Do you believe in destiny?
DH and I had been thinking of finally getting our own horse this autumn but were a bit hesitant because of cost, complications, etc... We're absolute novices and have never owned a horse before, but we have 12 acres (most in paddocks) and a big stable - we've been here a year now and have one paying renter (her horse has been here for 10 years!) and one "freebie" horse to keep the tenant company. We were kinda tired of feeding and boarding someone else's horse for free, you know?
So last Sunday morning.
I open Facebook and see a crosspost on a friend's wall: Urgent! Foster homes needed for 6 belgian geldings seized from a neglect-and-abuse situation!
I showed the post to DH and the photo just broke our hearts... how can anyone let their animal starve to skin and bones like that? The horses were found in filth up to their shoulders, not exercised in months, not fed, watered, vetted - nothing. They beaten, abused, they were riddled with mites, lice, worms, you name it
Horse Rescue got them through a court order and spent 4 months vetting and rehabilitating them with food and good care but now they needed urgent foster (or adoptive) homes... DH and I agreed to look into it, I emailed the Rescue and got a call back right away saying it was urgent and the decision had to be made the same day, would it be possible to drive up and see the horses?
So... Um... I went... with DH's blessing and the owner of the tenant horse as she is a horse expert... we fell in love and I got chosen by Big Daddy. Literally. Standing there in the small herd, dwarfed and in awe, this gentle giant came up from behind and nudged my hand with his soft muzzle, stepped back and when I turned around I was met by the saddest eyes on earth... My heart just broke and melted right then and there. I had to have him. Once the paperwork was drawn up I found out he's only 6 years old... how many of those were spent in utter misery I'll never know but my goodness, what a gently, respectful and sweet boy - it's just incredible.
We went to get him today, finally, and you cannot imagine how blessed we feel.
Big Daddy, you will never again go without a gentle touch, love, the best food and care we can provide - you are home now.
We love you
The lady who transported him said he was one of the best horses she's ever met in her life!
PS: Big Daddy is a belgian, a good 17 hands if not taller and should be around 2300 lbs once he's gained the muscle mass he so badly needs. These horses were starved when they were found and it will take a year to get him back into shape.
DH and I had been thinking of finally getting our own horse this autumn but were a bit hesitant because of cost, complications, etc... We're absolute novices and have never owned a horse before, but we have 12 acres (most in paddocks) and a big stable - we've been here a year now and have one paying renter (her horse has been here for 10 years!) and one "freebie" horse to keep the tenant company. We were kinda tired of feeding and boarding someone else's horse for free, you know?
So last Sunday morning.
I open Facebook and see a crosspost on a friend's wall: Urgent! Foster homes needed for 6 belgian geldings seized from a neglect-and-abuse situation!
I showed the post to DH and the photo just broke our hearts... how can anyone let their animal starve to skin and bones like that? The horses were found in filth up to their shoulders, not exercised in months, not fed, watered, vetted - nothing. They beaten, abused, they were riddled with mites, lice, worms, you name it
Horse Rescue got them through a court order and spent 4 months vetting and rehabilitating them with food and good care but now they needed urgent foster (or adoptive) homes... DH and I agreed to look into it, I emailed the Rescue and got a call back right away saying it was urgent and the decision had to be made the same day, would it be possible to drive up and see the horses?
So... Um... I went... with DH's blessing and the owner of the tenant horse as she is a horse expert... we fell in love and I got chosen by Big Daddy. Literally. Standing there in the small herd, dwarfed and in awe, this gentle giant came up from behind and nudged my hand with his soft muzzle, stepped back and when I turned around I was met by the saddest eyes on earth... My heart just broke and melted right then and there. I had to have him. Once the paperwork was drawn up I found out he's only 6 years old... how many of those were spent in utter misery I'll never know but my goodness, what a gently, respectful and sweet boy - it's just incredible.
We went to get him today, finally, and you cannot imagine how blessed we feel.
Big Daddy, you will never again go without a gentle touch, love, the best food and care we can provide - you are home now.
We love you
The lady who transported him said he was one of the best horses she's ever met in her life!
PS: Big Daddy is a belgian, a good 17 hands if not taller and should be around 2300 lbs once he's gained the muscle mass he so badly needs. These horses were starved when they were found and it will take a year to get him back into shape.
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