Nikki, Rouge, Simba, and Tigger

'Nikki, Rouge, Simba, and Tigger'

We received a call from a local feedlot owner as he had a couple of horses he thought we might be interested in taking. These were two Thoroughbred mares that had been sent to him for slaughter. I thought he was just wanting to unload them on us, as really they were probably too thin to even slaughter, but he said, no, he thought with proper care they'd be a couple of nice horses. Of course he was right, but by our account that goes for any horse at all.   Certainly, we agreed to take the 2 mares, and then he said, while we were at it, would we want a couple of weanlings as well.    No question about it, of course we agreed to take the weanlings too.    While we appreciated that he'd contacted us, it's hard to believe that he felt okay about charging us - $350 for each of the mares, and $160 for each of the weanlings - given that they were all in such horrible shape, but at least he hauled them to the Rescue for us.

We were able to trace the lip tattoos of the mares, as both of them had raced - Ready in Rouge was only 5 and Nikki's Secert was only 11.    Their skin was covered in rain scald. We found out that the old fellow who had owned them had passed away suddenly. The person in charge of his estate did NOTHING to care for the horses, and eventually he just sent them to slaughter. When the original breeder of Nikki found out we'd ended up with her, she contacted us and even went so far as to send money toward her care, and she continues to support us, which is really nice.

We don't know where the 2 weanlings came from, but they were, if possible, thinner than the Thoroughbreds, and infested with ticks.    They also had severely contracted tendons from malnutrition. As is often the case, all they needed was a little TLC and proper feeding.   Nikki was adopted by, surprisingly enough, someone who owned one of her offspring! Rouge was adopted by one our wonderful volunteers, who had fallen in love with her as soon as she'd seen her.    Simba and Tigger, the 2 weanlings, were both eventually adopted as well.

No matter how long we've been involved in rescue, there always seem to be new ways that these poor horses can end up in such sad shape and facing a terrible end in the slaughter houses. We are so thankful that we have the opportunity to change their future for a few lucky souls. It is so frustrating though because often, all it really takes it proper food and care.