we would have to get her up again. Once up, though, she could stay up for a few days or more.

She was walking down the driveway a bit fast; she was feeling too good. She lost her balance and fell face first. She struggled to get up but couldn't without our help. We gathered out ropes, the tractor and some man and woman power and up she went. We all slowly walked her back to a nice flat area of grass.

It was one step at a time for all of us.

Hail Mary improved and although she still had trouble getting up, she went down much less frequently. She became the favorite of a very lovely couple, Steve and Linda. They planned to move from their home and buy a farm with a nice barn. They adopted Hail Mary, but our dear Hail Mary passed away before they moved, We were so grateful that she died in loving arms. Some people may think it was a waste of time. We know it was a time of love and care, hope and dreams.

Posted by Cheryl Flanagan, HRRRF