Saving Five Unwanted Horses

By Laura Cotterman
Delaplane, Virginia

Horse rescue comes in many forms. Our story is a personal, hands-on story. My daughter, Helen, works as manager of a veterinary practice. One day in late November 2008 she received a call about some horses in need of rescue.

Nov 23, 2008, Azera after a week of care.
This dirt lot was where they lived with little to
eat and no clean water.

As it turned out, they were in dire need of food and more urgently they needed water. There were four young Thoroughbred horses in very poor condition. The pasture was grazed down to the dirt. They were drinking from a muddy little spring. A number of local horse people came out to see the horses but they were not very appealing in their skinny and neglected state. No one wanted them. Helen started feeding and watering them.

The horses were strongly bonded to each other. They shared their grain and ate out of the same feed tubs with no fighting. They were all gentle and kind with a gratefulness that you frequently find in neglected animals.

Days wore on and Helen was carrying feed, hay and water in her Subaru to the 4 hungry horses. After about 10 days it was clear that we had to come up with a more permanent arrangement. The purchase of the horses was arranged. At the last minute, one more horse was added to the "package deal". Sundae was an 18 year old broodmare who was not sound enough to ride.

Tim, an old friend with a big trailer, hauled the five TB horses, 2 geldings and 3 mares, to Blue Ridge Farm where they could be cared for properly. They all got borrowed turnout rugs to help conserve energy and calories. In the first month they all had basic health care like hooves trimmed, teeth floated and dewormed. Gradually we built up the amount of feed they were getting.

Dec 27, 2008 - Danny under saddle

Mar 20, 2009 - Azera and Lily being happy TBs

The reality of 5 skinny TB horses in the middle of winter was daunting. We were starting to worry about getting them placed in good permanent homes. Of the five horses, three were sound and healthy enough to ride so we did some test rides to see where they might fit in the world. They were all three quiet and easy to ride so we felt sure we could place them.

We rented a pasture with a run-in shed and moved the 3 mares in early January. After many years of being out of the horse business we were back to the day to day chores of feeding and caring for horses. It turned out to be a tremendous blessing. I had spent years as a professional trainer. My point of view was that you needed to do something with a horse. It never occurred to me that doing something could be just brushing and touching a horse that was so grateful for the attention. Every iota of love and affection we gave was returned to us a hundred times over.

Danny was the sweetest and gentlest little gelding you can imagine. He wasn't too skinny and the only problem he had was badly neglected feet. My husband Mark is a farrier so he volunteered to put 4 shoes on Danny and try to get him sorted out. He would rest his head in your arms ever so gently for as long as you would hold him. He loved my 4 year old granddaughter best of all and would put his head down low so she could brush him and feed him carrots. We were sure he wanted to be a kid's horse. You could just feel him breathe a sigh of relief when a kid was with him. Helen rode him 2 or 3 days a week in January and we started contacting our local 4H and pony club to try to find a kid for Danny. Danny found his little girl, a soft-spoken 14 year old 4H member. They were a perfect fit and he went to his new home in early February.

Feb 7, 2009 - Sunday conformation pose

We thought Sunday, the 18 year old mare, would be the hardest to place. With some help from Liz Hall of Silverwood Farm we were able to transfer a breeding to Silverwood's most popular stallion, Sempatico to her for 2009. This made her much more attractive to a new owner. I put an ad on the Chronicle Forums and was overwhelmed with responses. I learned a bit about what rescue organizations must go through with all kinds of people and their mixed agendas. Through it all a gal from Rochester New York kept in touch and was sure that she wanted her. We needed to wait a little for the heavy snow to subside in upstate New York. She went to her new home on March 11th.

June 26, 2009 - Lily the morning she went home

The third mare, Lily, found her home through another internet connection. I had posted about Danny on Facebook and Sharon Packer, who I was acquainted with through Equine Photographers Network, saw the post and contacted me. She felt sure she wanted to take Lily and committed to supporting her until she could bring her home to South Carolina. It took a while but it was worth the wait. Lily went on to her new home on June 26th.

Quote from Sharon Packer -
Lily never ceases to amaze me. She is the most aware and observant horse I've ever known. She watches me when I'm around her, even if I am simply working in the pasture. She stays close by. If I take a break from work, she looks for a sign that it is OK for her to come close for a visit. She is gentle, loving and kind. She is never pushy and is grateful for attention. She loves being groomed and becomes so relaxed. Even in the most frightening of circumstances, she looks for direction and accepts with total trust. She loves treats and takes them with such caution. She doesn't need treats, though, to desire being close and just hanging out. She simply wants to be close.

I don't know what hardships she may have endured in her life, but she has forgiven all who may have mistreated her or forgotten her. She is willing to give her heart and her trust with the ultimate gentle nature. All her eyes seem to say is "be gentle in return".

I adore her. I can't wait to see her each morning. She brings me great joy everyday. She even has my 87 year old father in the barn handing out carrots by 6:30 am. I don't know what else to say, but thank you so much for the chance to be part of Lily B's life.

July 03, 2009 - Runner out for a hack

Well, if your math is any good you know that there are two horses left. The oldest gelding is my boy Runner and he has a home with me. I've been out of the horse business since 1996 and only ridden a few dozen times in those years. Now, I am out at the barn every evening. Runner had some challenges including a sore ankle, bad feet, Lyme disease and a badly fractured skull and jaw from an old injury. He is big and fat and happy now. He is a total joy to ride.

Last but not least is Azera the youngest of all. She is a beautiful 4 year old black mare with a big white star. She is a super mover and gentle as a lamb. Helen is going to bring her along for herself. She was in the worst shape of all and it is taking her a little longer to get to an ideal weight. Not surprisingly, she has started to grow! We thought she was a small horse at first but she is not small any more.

July 29, 2009 - Runner in summer pasture

Through helping these wonderful horses I have learned lots of things. The concept of think globally, act locally works great with animals in need. If you have a sense of doing the right thing and do what you can see needs to be done, things have a way of working out. Yes, a leap of faith is needed to take something like this on but people will join in if you take the first step. We had lots of help along the way from friends, vets, farriers and dentists.

My devoted friend follows
me everywhere I go.

Everything we have done for the horses has come back to us many times over. Anyone can help a horse in need even if it is just by cleaning a water trough and filling it with fresh water. All you have to do is take the first step, no matter how small.