It's been a short while since our last update to you regarding our first two rescues, Beauty and Prancer.
PRANCER
BEAUTY
It's difficult to accept that it's only been a couple of months since we rescued them from kill buyers at the Mira Loma auction. We had to move them around a bit until we were able to find them a more permanent home thanks to the gracious help of Dee Gleason of Del Rio Farms in Fallbrook, California.
(You can see Prancer at the far right!)
No stranger to rescuing horses, Dee is the consummate horse woman and she has opened her beautiful facilities to Equine Justice. Her commitment, desire to help and her generosity have made it a financially affordable for Equine Justice to keep them in a degree of comfort we're sure they've never known before. The difference we've seen in them in just 6 weeks has been amazing!
Because of the risks created by the auction process they had to be in quarantine for awhile before settling at Del Rio Farms to make sure they weren't carrying any infectious diseases They've been checked thoroughly by the terrific veterinarians of Creekside Veterinary Service and we're so extremely happy to say they are safe, sound and quite healthy. Their leg injuries have healed completely without complication, they've had their overgrown hooves trimmed and shoes removed and Beauty has had her teeth floated (it's doubtful it'd ever been done and the poor thing had bad cuts in her cheeks!). All the boarders at Del Rio Farms have so taken to them and they are getting lots of love and attention from everyone--
Prancer, because of his youthful charm and stunning good looks, and Beauty, partly because of her beauty but mostly because of her sweet and gentle nature.
They are both getting really good nutrition now and starting to put on weight. We'd like to give a hearty thanks to Mika and Stacie at Country Feed Store in Vista, California for their incredible help and support! Stacie has a real passion for horses and the injustice of their slaughter, so much so they've started a program where anyone making a donation to Equine Justice to help support these horses gets a special discount! Both Prancer and Beauty need extra feed these days until they each put on another 100 pounds or so. With a gracious discount by Country Feed, we're able to provide them with Nutrena Youth, a wonderful source of protein, vitamins and minerals! As you can see in the video, they're already showing the results!
So, now what? We've been spending the last few weeks allowing Prancer and Beauty to get comfortable in their new surroundings and to learn about these two beautiful and incredible horses. Beauty, the 10 year old mare, may have some quarter horse and possibly full Arabian. She's been pretty traumatized by the ordeal she's been through and has some major trust issues that might have even been from some rough treatment earlier in her life and training. She gets scared sometimes but is calming as she realizes that not everyone in this world means her harm. Some of us can be trusted.
Prancer is clearly full Arabian and so special! Truly, there is something almost magical about him. It's obvious with just a glance and he has the intelligence and temperament of a full Arabian. He's only 2 years old and quite precocious and very curious. And, he's so incredibly beautiful, full of life and already taller than most Arabians. To think that he would have been sent to slaughter is unimaginable. What kind of people can kill such beauty, grace and intelligence with such indifference?
At Equine Justice, we subscribe to the idea that horses are like people including how different horses are best suited for different things. We are evaluating both for finding their highest and best use going forward, again thanks largely to Dee and her wonderful understanding of horses.
Dee is volunteering her time to help work with the horses and help us come to know them and their capabilities. She's been spending lots of time with both inside the round pen and around Del Rio Farms.
Our intention at this point is to prepare Prancer and Beauty to be utilized in an Equine Assisted Therapeutic Program because both seem to have healing and rejuvenating natures. We're developing a program for them with the help of Cyndi Mantsch, a certified EAGALA practitioner.
We contemplate employing them to help veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and to help young women experience the empowerment and confidence that comes from obtaining a horse's respect.
At only 2, Prancer has a long life of his own ahead and incredible contribution to the human world. We've begun investing the training to help him realize his potential. He exudes the joy of living for its own sake and touches the souls of everyone he meets. Just being in his presence makes you smile.
Beauty is just entering the prime of her life and it's time for her to begin living a more fulfilling existence free of the fear of punishment. Having herself come from knowing the harsher hand of humans, she's well-suited to help others regain their true selves. She's been under saddle but not yet ridden. It's pretty apparent she was trained as a performance horse and quite possibly racing.
There is still so much to be done, not just for these horses but for so many others that your generous donation will help us rescue, care for and help nurture so they can realize their potential. Equine Justice is a 501(c)(3) organization so your contributions are tax deductible. Please help by clicking here: I want to help!
For the horses and a better world,
Equine Justice, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation |
