Post by horsewatcher on Sept 1, 2009 14:20:25 GMT -5
Hi,
I am rather new to this board so I thought I would share my last rescue story.
Awhile back I received a text from an acquaintance asking if I would be interested in rescuing a mini or two (she knows most of our horses are rescues). She was doing a ride along with AC and they were working on an existing hoarding issue. AC had already removed two mini's and there were still more there that needed homes ASAP. Since both my boys came from a similiar situation of course I asked for more info. How bad are they, where are they etc etc. Well the text messages turn into phone calls to AC to get more details. AC mentioned a skinny arab that was one of the worst ones there (he was scored a 1 1/2 by a vet two weeks prior to this) and all the minis (20plus) were skinny and needed feet & teeth care. We really didnt need anymore horses but it had been awhile since we rescued one so me and my good friend went out to the place. They wouldnt let us on the property but had brought out the mini's (6 of them) and had them staked out front of there property when we drove up. None of the halters fit, tied up with bailing twine, all skinny. It was not a pretty site. There was a baby running around in the front yard screeming for it mothers (junk in the yard, large dogs etc) and the mother was no where in site. To put it lightly it was hard to stay composed and focused on the goal but we did. When we had pulled up we noticed one mini who was tied out skinny head down standing in grass taller then him and not eating....We politley greeted them made small talk and got to the task at hand. We went right over to the one mini who was not eating. As soon as you went up to him you could smell a horrible smell. He clearly was in grave condition. Drooling and in pain. We were told he was 37 and the vet said he needed his teeth done when they were out a couple weeks ago.( Yah think??) We chatted a bit more with them and I went to scope out the other ones. While my friend checked out the old guy more. Although we said nothing to each other we both knew the old guy was coming home with us. After I checked over the ones I went back and asked if they had any full size horses they were willing to part with. (Trying to play dumb here since I could not quit thinking about the arab the AC officer had mentioned.) They said yes we do have a skinny arabian. I said I would love to see him. One of them went to go get him. After about 15 or 20 minutes I hear yelling and screeming and see this deer like looking horse walking towards me. He was a bag of bones and a bit pushy on the ground. She was screaming and yanking on the halter the whole way. She gets him outside the gate so I can look at him closer and sets down a big bucket of grain for him to eat. I ask a couple questions and ask if I can take over holding him since she was clueless. I didnt say that but I sure was thinking it. I said we will take him and the old guy and got that bucket of grain away from him ASAP. We were told he came from a breeder and they got hiim about 6 months ago. He was attacked by there dog (they tried saying it was the neighbors dog..uhuh sure) and ran through a fence. We loaded him in the trailer right away since he was pretty anxious. I was thinking oh boy I sure hope he will get in the trailer w/o to much trouble. He walked right in like a champ. It's like he knew he was being rescued.
They wrote up a sale slip on both to make it legal. We loaded the mini and got out of there. When we drove away I saw they had two paint mares in the pasture that were in good weight. However all the other ones we seen were in terrible condition. I wish we could have taken more but knowing your limits is important in rescue as you all know.
We made a call to the vet and drove right there. We knew the mini was in dier need of vet care. Unfortunately we had to put him down the next day after we got the blood work back. He was to far gone to save, organs were already starting to shut down etc. However at least he went in peace and did not suffer a horrible death like he would have if we had not taken him.
On a postive note Chance recovered and is doing well now. He is happy and healthy and learning to be a horse. He is stunted from the neglect. Although he looks like a yearling he is about 5 to 5 1/2 years old. We had been told he was 4 but after his teeth float the vet is postive he is at least 5. He had a double row of teeth (baby teeth and adult ones). After further talking to AC she knows the breeder and he was probably in a neglect situation his whole life. He wanted nothing to do with people at first but he came around quickly. He is very sweet, friendly and SMART. Wow is he smart & a quick learner!
Sorry for the long post and Kudos to anyone who reads the whole thing...lol
Hank 37 yr old mini- We called him Panda-RIP little dude
Before pic Chance -
1 month after rescue-
Aug 26th 09-
I am rather new to this board so I thought I would share my last rescue story.
Awhile back I received a text from an acquaintance asking if I would be interested in rescuing a mini or two (she knows most of our horses are rescues). She was doing a ride along with AC and they were working on an existing hoarding issue. AC had already removed two mini's and there were still more there that needed homes ASAP. Since both my boys came from a similiar situation of course I asked for more info. How bad are they, where are they etc etc. Well the text messages turn into phone calls to AC to get more details. AC mentioned a skinny arab that was one of the worst ones there (he was scored a 1 1/2 by a vet two weeks prior to this) and all the minis (20plus) were skinny and needed feet & teeth care. We really didnt need anymore horses but it had been awhile since we rescued one so me and my good friend went out to the place. They wouldnt let us on the property but had brought out the mini's (6 of them) and had them staked out front of there property when we drove up. None of the halters fit, tied up with bailing twine, all skinny. It was not a pretty site. There was a baby running around in the front yard screeming for it mothers (junk in the yard, large dogs etc) and the mother was no where in site. To put it lightly it was hard to stay composed and focused on the goal but we did. When we had pulled up we noticed one mini who was tied out skinny head down standing in grass taller then him and not eating....We politley greeted them made small talk and got to the task at hand. We went right over to the one mini who was not eating. As soon as you went up to him you could smell a horrible smell. He clearly was in grave condition. Drooling and in pain. We were told he was 37 and the vet said he needed his teeth done when they were out a couple weeks ago.( Yah think??) We chatted a bit more with them and I went to scope out the other ones. While my friend checked out the old guy more. Although we said nothing to each other we both knew the old guy was coming home with us. After I checked over the ones I went back and asked if they had any full size horses they were willing to part with. (Trying to play dumb here since I could not quit thinking about the arab the AC officer had mentioned.) They said yes we do have a skinny arabian. I said I would love to see him. One of them went to go get him. After about 15 or 20 minutes I hear yelling and screeming and see this deer like looking horse walking towards me. He was a bag of bones and a bit pushy on the ground. She was screaming and yanking on the halter the whole way. She gets him outside the gate so I can look at him closer and sets down a big bucket of grain for him to eat. I ask a couple questions and ask if I can take over holding him since she was clueless. I didnt say that but I sure was thinking it. I said we will take him and the old guy and got that bucket of grain away from him ASAP. We were told he came from a breeder and they got hiim about 6 months ago. He was attacked by there dog (they tried saying it was the neighbors dog..uhuh sure) and ran through a fence. We loaded him in the trailer right away since he was pretty anxious. I was thinking oh boy I sure hope he will get in the trailer w/o to much trouble. He walked right in like a champ. It's like he knew he was being rescued.
They wrote up a sale slip on both to make it legal. We loaded the mini and got out of there. When we drove away I saw they had two paint mares in the pasture that were in good weight. However all the other ones we seen were in terrible condition. I wish we could have taken more but knowing your limits is important in rescue as you all know.
We made a call to the vet and drove right there. We knew the mini was in dier need of vet care. Unfortunately we had to put him down the next day after we got the blood work back. He was to far gone to save, organs were already starting to shut down etc. However at least he went in peace and did not suffer a horrible death like he would have if we had not taken him.
On a postive note Chance recovered and is doing well now. He is happy and healthy and learning to be a horse. He is stunted from the neglect. Although he looks like a yearling he is about 5 to 5 1/2 years old. We had been told he was 4 but after his teeth float the vet is postive he is at least 5. He had a double row of teeth (baby teeth and adult ones). After further talking to AC she knows the breeder and he was probably in a neglect situation his whole life. He wanted nothing to do with people at first but he came around quickly. He is very sweet, friendly and SMART. Wow is he smart & a quick learner!
Sorry for the long post and Kudos to anyone who reads the whole thing...lol
Hank 37 yr old mini- We called him Panda-RIP little dude
Before pic Chance -
1 month after rescue-
Aug 26th 09-
