Featured Article (November 2008)  &

From the Horse’s Mouth—

Thankful for Second Chances, Kindness and Green Pastures

That’s how it almost happened for me, but I was one of the lucky ones. I don’t have space to give you all the details, but my first several owners all had Big Plans for me. I was going to be a show horse. I was going to be a jumper. I was going to be some girl’s best little horsey friend. For a variety of reasons, none of it ever worked out. I was sold, given away, and finally abandoned.

Fortunately for me, there are good people out there who run rescue groups. This one farm, the Equine Rescue League, came and got me, took care of me, and found me a new home. (I’d like to make a special shout out to my Aunt Cheryl and Nana Pat for all their hard work on behalf of the horses. Thanks, you guys!)

  I’ve been with my human for almost eight years now. She doesn’t care that I’m older, my joints are creaky, and it’s kind of difficult for me to carry a rider now. She loves me the way I am, and she’s promised me a home for life. And when it’s finally time for me to cross the Rainbow Bridge, she’s already made all the arrangements for it to be quick and humane. What more could a horse ask for?

 So yeah, there are people out there who may think I don’t have any "value," but I am very, very thankful my human understands that real value isn’t measured with dollar signs. I only wish all my buddies could be as blessed as I am!

Wild Annie: Mustang, Age 3, In training as a pleasure horse

Human/s: Vicki and Dennis Pinner, Goochland, VA

When this Thanksgiving rolls around, I will be counting my blessings. I am thankful for three things: the US Equine Rescue League; my friends Susan, Lisa, James, and Kim; and my human parents, Vicki and Dennis. If not for these good people, who had faith that I was a very good horse, I would still be at the USERL rehab barn. They knew that I was intelligent, gentle and kind---just the right horse for my human adopters.

When the US Equine Rescue League entered my life last November, I was constantly worried and nervous about when my next meal would come, along with the rest of my herd. But once we arrived at the rehab barn, those worries disappeared. That was the turning point in my life.

Most of all, I am grateful that my humans wanted me as much as I wanted them. I chose them, you know, even though they were inexperienced horse owners. I allowed my mom to talk me into a halter, and I trusted her to lead me onto the trailer that would take me to Lisa and James’ place for training. Deep down, I knew that I was an answer to my mom’s 50-year prayer for a horse of her own. I am also grateful that I was able to introduce my dad to horses, and create in him a love for mustangs. Out of a herd of 11 mares, my humans fell in love with me from day one.

Rich: Thoroughbred, Age 1, Learning to be a good student

Human/s: Vikki and Ronnie Miller, Mathews, VA

They call me Rich and I’m going to tell you why.

When I was born—not all that long ago—I lived in a tiny pen with my mom, dad, and brother. We were always hungry. It seemed that even when it wasn’t raining, there was always sticky, deep mud and nowhere to lie down comfortably. But hey, I was just a kid…I didn’t know there was any other way to live. I made the best of it.

One day when I was five months old a lady came to look at my mom. She was angry at my human, but I didn’t know why. She also looked very, very sad. When she saw me she smiled and I could tell she was talking to my human about me. I have never been so curious…and I really wanted her to stay. A few days later the smiling lady came back pulling a trailer FOR ME!

I went from rags to RICHES in less than 15 minutes…when I got off the trailer, everything around me was green, dry, and sweet-smelling. The lady led me into what I now know is a barn, and into my very own stall. Only problem is, every day she ties a rope to my head and asks me to do things like walk quietly…doesn’t she understand how hard that is for me???

The first time I got to run across the pasture, I screamed out "HALLELUJAH I’M RICH!" and I know my human mom heard me. That’s why she calls me Rich. She’s tough on me, but she’s good to me too. Much better than those fat, crabby mares I share MY pasture with. But you know what? Life doesn’t get much better than this. I’m truly rich.

Bridger: (Registered name Avid Pleasure) Thoroughbred, Age 20, Pleasure horse

My Human/s: Ginny Sawkins, Urbanna, VA

I was born a winsome red Thoroughbred colt, a star upon my forehead, with high expectations of strength and speed on the track by the people who raised me. My grandfather was of royal blood and winner of the Kentucky Derby. I, however, couldn’t catch up with him in flesh or spirit and was sold to the first of many humans who wanted me to work hard for their pleasure. I have scars, soreness and dark memories from those harsh times of labor and punishment. But now, in these quiet days of my older years, I have found kindness, comfort and peace. Now someone loves me without condition and I know at last that I am home. Home with the care and security I now have come to trust. She comes to me with a soft voice, gentle touches and carrots hidden in jacket pockets for me to find. No hand has been raised to me in anger under her watchful eye and I am at last safe and loved. She has helped relieve some of the old pains in my legs and back and has given me the gift of happy days to graze in the sunshine with my friend Jazz. I walk to her happily when she comes to see me each day. I am content and grateful.

Mystique (Sonia): Arabian, Age 24, Pleasure horse, semi-retired

Human/s: Leanna Bellinger, Hayes, VA

My current name is Mystique, but I have had two others. I think I like the one I have now the best. I love my current (and last) owner, and she loves me as much as I do her. I say last owner because she has promised me she will keep me forever. It’s a promise I’ve heard before, but this time I know it’s true.

My human calls me a gift, but I haven’t always felt so treasured. Though born of royal blood and sold for a princely sum as a yearling, my first owner fell on hard times and had to sell me…and that was the start of a long journey that took me through several states and owners. I finally found a beautiful, loving home but my owner died unexpectedly at an early age. My papers were lost, and when my current human agreed to take me in, she had no idea who I was. She didn’t care. She called me beautiful and treated me with kindness.

She went through lots of research because she was determined to find out everything about me—and she did. I am so thankful to be here at the farm with a miniature horse to keep me company as well as four other Arabians who have been rescued from various circumstances.