Three Little Arabs
Update: All three of these horses have been adopted.
Be sure to check out their updated pics below.
The three horses pictured below were picked up at the stockyard in Barron County, WI on June 19, 2007. Anyone who rescues horses knows that the stories always vary as to what has happened or how the horses got to the point where we pick them up, this is their story.
1 Stud Colt, 2 Fillies In Desperate Need of Help
We were alerted by email and through phone calls (from a woman in Chicago) that these three young horses were in desperate need of rescue. They were originally bred by a breeder who breeds, and breeds and breeds and, well, you get the picture. These three were purchased by a buyer who decided that the best price he was going to get for them was at the slaughterhouse in Illinois (recently reopened) and brought them to the stockyard in Barron County to await transport. We have been told that the three of them were together inside a trailer for an extended period of time with limited food (if any) and no water in the trailer (this was the week the temps were in the 90s). When we picked them up, the stockyard employee was not aware they were even still there. After giving them water before the trip home, they were run through a chute into our trailer.
We were told that all three are purebred Arabians and all are approximately 2 years old. Because of lack of nutrition, worms, etc., all three are very small and one of the fillies still had remnants of her winter coat. We had no idea how much any of them had been handled (if at all) and what other health problems may arise, however, they were safe and being given everything they needed to recover from their ordeal.
Raja - 2 year old gray Arabian colt (now a gelding) has evidently been handled in the past. He allowed us to groom him, clip him and behaves very well when being led. He is still somewhat fearful but very willing to let you gain his trust. Adopted.
Misty - A 2 year old Arabian filly. Misty is the smallest of the three, is very timid and untrusting of humans. Because of poor nutrition, care and probably worms, she still had remnants of her winter coat. With a great deal of patient and persistence, she was haltered and cleaned up. Adopted.
Spice - A 2 year old Bay Arabian filly. Spice is the least trusting of the three and is difficult to get a hold of even in a round pen. However, again, with a lot of patience and persistence she was also cleaned up and haltered. Because her and Misty have been through such an ordeal and literally "move" together, they are currently being kept together. Adopted.
The following pictures were taken at our Open House on June 23, 2007. Bob Bilger and Annie worked together on gaining the trust of Spice and as you can see, by the end of the session, they were all enjoying a relaxing time in the grass!
If you have any doubts as to what good food, good water and good living can do -- take a look at these three after just a month!! It has been a great surprise to find that even though these three have been through a great ordeal, that not one of them has tried to kick, bite or even pin their ears at anyone who has been handling them.
Raja
Raja has become the most willing and the easiest to handle. He is now out in a pasture with some other boys who don't mind that he's a little "small" for his age and he's been doing great. We think he's going to make a wonderful horse for someone. Raja was adopted in January of 2008.
Misty
Spice
Misty is still the easier of the two to handle. She is much more willing to allow these "humans" to handle her and is coming along nicely. Spice is still very untrusting of her human caretakers and because she is no dummy, she's a bit more of a challenge. Spice and Misty are still being kept together in a smaller confined area and we are hoping with a little more time and work, they can also graduate to a small pasture.
If you think making a donation to a rescue doesn't make a difference, think about where these three young horses would have ended up - on the slaughterhouse floor in Illinois. All three are now getting a second chance at life because of people who think they deserve it. If you would like to help with their costs, please check out our donate page to find out how.