Update on Feedlot Horses 8-17-11

Today I had the time to stop and visit the first six of the rescued horses that have made their way down to Ramona.  It was just 3 days ago that Jamie and Laura made the trek up to Bishop to pick them up.  After a tire blow out on the way they spent the night with a very gracious Hawk family and on Sunday loaded up these six and made the long drive back to Ramona.   It was hot, over 100 degrees, but the horses did awesome with several stops for shade and water and they arrived late Sunday.  

The horses quickly started to settle in and after the first day were no longer scared to have Laura enter the enclosure and a few even got brave enough to approach her and nibble food out of her hand.  

Today it was apparent that they feel extremely comfortable in their new surroundings.  I saw lots of yawns while I was there.  Several approached me and were sniffing and allowed me to rub their muzzle.  Then as though on cue, they got in a line and all turned to look at us as if to say, "see, we made it!".  

I dropped off some halters so that Laura and Jamie can eventually start halter breaking them and get them used to being handled.  While their feet look relatively good, they will need a trim in the next few weeks and when their quarantine is over they will be able to be moved around some more.  So far no signs of illness from any of them, but they will remain in quarantine for a few weeks to stay on the safe side.

It wasn't but a few hours later I got a text message from Laura with the picture below.  The very friendly dun filly (#8), who is the first to approach everyone at the fence, was already wearing a halter and acting like it was no big deal to have it on.  I was SO excited I called Laura right away to share the joy.  These are the sweetest horses that have been through the worst of times through no fault of their own.  And here this little filly is accepting enough to let Laura put a halter on her and not fuss about it.  I makes my heart smile. 

So many people have come together to save these lives and we are all sharing in the joy of these moments.  Sadly there are still twelve on the feed lot, three mares with foals at their sides, that need to be taken off that lot.  We need people who have room and can take one or more so they won't end up on the truck going to the Canada slaughter plant in a few days.  

If you have room, please contact Debra Hawk at 760-933-8797 or dhawk@schat.net

Donations are still be accepted via PayPal  using email   Donate@EquineWellBeing.com

or they can be mailed to Equine WellBeing Rescue, PO Box 324, Ramona, CA 92065

and donations are still needed to fund the medical care of #24 who's vet bill was $346 for an issue with her eye. 

Let's make it so we can see pictures like these of the remaining horses, rather than worry they have been sent to their death through no fault of their own.....

They are Safe!!! Update on the orphaned foals.

We are so excited to find out that things have come together so these two orphaned foals will be pulled off the Fallon feedlot today or tomorrow.   Pam Jonitis, who has been hauling the one and two year old's off the lot and taking them to her place in Reno, will be picking these two up.

The little black colt will be able to have his injury addressed right away and the little creamello will be checked out too.   We have had people come forward who want to provide a permanent home for each and the details of that are being worked out in coordination with Debra Hawk.

In the meantime, the funds raised for these two will be used for the care and transportation as needed.  I can't thank everyone enough who stepped in to help these babies out.

Sadly several of the mares with foals at their side are still on the feed lot.  I am praying that people will come forward and offer a home for each of them.  Time is running short.  My understanding is the truck for Canada comes again on Thursday this week.  

So if you know anyone who may have room for a mare and foal, or one of the few remaining young ones, please refer them to Debra Hawk at this link:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2126565616644.114624.1621042469

or call her at  760..933...8797   if she doesn't answer, please, please leave a message.

Orphaned Foals need help $$ needed ASAP

We need your help!!! Again!!!! There are now two orphaned foals, approximately 8-10 weeks old that have been left at the Fallon feedlot by the same breeder as the last group of 20 that we just helped rescue.

The black colt is injured and needs immediate care for his left hind leg. We are trying to raise $500 to bail them both, fuel to transport them to the ranch in Ramona, vet care, medicine and foal feed. They will receive the proper quarantine here at the ranch in case they have been exposed to any virus at the feedlot (which is always a possibility with any place groups of horses are in close proximity).

Debra Hawk, who is overseeing the entire rescue recently posted pictures of these two babies in her "Fallon Feedlot" photo album on Facebook. What started out as 33 horses has now grown to over 50. The above two are numbered 50 & 51 on her album.

Donations can be made via PayPal by using Donate@EquineWellBeing.Org or if you would like to send a check please send it to:

Equine WellBeing Rescue, Inc.

1984 Equestrian Trail

Ramona, CA 92065

Time is of the essence with these two, they are small and need medical care and proper nutrition now. Please share this blog and post on your media sources. We need to get them out of there this week.......

Thank you SO much.

Christine

Equine WellBeing Rescue, Inc.

www.EquineWellBeing.org

http://www.gentledmustangs.com/DONATIONS_JER6.html

20 Horses Saved From Filthy Feed Lot

Our first rescue as EquineWellBeing Rescue, Inc.

a non-profit organization

formerly GentledMustangs.com

Feedlot Rescue

What can I say other than this has been a most amazing effort by a group of absolutely wonderful and caring horse people. It started when I received an email about young horses that were on a feedlot in Fallon NV, heading to a slaughter plant in Canada. A lady named, Debra Hawk, was trying to get the word out because 33 yearlings and 2 year olds had been dropped there by a Quarter Horse breeder who was going out of business.

A week prior, Jill Starr and her crew from Lifesavers rescue had taken in a livestock trailer of mares in foal, mares with foals by their sides and weanlings. But there was neither room nor the funds to also help the one and two year olds. So Debra stepped in.

In response to that email, I went to Debra’s Facebook page and found the album with pictures of all 33 horses. I chose a Palomino filly and put a comment under her picture that Equine WellBeing Rescue would be raising funds for her bail (the fee the feedlot wanted for us to purchase the horse) and transporting her to San Diego. Within two days, Facebook friends and others had pledged and donated enough funds that we could save her life.

Then Pam (a friend of Debra’s who lives in Reno), made a post asking if we can continue raising funds and donating through Equine Well Being Rescue? I thought we might get the funds to save one or two more horses, but you proved me wrong. Within a week, we had received the funds and pledges, and had enough people step forward to provide homes for 19 of the 33 horses. 

As these sorts of last minute rescues can be, this was a whirlwind. The community of Ramona in San Diego County stepped in full force providing funds and homes for 10 of the horses, then 3 others going to Winchester, 3 going to Anza, 2 going to Yucca Valley and one going to Fallbrook. With many folks donating funds if someone else could take the horse. What a huge team effort.

Getting the horses bailed out was one thing, the logistics of how to get them from Fallon, NV, to southern California was quite another.  Lots of forms and procedures to follow to get them where they need to go.

When Debra and I first spoke on the phone, it was after about 10 of the horses were spoken for and funds raised. We both admitted that what was happening was beyond our understanding and we both felt we were just intermediaries in a plan that was so much bigger than what we anticipated, divine intervention at its best. I know the Lord played a big role in this because there is nothing that I possess or have to offer that could bring people out of the woodwork to help as has happened for these young horses. Not only are they going to homes, but they are going to homes where they are wanted and people are excited about getting them, some given names before even being seen for the first time by their new owners.

Some of these are becoming part of the family and others are going to be handled, trained and then a permanent adoptive home will be found. The hardest horses to find homes for are untrained horses and elderly horses with physical needs. This training will give these young horses a step up in life and a chance at more successful relationship with people.

This time and these young horses will be forever etched in our minds. A successful triumph of caring people working together for the good of innocent animals that were dumped by their breeder destined for slaughter. A new lease on life these sweet horses will have a chance at a long life with happy relationships with people. Like a graduating class of students we will watch how they mature and what they become as they grow up, rather than meat on someone’s plate.

There are so many people to thank, so many people who cared to step up and make a difference. You are all angels to these horses. You all saved lives. God bless you all for your part in this amazing rescue effort. We are still raising funds to help cover the transport of the horses.

Horses saved through our efforts and their new homes are:

#1 to the family who initially quarantined her in Bishop

#2 to Rachel and her family in Winchester

#3 yearling filly to Steve and family in Santa Ysabel

#7 to Jamie in Ramona

#8 to Jamie in Ramona

#9 to Steve & his family in Santa Ysabel

#10 to Heather

#11 to Liz in Anza

#13 to Jamie in Ramona

#14 to Kathy & Her family

#15 to Jamie in Ramona

#19 to Liz in Anza

#20 the original Palomino – adopted in Bishop

#21 to Rachel and family in Winchester

#23 to Jamie in Ramona

#24 to Karen in Ramona

#25 to Jamie in Ramona

#26 to Laura in Ramona

#27 to Heather

#29 to Liz in Anza