A month has gone by without a post as I have been sucked into facebook like crack cocaine for laptop users. I had no idea the potential to reach so many animal lovers and new horse friends. Our new page for the farm as really taken off, connecting us with other rescues around the country. So we tried our first fundraiser, for a perchie mare listed online, as In Line, to get on the big trucks to slaughter. Overnight her funding was raised. Wow! So I thought, “I’ll just add one of those poor broodmares, since the trailer is coming anyway”. Bam, money raised. Then there was the pair of haffies, surprisingly un-adopted, with time really running out. Fundraising on Thursday got them bailed by Friday, and the trailer, now for four, was set for Monday following. Whoa, that was fast.

Then the trouble began. I got a note on Saturday that the haffies weren’t coming, but no explanation why. I panicked, yes, I did panic. And was left in that state until Sunday afternoon, when I learn that not only were the haffies sick, but my poor overdue broodmare had gone into labor and had a stillborn foal.  They can’t release three of the four. A day later, she dies. Ah, no. I don’t want to recount the broodmare tragedy here, it deserves it’s own story. Suffice to say that rescue is an ugly business in ways that are both obvious and surprising.

Meanwhile our facebook fans, who rallied and raised funds for these horse rescues, are right there, keeping up with the progress, and growing. The grey mare is held for another week, the haffies are sick, and now there’s an empty space on the trailer. A fourth horse is added last minute, an older palimino gelding, Remy. He is the only good thing to come of that poor mare’s death.

OK, following monday, NOW four horses should arrive. I get a call; the haffies are still sick and can’t be released, BUT there is another pony who would like to come to our sanctuary. Can we take her in? So my trailer arrival is with three horses! The grey finally arrives, fantastic and beautiful, and lets me know how annoyed she is at being kept waiting; the palimino is a dream, and the new pony is actually pretty wonderful, full personality, friendly and engaging, despite being pretty banged up, and with the worst haircut in the world.

So care for these three begins and photos posted. How fun to share with people who care about them. They are all coughing and seem ‘off’, but hopefully it’s nothing serious. Good food, grain and peace begin to take an effect. Introductions have to happen bit by bit and I am getting used to going to the barn down the street. It’s a neighbors barn, but has sat empty for a year, and when I called them up, they were super nice and let me use it for q/t. How I would manage without this support I don’t know.

During this week we welcome another horse; Benji, the skinniest Belgian I have ever seen. I met him at the unadilla auction house, where he had sold before I arrived to the kill buyer, for a pittance. He was probably destined for zoo food he was so thin. I am there without trailer or cash, but figured I could solve that if he would sell the horse. Happy news, another kind soul had stepped in just before me, and she had a trailer. Off he went and his worst night turned into his best. By the next day, the girl and I were in discussion to have him more to the farm when serendipity played a part, and a new FB friend contacted me about,…a Belgian! A match was made, and Ben came here for a two week layover. His personality is all that I remember from that dark night and he is a pleasure to have around and to watch as he comes back to life.

Another week passes, and again I am expecting that trailer of rescue horses. During this week our rescue community has suffered more then the usual losses; aside from the two broodmares and three babies, there have been two deaths from illness, one stroke, and one horrific highway accident that claimed the life of a beautiful percheron mare. It’s tense and sad.

The haffies are supposed to ship, it’s now two weeks later. Another call, might we take another horse? This time it’s a palimino mare, just brought in, scared and shivering in the dark, with no winter coat. Brought from who knows where? Another beautiful horse in the wrong place at the wrong time, who needs sanctuary with us. The trailer is late, driving through dark and rain. And finally the haffies are now here. They are sick still, so today I will swab for infection, so I can get the gang well. And I know that our new FB fans, swelled now to nearly 600, will be there for us, asking questions, offering advice, and generally giving a damn. Can’t tell you how huge that is….