2012: A YEAR OF GAIN AND A YEAR OF LOSS
A Year of Accomplishment:
Thanks to the dedication of our volunteers and a lot of help from our friends, especially those at the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), Equamore horses are stabled away from hay storage, have an improved fire alarm system, and new fencing in the lower pastures, which has allowed our newer ponies to have their own lean-to, pasturage, and feeding stations away from larger horses.
A Year of Problem Solving:
Our horses continue to enjoy daily turnout: no easy accomplishment, as each of our forty-four horses has its own preferences for companionship and roaming space. Where, for instance, can a blind mustang mare get the movement she craves, safe from other horses who may take her inability to see their overt body signals as a challenge? Where can General and the ponies he’s appointed himself to protect be housed so the defensive gelding doesn’t see new ponies as a danger, allowing them to become part of his “mini-herd”? Or how can Raffie, a gelding, and Bo, a mare, be pastured so they continue to find comfort in one another’s company as they did for many years before finding sanctuary? These kinds of problems are solved on a daily basis as horses come into care or finally succumb to the many fatal consequences that plague animals who have been starved, neglected, or abused.
A Year of Loss:
And plague us they did: the end of 2012 and the first three months of 2013 saw an increase in the number of horses brought to Equamore Foundation who had suffered deplorable neglect. Two mares, for instance, arrived at the Sanctuary with Henneke body scores of 1, a prediction that death from starvation is imminent if conditions remain unchanged. Sadly, rescue came too late for Lady, who died within a week of rescue and for Sapphire, who went to sleep on the evening of her rescue and did not awaken the following morning. Hoover, Shane, and Destiny also succumbed to their illnesses.
A Year of Looking Forward:
Whether this increase in neglect cases was a one-time phenomenon or a sign of things to come, the plight of unwanted horses continues to concern those who provide a safety net for them. In the year to come, we will continue our quest for donors and volunteers to help in the important work of horse rescues like Equamore. Our birthday wish is for you to join us with your time, your talent, and your contributions.
“Psst . . .
They’re planning a party. Tell the others, but keep it quiet.
They think it’s a secret.”
