Wizard Sessions 421, 422, 423, 424: The Concept
I broke my own cardinal sin of blogging and I think I’m missing a session or two here in November… and to be honest, these dates might not be right, either. It happened mainly because I’m so wrapped up in working on promoting the Horses and Hope 2013 calendar.
Basically, I’m at the barn 3-4 days a week, and if I’m there at night, I feed Wizard a snack and sometimes longe him. If I’m there during the day, I take him for a hand walk in the park.
Actually, that’s not entirely right, since hunting season is WAY in full swing, so some of our daytime visits are spent at the farm instead of out in the woods with a bunch of deer and pheasants.
Anyway, I think this is about right…
Monday, 11/26/12
After work, I went to the barn and tacked Wizard up in his surcingle and worked on some long lining. Wizard was a little keyed up, since he has not been long-lined in a while and has turned into a bit of a hooligan with all the lack of work (we’re still waiting on our saddle). But I was able to get him to walk and do just a little trot work pretty nicely. At the end, I longed him just 3-4 times each way to let him loosen up and trot a little.
Saturday, 11/25/12
Kris, Sunny, Wizard and I walked out in the Assunpink. It was COLD. And WINDY. And there were quite a few hunters out there, which put Wizard on edge a little. We flushed a bird, encountered a few (very well-behaved) hunting dogs, walked down the road, circled around the edge of the Horse Park cross country field, and walked back. After our walk, I longed Wizard just a little bit. He looked pretty darned sound- YESSSS!
Tuesday, 11/20/12
I *think* I longed Wizard this day. He has not had much actual work, so it’s time to put him back onto so I have him on a little work program. Thankfully, his subtle issue with the right front leg is all but gone, but to be safe, the longe work is minimal. It’s more for training than for anything else. We don’t do many rotations at all, and work more on the schooling aspect of it.
Monday, 11/19/12
If my fuzzy memory serves me, I think we hand walked in the park.
Horses and Hope Calendar: Your Cure for the Cyber Monday Blues
Cyber Monday chaos? Have hope!
I have the perfect gift for all your animal-loving friends. This summer, I teamed up with Gina Keesling of HoofPrints, and we created our second charity calendar project, titled Horses and Hope: Faces of Rescue (click here to order).
Like last year, 100% of the calendar’s profit is donated to One Horse At A Time, a 501(c)(3) charity. The 2013 calendar features a wider variety of equine subjects than the 2012 calendar, which focused on horses at Camelot Auction in New Jersey. Horses and Hope: Faces of Rescue contains over 100 photos of horses and dozens of inspirational stories and quotes, and represents almost three years of volunteer work. In addition to my home state of New Jersey, I traveled to New York, Kentucky, Virginia, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Maryland and visited horses at equine rescues, as well as in their adopted homes.
Thanks to the generous calendar purchases of hundreds of horse lovers, the 2012 Horses and Hope calendar raised over $40,000. With that money, One Horse at a Time (OHAAT) wrote grants to help 317 horses, including supplies for emergency feed deliveries, and funds for 255 new geldings.
Gina and I worked hard to keep the calendar inspirational and positive, and highlight the great things that people do to help horses all over the country. Thank you so much for all of your orders so far- the response has been extraordinary. Here are just a few of the fantastic comments that we have already received:
“Sarah Andrew is an unbelievably talented photographer, world-class – and she treats each horse in this calendar with beautiful reverence. The profits from the calendars all help an important cause – helping equines in need – and the images, and the accompanying stories, will stir your heart…win-win!” –Barbara Livingston, Eclipse Award-winning photographer, Daily Racing Form
“The journey of feedlot horses from forgotten to beloved is documented in this incredible calendar, a gift of love from top equine photographer Sarah Andrew. She sees hope in their guarded expressions, bloom in their lackluster coats, and shows that these animals have so much yet to offer. Every page and every story warms the heart and steels the nerves for the continuing fight for the lives of these horses. No true horse-lover should be without this calendar, with its proceeds making a difference for these horses.” –Gina Spadafori, author, The Ultimate Horse-Lover
“In a season filled with commercialism and cynicism, it’s nothing short of a Christmas miracle to discover Sarah Andrew’s Horses and Hope calendar. Filled with true tales of inspiration, Horses and Hope is a reminder of what can be achieved if we don’t give up or give in, but dedicate our collective will to achieving that which needs to be achieved. Sarah’s photography is beautiful, the illustration magnificent, and the overall result a masterpiece you’ll be proud to share with your loved ones at Christmastime, all while receiving that special satisfaction you get from knowing that doing so means you’re not part of the problem, but part of the solution.” –Sue Finley, Vice President/Co-Publisher, Thoroughbred Daily News
“They look like normal enough horses on the cover… but when you open this special calendar and read these horses’ stories, you’ll never take a horse’s handsome head shot for granted again. Are you looking for a feel-good holiday gift that your friends will love? I think I’ve found it. I can say that with confidence, because the 2012 edition of this calendar is hanging over my desk…and I’m saving that spot of honor for the 2013 edition… Saving horses is, like any great mission, a thing that is worked on one day at a time. But at the end of the year, you can look back and see your accomplishments. By ordering this calendar, and giving it as a gift to your friends or business associates, you help assure that at the end of 2013, there will be many horses whose welfare needs were met, as a guarantee of the year’s–and the calendar’s–success.” –Fran Jurga, publisher/editor, Hoofcare and Lameness and The Jurga Report
More testimonials from horse lovers:
“Already ordered mine. The photography and printing are coffee table quality and they make great Christmas gifts for horsey and non-horsey friends.Thank you, Sarah and Gina. You make my Christmas shopping really easy.”
“Just wanted to mention how FAST this calendar arrived! Thank you for making such a beautiful memory book of these wonderful horses.”
“Here is a great Christmas gift for your friends and fellow horse lovers. PLUS, it supports a wonderful charity. We will be displaying one at our barn over the holidays!”
“I got mine a few days ago…cried at some of the stories. So touching!”
“The calendar is amazing, as was last years’ (which I bought also, just to see the beautiful photography). This years’ is a Christmas gift for the woman who boards my horse. She’s heard the stories each week, of the one I almost couldn’t resist, and I thought it so fitting that she finally experience some of what I’ve been talking about.”
“Great calendar!!!! Great cause!! Great stories!!! What else do you need??? This is an awesome and meaningful Christmas gift for the horse people on your list. I buy one for myself and a few other people… Spectacular photos on top-quality heavy paper, and every cent goes towards horse rescue and after-care.”
“I LOVE my new calendars. They are as beautiful, as touching and as beautifully done as the ones I bought in 2012. And I know my money is going for a good cause. Thanks for putting these together and making them available to those of us who can’t buy another horse but still want to help.”
“After working a 12-hour day, I came home to find my Horses & Hope 2013 calendar arrived… it may be I am over tired or the time change, but I cried over every month…not out of sadness, but out of beauty….beauty over these saved souls & all the people who made this happen & took a chance! This is by far the nicest calendar EVER! Congrats to Sarah & team!”
Please click on the links below to read read about the horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules in the calendar:
Mimi’s Story
Electronic Press Release: 2013 Calendar
You can contact me through www.rockandracehorses.com about any of these saddles.
Smith-Worthington Danzig EC All Purpose saddle for sale
Asking $900 (negotiable) plus shipping for the Smith-Worthington. This is an English-made saddle with a very comfortable seat and EXCELLENT withers clearance for high-withered horses. 18″ seat and a MW tree- the seat is a small 18″ seat, and might work for someone looking for a 17 1/2″ seat. Steel & wood spring trees with strong overlapping steel head plates allow tree adjustment many times as your horse muscles and matures or if you get a different horse. Gussetted panels with virgin wool flock stuffing allow proper fit to your horse. “Fired” (pre-stretched) pure linen webbing ensures that the seat never sags- you sit in a “hammock” of web and never hit the steel bars of the tree. Deeply recessed stirrup bars nearly eliminate stirrup leather bulge under the skirts. Cowhide seat, bridle leather flaps. Knee rolls and removable thigh blocks. This saddle sold new for $3,000+ (click here to see it new). I’m selling this saddle because it does not fit my horse.
SOLD! Passier AP saddle for sale SOLD!
Passier VSD-type all-purpose saddle. It has a deeper seat, but is also suitable for jumping. Havana color. 18″ seat size. Tree is wide, with nice wither clearance. $400.
Stubben Portos AP saddle – SOLD!
SOLD! Stubben Portos (all-purpose type saddle with a fairly forward flap, making it good for jumping). 18″ seat size. Tree is 31cm, which is considered medium to medium-wide. The saddle is in good condition, with typical signs of use, but needs stitch work on the front. Saddle was stored in a house and lightly used by original owner, and then stored in a zipped saddle bag between rides by current owner. This is a very minimalist-type saddle, design-wise- there is not a lot of knee roll, padding, etc. The saddle has a tiny knee roll underneath, but the flap is flat (no padding or suede or anything like that). Leather is classic durable Stubben leather. I LOVE riding in this saddle, because I like very little in my way. It gives a lot of freedom for the leg, but has very nice balance. I’ve ridden for hours on the trail with it, and have jumped up to 3′ very comfortably. I’m selling the saddle because it does not fit my horse. Negotiable $150, plus shipping for anyone who needs it shipped. SOLD!
And these saddles are also for sale- my friends are selling them.
Circle Y Walnut Grove Flex2 Trail Saddle for sale
$1,500 plus shipping. Located in NJ. 15″ seat. Wide tree. Comes with special-ordered wool pad, two cinches, quilted saddle bag, lightweight nylon saddle cover, and spare latigo. Nearly new- less than 20 hours on the saddle.
County Fusion dressage saddle for sale
Narrow tree, 17″ seat. Price to be determined.
Bates Isabell dressage saddle for sale
$700. 16 1/2″ seat, CAIR panels. M/W tree.
Horses and Hope: Sunny’s Story
Part 5 in my Horses and Hope series, an uplifting look at how the equine community helps local horses in need.
No two horse rescue stories are the same. The story of Sunny is a story of matchmaking, and a story of how one of my favorite horses arrived at one of my favorite rescues, and was adopted by one of my favorite people.
Lisa Post of Helping Hearts Equine Rescue (HHER) remembers how Sunny, an American Mustang mare from the Twin Peaks herd in northern California, arrived at her New Jersey rescue:
“I first met Sunny as a fresh-from-the-BLM youngster. Her owner was a client who would trailer her over on occasion to get her out to see the world. When Sunny turned 3, she came to me to be started under saddle and thereafter for several years trailered in for weekly sessions with her owner and her friends. During the first year Helping Hearts was in existence, her owner contacted me asking for help placing Sunny. She’d been trying without success and was considering putting her down rather than sending her into questionable circumstances. There was no way I would let that happen. Sunny had always been a favorite ‘student’ of mine. Sunny was relinquished to Helping Hearts.”
I first learned about Sunny when she was added to Lisa’s list of HHER’s adoptable horses. Although Sunny was not the perfect match for her previous owners, she sounded like the ideal horse for my friend Kris. Kris and I have been friends since college, and she was looking for her first horse. For a few years, she took riding lessons and leased a mare, and was ready to look for a horse of her own. The stout Mustang mare with the cat-shaped star on her forehead turned out to be just what she was looking for.
The intelligence of the Mustang is celebrated by horsemen, and Sunny had a clever plan for sealing the adoption deal when Kris met her at the horse rescue:
“When I read Sunny’s adoption posting, I thought she was a good age, a good size, and had some good experience. I was intrigued by the fact that she was a Mustang, not a very common breed here in New Jersey. I tried not to be too excited, because this was the first horse I was going to see in my search for a horse of my own. My trainer and I went to meet Sunny, and we were both impressed, she had a beautiful trot and was generally pleasant to handle. As I stood next to Sunny discussing the adoption, she sealed the deal by putting her chin on my shoulder and licking my face. Clearly, this mare was coming home with me!”
Trainer Carole Davison (also the trainer of TDN Blog star Thewifedoesntknow) accompanied Kris when she evaluated Sunny and rode her for the first time. Although Carole’s clients usually ride Thoroughbreds and warmbloods, Carole liked Sunny right away:
“When Kris asked me to take a look at a Mustang that she was interested in adopting as her first horse, I was a bit hesitant. However, the first thing I noted was her kind eye. Although she wasn’t sure what was expected of her, she remained calm throughout the entire ride. Sunny is a very sweet mare, with a calm, confident demeanor. She is a comfortable ride with steady consistent gaits. Her canter has improved significantly. When Kris first brought her home she had a difficult time getting into as well as staying in the canter. She now steps into the canter easily, well balanced, and maintains a nice forward pace.”
Two times a week, every week, Kris and Sunny train with Carole. Through the lessons primarily focus on dressage, they also school for judged trail rides, and are beginning a little work with cavaletti and small jumps.
Their dedication and commitment was rewarded handsomely in 2012, when Kris and Sunny competed in their first two dressage shows, and scored in the high 60s (for those who are unfamiliar with dressage, those are great scores!). Sunny shows under the name Sunshine Daydream, as a nod to her California roots.
Kris is a true student of the horse, and always works hard to improve her communication with Sunny:
“Over the next year, I discovered that Sunny was all that I had hoped she would be – patient, smart, willing, and calm. She is tolerant of my rookie mistakes in the saddle and my occasional bouts of fear, gamely trying her best to decipher my sometimes murky aids. Sunny is helping me to become a more confident rider, and already we have tried our hand at intro-level dressage and a judged trail ride.”
A judged trail ride is a very different type of competition from a dressage show. A dressage show requires a horse to be intensely focused during a dressage test, which lasts less than ten minutes. A judged trail ride is a test of a horse’s willingness, bravery, and patience.
These rides can last over an hour, and horses are introduced to obstacles that they have never seen before, like the life-sized model horse pictured below. Sunny, in true Sunny fashion, tried to make friends with the “horse”.
Don’t let Sunny’s primitive wild bay coloring fool you- she is built to MOVE. Her lovely conformation enables her to collect like a dressage horse, and also run and corner like a barrel racer. Genetic markers in the Twin Peaks herd have been linked to Spanish ancestry, and perhaps this is why she can move with such agility and grace.
Descendants of US Army Cavalry and historic ranch stock are also part of the herd’s genetic makeup, which might explain Sunny’s amenable disposition.
This spring, Sunny was diagnosed with Equine Cushing’s Disease, but with careful management and excellent veterinary care, it does not slow Sunny down at all. Kris and I board our horses at the same barn, and we’ve spent many, many hours enjoying trail rides together. I think Kris and Sunny are great riding buddies, and my horse Wizard agrees- he’s quite fond of Sunny.
To know Sunny is to love her. Lisa Post worked hard to find the perfect home for her, and she couldn’t be happier with Sunny’s partnership with Kris, “I always considered Sunny a great example of what Mustangs have to offer. Now, partnered with Kris, she has become a great success story- a wonderful representative of both rescue horses and the American Mustang.”
Kris is excited about a bright future with her lovely mare:
“Sunny is an excellent ambassador for her breed; she is eminently practical with a steady and even temperament. It amazes me every day that a horse born in the wild could be so accepting of all the things we ask of our domesticated horses. We are daily becoming a better team, and I can’t wait to find out what we will accomplish together over the years. I am eternally grateful to Lisa Post at Helping Hearts Equine Rescue for allowing me the chance to become Sunny’s rider and caretaker, and to Sarah Andrew for pointing out the adoption posting (and countless hours of advice giving, commiserating, and encouraging!).”
I’m sure Sunny agrees, Kris!
Click here to read Horses and Hope: Tristan’s Story
Click here to read Horses and Hope: Rosebud’s Story
Click here to read Horses and Hope: Georgia’s Story
Click here to read Horses and Hope: Mimi’s Story
IN OTHER NEWS
Horses and Hope 2013 Calendar
With the help of Gina Keesling of HoofPrints, my 2012 debut calendar contained over 100 photos of auction horses. Thanks to the support of horse lovers all over, it raised nearly $40,000 for One Horse At A Time, helping hundreds of horses in need directly, and untold others indirectly through increased public awareness. Now that we have one calendar’s worth of experience to draw upon, the 2013 version promises to be even more exciting, even more creative, and as always, inspirational and positive.
Please click here to order calendars- they make GREAT gifts!
Wizard Sessions 418, 419, 420: Sandy
Thursday, 10/25/12
Friday, 10/26/12
Saturday, 11/3/12
Both my home and my barn were spared from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. There were power outages, broken windows, fallen trees, etc., but my family and the horses at my barn escaped the wrath of the storm that was so cruel to so many others. We are all safe and sound, and very lucky. The good people at Sounds To Go DJs in Red Bank are working on a massive relief effort, and my husband and I are doing everything we can to help.
I’ve been to the barn several times each week, but only have gotten out for a hand walk on the dates listed above. The Assunpink had many fallen trees and a cracked telephone pole by the hunt club, but was less battered than I expected. I wasn’t sure how Wizard would weather the storm since this is his first year on 24/7 turnout, but he was smart enough to take shelter when things got really wild. The barn owner was diligent about providing ample hay and water for the horse throughout the ordeal.
Wizard’s soundness looks a little better, but it’s hard to tell without riding him. His feet look good from all the Durasole treatments, with fat, happy frogs and tougher soles. I don’t see a huge difference from the EquiShure, so I’ll be swapping to EquiPride when our supply runs out. Wizard continues to gain weight, and has grown a very healthy winter coat. I’m just schooling him on the ground, and waiting for the new saddle to arrive. I should get it before Christmas (I hope!).
Wizard Sessions 415, 416, 417: Storm Warning
Saturday, 10/13/12
The saddle fitter (Dutchess Bridle & Saddle, LLC) came out and evaluated Wizard’s saddle fit. I currently ride him in a Smith-Worthington Danzig. By the broken hair pattern, the saddle fitter guessed that the saddle was too wide. Then, she placed the saddle on his back and, ugh, she was right. I tried out a Kent & Masters, and it’s a good fit. The problem with the Smith-Worthington is that it clears his withers, but the tree is too wide. The Kent & Masters has an adjustable tree and a high-wither model, so he gets wither relief AND a saddle that fits his A-frame shape. And now, I have to sell my THREE saddles that don’t fit my one horse.
After the fitting, I took Wizard on a hand walk on the trails with Kris and Sunny and Ellen and Pasha. We did a shorter loop, and Wizard had a nice time.
Saturday, 10/20/12
Wizard and I went out for another hand walk with Kris and Sunny. I visit him at night on weekdays, but it’s too dark to go out in the park and he’s on sabbatical until we get our new saddle. So we only do mornings or weekends in the park. The weather was stunningly beautiful, and we had a great walk. We stopped at the lake and did a nice walk.
Wizard’s soundness has been 95% normal, best outside in the big arena, and worst in the smaller indoor arena on a circle.
Thursday, 10/25/12
I took a mental health day off from my weekly volunteer photo work, and took Wizard for a relaxing hike in the park. It was cloudy but cool, and Wizard enjoyed our walk, eating grass along the way, and, of course, playing in the lake. We saw lots of birds and lots of cats. Wizard is up to 1038lbs, according to the weight tape. He gained 90lbs in nine weeks. I think it’s a combination of 1) him being relaxed with no mares in his paddock 2) Triple Crown Senior 3) EquiShure 4) 2 acres of pasture and all-you-can-eat hay.
Bring on the Frankenstorm!
Wizard Sessions 412, 413, & Ride 414: Action Time Vision
Tuesday, 9/25/12
Monday, 10/2/12
Both days, I longed Wizard in the outdoor arena. I saw a few minor missteps. He was happy to work and was full of energy.
Wednesday, 10/4/12
I hopped on Wizard to see how he felt under saddle. We walked for almost 30 minutes. We did very light trot work, at a slow trot on contact, and I felt his right knee buckle slightly a few times. I did not push it any further. He will remain on vacation with just a little exercise until I can get a vet to look at him again. It’s not alarming to observers, but it does not feel right to me.
Horses and Hope: Tristan’s Story
“Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is the special occasion.” ~Author Unknown
On January 3, 2011, Horse Rescue United founder Anouk Busch attended New Holland Auction. Although her rescue specializes in rehabilitating and training Standardbreds, one of the horses she loaded onto her trailer at the end of the auction was a Belgian workhorse named Tristan. He was tall and thin, covered in dried mud, had a sore tendon and a cancerous eye, and he cost $35.
After Tristan was out of quarantine, he was examined by veterinarians. X-rays revealed that the cancer had spread from his eye into the bones in his head. The prognosis was grim, and Tristan was given only a few months to live. Devastated by the news, Anouk did what she could to keep him comfortable. Through all the examinations and treatments, Tristan was a good patient. He charmed the veterinarians and all the volunteers at the rescue. He hammed it up during all of my photo sessions.
Tristan blossomed in Anouk’s care. Although the vets prepared Anouk for the eventuality that Tristan would lose weight, he gained weight all summer. His bad eye bothered him, though, and Anouk kept it as clean and protected as possible. When it became apparent that Tristan was not planning to leave this world any time soon, Anouk and the veterinarians at New Bolton revisited the option of surgically enucleating his bad eye. In October 2011, Tristan’s right eye was removed, which immensely increased his comfort level.
A year after his surgery, Tristan continues to live in the moment, in true horsey fashion. He has a girlfriend named Hailey (pictured above). His topline and hips are rounded with good nutrition. His coat is slick and healthy. His mane gets longer every time I see him. His missing eye does not bother him in the least.
Last month, in celebration of living in the moment, I climbed up on a bucket, leaned against Tristan’s almost 18-hand frame, and braided daisies into his mane for a photo shoot. As always, Tristan hammed it up and showed off for the camera.
When asked about Tristan’s popularity with visitors and Facebook fans, Anouk explained: “I had no clue what I had gotten myself into, but it’s the best buy we ever made. He has shown so much love, resilience and pleasure in life; he touches everybody with his presence. Particularly cancer and depression patients bond with him and see him as an example of how to take each day as it comes.”
Tristan is one of the many horses featured in my 2013 Horses and Hope calendar. With the help of Gina Keesling of HoofPrints, my 2012 debut calendar contained over 100 photos of auction horses. Thanks to the support of horse lovers all over, it raised over $40,000 for One Horse At A Time, helping hundreds of horses in need directly, and untold others indirectly through increased public awareness. Now that we have one calendar’s worth of experience to draw upon, the 2013 version promises to be even more exciting, even more creative, and as always, inspirational and positive.
Please click here to reserve your copy now for mid-October delivery
Wizard Rides 409, 410, Session 411: Stumble
Monday, 9/10/12
Before work, I rode Wizard in the outdoor arena with Kris and Sunny. He was tense and irritable during the beginning of the ride, and it took some transitions and lateral work to loosen him up a little. When I asked for a trot lengthening, he bounced into a canter and fussed a bit. Over trot poles and a small crossrail, he was perfect. While we were cooling out, Wizard stumbled and went down to his knees. He recovered quickly, but I’m concerned about him. He also loosened a nail in his left hind shoe, so the farrier tapped the nail back in the following day. He also used his hoof testers and felt around for heel pain (navicular) and tenderness in his feet. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Friday, 9/14/12
The September weather is ideal, but I have not ridden much since Wizard has tripped/stumbled a few times. I talked to the farrier, and I am also planning to talk to the vet. On Friday, he was very tense under saddle, and was also goosey during tackup and grooming. After about 15 minutes of riding, I got him to settle a little, and we did some walk/trot work. He trotted nicely over trot poles and a tiny crossrail. When his trot improved, I asked for a lengthening, and pfffft, a stumble. Oh well, I guess he’s on vacation again until we get this figured out.
Monday, 9/17/12
After work, I took a drive to the barn and met up with Kris and Sunny. It was dark out, but Wizard walked right up to me when I went in his paddock. Kris was finishing up a ride when I brought Wizard into the indoor. I groomed him and put him on a longe line for just a few minutes to see what he looked like. Twice at the walk, he tripped just a little bit. Nothing at the trot. And when I asked him to canter, he give me an extremely athletic buck and scampered around like a nut. After I gave him his evening snack (Triple Crown senior feed and a little rice bran), I put him back to bed in his paddock. Are we dealing with a funny knee? Tender feet? Something worse, like neurological symptoms? I’m not sure, but I want to get to the bottom of things.
Horses and Hope: Georgia’s Story
Since January 2010, I’ve photographed well over 3,000 horses in need at rescues, private farms, and the auction. All the horses, donkeys, and mules are special, but some of them have that extra-special “something”. Georgia is one of those extra-special horses.
In February of 2012, I took a ride to a farm with Lisa Post, Co-Founder and President of Helping Hearts Equine Rescue. Lisa remembers the day and our trailer ride home very well:
“Sarah and I picked up Georgia on Feb 2, 2012. She was an NJ SPCA neglect case that needed direct intake. The lack of sufficient feed and hay at the premises was quite evident and I was happy that we could help this girl.
The defining moment of the situation was watching Georgia’s eyes light up when she saw my straw-bedded trailer. I quietly told her that there was better than that in the hay net inside. I doubt my words meant anything to her, but she loaded right up and dove into the net.
We didn’t hear a peep during the hour-plus ride until we were almost home, when she started pawing. Upon arrival, we noted that the net was nearly empty, except for the last bit that she couldn’t reach. The pawing was explained.
All Georgia needed for the next several weeks was frequent feedings and affection. She received both from all who met her. Georgia, even severely emaciated, had a “shine” to her- a glimmer of what she was and would be again, and despite the neglect she had endured, she was a happy and personable mare.
Kathy, who had previously adopted another mare, Sweetie, from Helping Hearts, saw that shine as well. She came and spent time and groomed her and soon offered to foster Georgia, subsequently adopting her. Under Kathy’s fantastic care, Georgia has come into her full glory and I wish these two ladies a long and pleasurable partnership.
Georgia is just one example of what rescue can accomplish. But rescue can’t happen in a vacuum. It really does take a village. Working together, we can accomplish a lot for horses in need.”
Over the next few weeks, I took a series of photos of Georgia’s progress. The dates are on the photos so you can follow the time lapse.
This August, I visited Georgia in her new home. The horse who stood before me was a gorgeous, glorious, picture-perfect Quarter Horse. She was her same friendly self that she was the day I met her, but her body finally matched her bright expression.
These photos tell the story better than I can…
Horses and Hope 2013 Calendar
Georgia is one of the many horses featured in my 2013 Horses and Hope calendar. With the help of Gina Keesling of HoofPrints, my 2012 debut calendar contained over 100 photos of auction horses. Thanks to the support of horse lovers all over, it raised nearly $40,000 for One Horse At A Time, helping hundreds of horses in need directly, and untold others indirectly through increased public awareness. Now that we have one calendar’s worth of experience to draw upon, the 2013 version promises to be even more exciting, even more creative, and as always, inspirational and positive.
Please click here to reserve your copy now for mid-October delivery
Rock and Racehorses: The Blog 