July 10-14, 2014

Rescue Rant:

Dear On the Fence, soon to become a Irresponsible Horse Owner,

Think long and hard before you email a rescue when you see your horse is going blind and ask us to accept him. Think hard when your horse is now a Senior and unable to work as hard and you are tired of caring for him. Reconsider when your horse is suddenly lame and unable to perform before you want to “get rid of him”. That is hardly what a loving owner does. You do not dump your horse like an overused rag. If the horse has known you, carried you, loved you and trusted you – you are there until the end. That is that.

Rescues are running over with the starving cast offs of the world. Those that were dumped or seized or auctioned. Do you really want to be ranked among that class? It is YOUR horse you’re asking us to take in and it is the donors you’re asking to now carry your horses cost because now there is too much work, too much money, too much inconvenience involved for you. You want something new or only wanted a horse while he could offer to carry you wherever you wanted to go.

I know things happen. Space and money is limited. So if the time comes, be responsible. Love your horse until the end. If that means making a hard call and offering only a peaceful end with the people he knows when his health fails and you cannot afford continued care, do not risk him falling into bad hands, do not ask an overburdened rescue that needs space for horses that TRULY have NO WHERE else to turn. . .Do not call us to guilt us into wanting to “Save” your horse from his owner who will “put him down” otherwise. Really?! Is that the best you can do?

But you know, this just proves too much to ask of too many “horse folks.”

Thanks to Irish Simmons for donating for her Cold Water Challenge!

Sawyer has an approved application in.

This is such amazing news for him.

He is a senior and may not prove sound for more than very light riding with a small adult or child, and to know that there is a home willing to see through that to just want to provide him with a retirement place is amazing. . .and let me tell you, such adopters are more rare than than any precious gem in the world.

Part-time barn help position needing filled asap –

Call (304) 722-4630

Sunday Stables in St. Albans

Stalls, feeding, etc.

Four rescue horses are boarded at this location

Spicy

Tara on the move

3 horses being adopted tomorrow, two more needing to come in. . .

One is in Boone county we’ve received permission from the Sheriff to removed after him being reported in bad shape and in traffic for quite sometime. He is apparently looking better after being out on grass for a bit now.

The issue is he really needs moved today, he can friendly but so far no one has been able to go right up to him, but we need someone to haul him –

Costs will be covered. Anyone?

Boone’s owners were charged and arrested for what they did to him. You know, this is the only time in all these years I am aware that has happened. In all the horses we’ve helped. . .he is the only one I’m sure the owners had some consequences. They have not been sentenced yet, but still . . .some action!

We need someone with a trailer willing to meet us to move a horse in traffic in Boone county, WV –

Anyone?

Just received a plea about a herd of nice, broke to ride and registered Arabians in Galena, Maryland that MUST BE PLACED by July 22. The farm is sold and ownership changes that day. Lovely horses in the photos I have. No fees to homes with solid vet and farrier references and photos sent to us at equinerescue@live.com

Folks, you have no idea how above and beyond our team of volunteers will go to help horses in need. But heavens, am I ever thankful for it.

Boone and Teddy received their freeze brands this evening!

Thank you to Nicky and Dorella for trying like mad to catch and save the horse running at large in Boone county all evening and part of the night. They weren’t able to catch him, but they will try once more tomorrow evening with the help of some others. He seems to be a very young feral horse that came off a reclaimed mine in the area. He is a colt or gelding (hoping gelding) that likely was ran off from the herd by a stallion. He has bites all over him and locals report a larger herd in the mountains, and he will allow people to approach him, but he doesn’t understand, they say, enough to even really associate people with food, etc.

We do not typically accept very young or feral horses as they need to be held for years (typically) before being adoptable and take up a much needed spot used to save many, many others over that period, but this situation originally sounded like a friendly horse that had some handling and had just been abandoned. Since we have gotten involved, our dedicated volunteers will give it another effort tomorrow.

Hoping for the best.

It’s never crowded along the extra mile.
Wayne Dyer

A Special Thank you to all of Those who made the June HOP/VFW Gold Scramble such a success!

We appreciate the support greatly!

These companies and people truly support their community charities!

Folks, remember the Heart of Phoenix open house is tomorrow – come by if you can – https://www.facebook.com/events/1405839976363007/?ref=70

We are super excited for the open house tomorrow! Hope to see everyone possible there.

A huge thank you to those who have worked for a week getting ready for this event!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

A special thank you to Susan at Sunday Stables for not only going above and beyond for over a year working with us to foster so many horses in need, but thank you for opening the barn where so many rescues call home for a time for this event!

Grace’s progress. Her malformed mouth makes keeping any food in at all difficult, but baby steps. . .

We finally see the rough points of her skeleton covered over. . .

Bless her. . .What a life she has walked before coming to us.

Our VP is doing a great job with this tough case — with Jessie Smith Hardesty.

So this happened here in my area God.
http://www.wsaz.com/home/headlines/Dead-Horse-Found-Hanging-in-Garage-266844871.html#.U8Es-bfD6kE.facebook

Nemo update today from his adopter

And he is caught

We got him — with Tinia Creamer and 6 others.

So there was this moment today where I looked out and saw all of these horses –

Cast offs. . .Horses without any hope in the entire world. . .except for HOP. .

and there I saw my life’s work . . .

You know. . .

That moment where you know that is what you’re here for. . .

So There

This is what I’m here for.

We have never had so many of ours in one place and lined up where I could see what this means. . .and I’m not one to cry, but there was a moment I wondered about it.

And we are doing it, folks. . .We really are Making a difference no one has EVER made here before.

I can see it and know a lot of others can, as well.

Heavens, what a team we have –

Thank God for you all, for every single person who makes this happen.

You and I (all of you) – we are going to revolutionize this place for horses. We will. We are.

Sheesh, we are a heck of a crew.

We slaved all day – The Open House was amazing, and the day contained adoptions, two new rescues and SO much more!

Thank you for all the hard work awesome volunteers! Priceless folks! — with Tinia Creamer and 8 others.

HOP’s open house!

One of two new rescue intakes today – Stitch is a 6 year old Saddlebred gelding. He is alert and curious, but he is very underweight and his feet are a mess. He just came out of a bit of a hell hole. He is one of two new rescues today. We had 2 adoptions today (Clover and Willie) and will have one adoption tomorrow (Teddy)

I guess people think horses really don’t need food to survive around these parts.

So it begins, I suppose.

For years, we have tried to raise awareness about the abandoned and feral horses across West Virginia’s coal mines. These reclaimed sites are now home to Thousands of horses. Many are feral, many having been born o… See More — with Nicky Walters and 6 others.

Has Clover ever landed with an amazing couple! She and Willie went to the most amazing home yesterday! Her journey has taken her to the RIGHT place!

And Willie went to his perfect home – the home he was made for – yesterday, too! Look at this boy shine! I can’t wait to see how he settles into his new home. I know his fosters will miss him so much! But they have a new challenge in store with the little feral horse!

After a LONG, LONG day yesterday, seeing this in the inbox of Pecos and his girl was surely a blessing!

Teddy is adopted today – Thanks to Liane, his adopter, and Susan for making the trip to meet her today!!!

Meet Rudy this morning. Deb’s son seems to be his person right now. Check this out! As soon as he can get vetted, he will move to his training and foster home, but it looks like Debbie is working wonders already!

Rudy. . .since he was pushed out of his herd and kept trying to go back but being chased away. . .

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer couldn’t join in any reindeer games – haha! — with Nicky Walters and 5 others.

Clover and Willie in their new home!
Silly Willie loves to roll!

Scarlett’s video is nearing 300,000 views on our Youtube Channel: WVhorserescue

And after a few hours of work today, this happened with Rudy and his ladies!!!

Teddy and his adopter! Thanks Susan and Amanda for meeting her today!

Please help the rescue find a nice 10 – 12 ft bumper Pull open stock or horse trailer priced around $2,500 asap – we have sold our two horse with a divider.

Rudy meets a halter and lead rope 🙂
Rudy’s first time with halter and lead. Remarkably…he wasn’t all that concerned about it once it was on 🙂 — with Dorella Conner Tuckwiller and Deborah Pennington.

He loved Dorella from the start
Dorella and Rudy
Dorella Conner Tuckwiller and Rudy today. Again…less than 24 hours after he was running wild in Boone County…dodging cars and coal trucks.

Ya’ll know this is my most well loved girl, Rowan. Here she is in her adoptive home today — with Alicia Cole Tucker.

Buttercup yesterday in her home! — with Alicia Cole Tucker.

Rudy’s story

Some folks have asked, given how well Rudy responded to a whole day of hands on work, whether he could really have been feral – let me assure you. . .we’ve dealt with a huge number of horses over the years. . .and we are very sure this guy came in feral.

Remember, domesticated horses, like our dogs and cats, do not simply “have” wild instincts because they are born in a feral situation. I’ve picked up many a litter of puppies and kittens born in the mountains over the years that, within a day, accept people as part of their herd, litter, etc.

The task is no where near done, but he has already learned that people mean good things – it connects very quickly in the minds of an animal that has instincts which connect to man.

Progress is expected to be quick with the right handling.

This is especially true of a very young horse, like Rudy.

And this was. . .seriously. . one of the most amazing moments of my life. . .

Right here

I know you awesome folks really only ever hear from me as the page admin and rescue founder/president, but there is something I simply must tell you about the team of folks that make up HOP. . .

They keep me going.

They are more full of faith than I am. They are more resilient than I am. They have so much more hope than I do.

I fear the worst, expect the worst and am sometimes afraid to even hope for a happy ending.

Just know there is a group of people you do not publicly hear from that keep this going, keep me going. . .even when I think the worst, can’t find a shred of hope or a bright side. . .assume it will not end well, these folks keep me working when I would throw the towel in if doing this alone. . .

I love those folks. . .and when you think of HOP and all we do . . .remember it is a collaborative effort, and without all those behind the scenes. . . I’d probably just be in the corner, having given up, having a good cry

People talk about how great the feral WV have it living free – this is a photo I was sent today of a herd on a strip mine thriving? Hardly

I’ve been flooded with photos from all around this area and the local Ky / Ohio area in the past 24 hours of horses on strip mines like never before. I already have a portfolio of herds from many areas. . .

This is so overwhelming.

People are begging that something be done, and the time is right to work for change.

There has to be enforced legal ramifications for those dumping horses. There has to be a geld and release option. There has to be a steady flow of those able to be rehabbed and gotten out. There has to be a legal process that protects the land owners when rescues coming in and remove. The states have to have equipment to tranq, trap and remove horses going to safe places. There has to be a process to know the horses aren’t removed to be ran through auction, slaughter or the life.

So much to be done. Let’s just hope this is the start of actual action.

When you see these horses all of the time during their rehab, sometimes you can’t see the amazing changes until you put a before photo next to them