Tuesday June 10 we made the second trip North for the remaining three horses. When we arrived, Mom "Charisma" was tied to a tree, and her baby "Envy" was in another field crying for her. We quickly reunited mom and baby and they loaded very well. Once I got a hand on Envy she quieted and mom followed her on the trailer. They seemed to know they were going to a better place.
CAUTION GRAPHIC!!!!
DO NOT scroll down if you cannot handle graphic photos or stories.
Than it was time to catch poor Gypsy. This sweet girl was nuzzling our hands when we picked up Whiskey and Cuervo. If we had only known what was in store for her, we would've taken her on the first trip. The stablehand lassoed poor Gypsy and wrapped the rope around a tree. Her hind leg got tangled in the web of rope and she panicked. She was rearing and running 3/4 of the way around the tree. She couldn't get around the tree, since there was 6 strand electric wire cattle fencing on one side.
When the stable hand cut the rope, she was still attached to the tree by her head, but her leg was free. She pushed between the fence and tree and went through the fencing. She cried out loud from the pain and fear of being electricuted and sliced by the wires. When she got out of the web of wire she had minor abrasions and lacerations on her legs...and then she turned around. Her beautiful painted skin had been peeled from the muscle on her chest and shoulder. 
This poor three year old had never asked for this. The proud farm owner asked if he should just shoot her. When we realized getting a vet was just not an option, we backed the trailer into her paddock and dropped the gate. She tiptoed right on and looked over her shoulder begging us to shut the ramp. We hauled her and her rope confines home. 
Our vet, Dr. Hammond, met us home. He spoke gently to her for 20 mins until he slipped a halter on her and sedated her. She followed him into the barn like a puppy. As she gets in and her wounds are cleaned, a thunder storm hit, and we lose power. Our patient vet never skipped a beat, and continued suturing while we held flashlights and whispered to our little girl. 
She stood like a rock for two hours of stitching and cleaning through a thunderstorm. What a brave little girl! 
Today, she is on stall rest, but is trusting despite her ordeal. She allows us to feed her and clean her stall. She'll come touch us with her nose and think about nuzzling, but then turns away. We are optimistic about her healing and becoming a nice adult horse.
Thank you for all your help and support through this process: Robert Trump, Annmarie Pallan, Dan Taylor, Ren Adams, Lyndsey Posner, Parker Lightfield Farm, Jamie Manning, Gary Freeborn, Kathie Franco, Loretta Pecora, the Siegel family, and Matt Zele. We would like to extend a very special thank you to the prompt attention of Dr. Hammond's staff on call that night, Megan and Cheryl and of course, the biggest thank you to our wonderful vet, Dr. David Hammond.
Please contact us if you can offer any help, whether it be financial or your time to help socialize the babies.
1 comment:
Thank God there are organizations like Lucky Orphan Horse Rescue!! I know these stories and pictures are hard to see but it is so important for people to see how "disposable" and forgotten horses are. If your group had not been there for Gypsy - no doubt that owner WOULD have shot her and moved on to another horse to make him money!!
You have my support both financially and physically - but I urge the rest of you to dig into your pockets to donate to this group so that they can continue to help these - and other horses in the future. We all know vet care is not cheap and neither is grain, hay and supplements!!
To all those who read this but cannot physically lend a helping hand - send a donation on behalf of Gypsy and the rest of these mares.. they need your support.
Good Job Lucky Orphan Volunteers for saving these horses!!
Post a Comment