OUR FIRST HORSES

Thelma and Louise "friendly and gentle and trained to drive," is how the ad described the two beautiful Belgian Mares, 12 and 14 years old. Thelma and Louise arrived a month later 400 pounds underweight. Thelma was full of edema. Louise "Mule Kicked" and Thelma bit.

Thelma had multiple medical problems and passed away six months later. Louise continued to mule kick (if she let you get close enough) and refused to be caught. She wanted to be left alone. Louise was fostered for 3 years and was euthanized July 2007 due to medical problems.

Our next two rescues were two Belgian Geldings, Chip and Dale. Full brothers 4 and 6 years old, they were a trained driving team (so we were told). Their owner had suffered a heart attack and was in a nursing home, his son was going to send them to auction, a sure death. We drove 3000 miles round trip to North Dakota and brought them home.

These guys were friendly and gentle, but when we hitched them up to our hay wagon a month later we had a runaway and a wreck. Something spooked Chip and they stopped just two feet short of a propane tank.

We sent these guys to an Amish trainer in Colorado for four months. It was determined they would not be good parade horses, but good farming or logging horses.

They were shown at Brighton Draft Horse Auction in Colorado in October, 2004. Chip and Dale brought the second highest team price and now live on a cattle ranch in Colorado where they work feeding cattle daily.

Our next rescue was two brothers PMU Percheron Paint Crosses, a yearling and a two year old. They are gorgeous Overo Paints, black with a lot of White splash. Again we made the 3000 mile round trip, we got them home and vet checked them. They were covered in ticks, had pneumonia, and ringworm. Two days later the vet was called for Colic. We had a contest with the local elementary school to name this team, the winning class to receive a free hay ride.

During our grand opening in May our visitors voted on the names, they chose Thunder and Lightning. They are now working on a cattle ranch in Rio Rancho New Mexico.

Kelly and Billy, two registered Belgians, Mother and Son, were purchased early in May of 2004 for our Hay wagon rides. After two rescued teams not working out as parade horses, we decided to purchase a team that was guaranteed not to wreck. After 2 years of hard work trying to raise funds with the carriage business, it was determined that we could not continue with this operation. Billy and Kelly and Donkey Don are now in Lodi California where they are shown in local parades.

We placed thirty horses in 2004, many of them PMU weanlings and "pony skin" babies, rescued from slaughter. In 2005 we placed 70 horses; 105 horses in 2006, 102 horses in 2007, 107 horses in 2008, and in 2009 we have placed only 9 horses to date.

Many horses are dying a slow, agonizing death due to starvation. Others are being sold at auction for shipment to Canada and Mexico slaughter houses. Please help us.