Somehow tonite while doing chores, the grim realization dawned that winter will soon be approaching. Not one to complain or worry too much......still wondering who fate will send to give some unwanted horses a forever home. Still, is it possible to find winter placement for some of these unwanteds? Then the visual of seeing horses separated from the herd they have grown so comfortable with, and feel safe around............seeing horses loaded in trailers and going someplace.......in hopes of them fitting in to a new life brings anxiety. The list of horses waiting to come in to ASAP is twice as long as the list of horses living here now. Four Standardbreds are in summer pasture, but will be moved back to ASAP unless other arrangements are offered. These four include Bob Cook, ARNE, Janimal, and Lakehills Texas. Bob and ARNE are inseparable, and to think that someone would actually offer to take them in temporarily or permanently is highly doubtful. Bob broke his front foot during his racing career and was given time off to heal, but the fracture did not heal correctly and he was three legged for a time, unable to put weight on that leg. Over the past many years, the farrier has been successful in trimming Bob in such a way that he now walks on all four feet. He can walk comfortably, and trot when he has the notion to without too much discomfort. Bob is HUGE, standing at almost 17 hands. He has a long flowing mane and tail, thick and black. ARNE, his buddy, has an old hock fracture from his racing days. His hock is quite enlarged, and he has limited range of motion with it. Still, he has a strong will to live and wonderful quality of life, with no expectations except to enjoy the plush pasture and clear running creek, and bask in the sun. He, too, is very tall, but more lanky. His hock is quite disturbing for some people to observe. If sponsored, ASAP would begin a daily dose of previcox with him to make him more comfortable. ASAP guards these two with their very lives to ensure their health and happiness. Janimal has been Sues daughters adopted horse since age 10, and he is now in his 20s. To force him to leave his home at ASAP for the sake of saving money on hay bills is ludicrous. Lakehills Texas, likewise, was adopted by Sues mother in law in 1994. He is 26 now, and she has long surrendered him back to ASAPs care. He is still sound and sassy, and makes a great lesson horse and riding horse. Its a no brainer to keep him at the farm. Then we have Shaggy. Little Shaggy was thoughtfully and lovingly placed with ASAP by an equine and small animal veterinarian who knows ASAPs track record with care. She has been financially supported in part by a woman who adopted a rescued Standardbred many years ago. This woman has assisted ASAP in years past with crisis situations involving horses, and we are ever grateful for her selflessness. Shaggy is only four years old and has been at ASAP for a full year now. We can surely say that she has grown, filled out, and is not afraid of anything. Shaggy is a Paint filly, and is only about 13.2 hands tall. She was confined to a small stall for the first two years of her life and never handled. She is now halter trained, and is good for her front feet for the farrier. She is not afraid of anything....and LOVES people. She needs a TRAINER.......someone to foster/train her or adopt her. It is getting harder and harder to think about her leaving ASAP because she has made a home here for so long now- the longer things go, the more difficult it gets. Please please please consider making Shaggy a part of the family, or if you are good with working with horses, you could maybe offer to take her in for the winter so that she would be ready for adoption in spring? Her pasture mate, Holly, is an aged STB mare who never ever ever has found a home. She has a very obvious sway back, and has such neuroses that any change or transition is extremely stressful for her. She will weave when anxious...and when loading into a horse trailer and hauling, her entire body shakes and she breaks out in profuse sweat. She was misrepresented to ASAP as a 16 year old STB mare who rides English and Western and is sound. When she arrived via trailer, ASAP was horrified to note the extremely swayed back. Could ASAP send her back? No.......it was not the right thing to do. Searching this laptop, there are no pictures of Holly. It is shameful that we do not snap her photo due to her sway back - we will take some updated photos and post them later. This is not even half of the stories that need to be shared in order for people to get a flavor of the dilemna we face as we head into winter. If you heart has been touched by any story, or you would just consider giving a winter home to one of the available horses, we would be so grateful. Tomorrow or Saturday there will be more stories to share in hopes of recruiting donations for hay, or, better yet, homes for the precious lives we care for!
Posted on: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 03:24:24 +0000
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