ELISABET
“Lillibet” or “Little Bit”
• a black Barb filly
• welcomed to the Sanctuary in June 2022, part of a national rescue effort
• a member of The Spanish Barbs herd
• a permanent herd member, seeking Sponsorship
• fun fact; hates to have her knees touched!
Update January 2024
Lillibet is a smart filly and enjoys regular benefits to having increased training and comfort around humans. For example, she has an assigned coat for when it’s cold, and she is just fine having someone put that on her! Not all horses need to wear coats, in fact many do not, but this little filly displayed more sensitivity to the cold during her first winter at the Sanctuary, and was taught how to wear a coat early. This has allowed her to keep running and playing outside with the others, which is great for her overall health. She is tiny, due in part to her smaller breed, but likely also to a lack of any prenatal care or extra nutrition in her first year of life. Her mother is unknown, and quite possibly died during Lillibet's first winter, as did many of the herd. She was all alone when the herds were being rescued. While there is no recorded birthday for this dark filly, she would have been born in the spring of 2021, so she will be three years old in 2024!
Lillibet has other friends her age now, sometimes playing with Holly, Kadir, or the slightly older (and terrible influence!) Sunnie. All live with their herd groups together in Stardust Meadows. While the family groups have distinct members, they do play and spend time with other friends, and it’s great for the youngsters to be able to go off and run about, just like any children.
Lillibet will continue her gentling as she grows, and would love some sponsors to help cover her daily needs. Maybe this young filly is special to you, and the one you want to help care for with a Monthly donation?
History
In 2022, a senior breeder of his own herd of Barb horses passed away, leaving nearly 70 horses in danger. His farm was in the remote wilds of Idaho, and most of the horses were untouched, and in need of care. An unknown number had actually perished over the previous winter, as the owner’s health declined and care diminished. The bloodlines of this herd are old, tracing back to Berber horses, North African or Spanish blood, and was a ‘closed herd’ for about 50 years, as the man, Robert Painter, sought to preserve the ancient DNA he saw being diluted. His herd is referred to informally as 'Painter Barbs'. They have been variously referred to as Spanish Barbs, or simply Barbs, and they bear the physical traits of these old lines, with primitive markings and smaller, hardy bodies suited for long days of trail work. But whatever their bloodline, they were in serious, immediate danger.
A large effort to help rescue them from disappearing to auction/slaughter began, started by the Fleet of Angels, and taken over by Connie Moore. Tremendous work went into rescue and responsible rehoming as many as possible, an enormous effort of love. It is difficult to find enough skilled homes for basically wild adult horses though, and time was running out. Rosemary Farm Sanctuary privately offered to be a safety net for any remaining horses that could not be placed before the land was sold, and so, in the summer of 2022, five of these mares made a five day journey across the USA, carefully transported by Marlene Dodge, a skilled and kind rescuer. They arrived and were calmly unloaded at Rosemary Farm.
Wild but intelligent, beautiful but in need of medical care, they began to be gentled, keeping the group together, keeping them near humans and activity. As time passed through Autumn, and into their first winter, they learned about halters and grain, received wormer and treatment for sand colic, and grew healthy and social.
In the Spring of 2023, the herd group moved to a larger spot at the Sanctuary, over to Stardust Meadows, where they live now, and are making friends with the Arabians, Thoroughbreds, and others there. As DNA results return, and their bloodlines have some provenance, there may be new decisions made, but first and foremost, they are horses. Providing space and protection for the herd group is what matters most to them and what Rosemary Farm is providing.
The youngest, Lillibet, has gained height, health and trust in her first 18 months at the Sanctuary. She has learned to wear a blanket, and enjoys mashes and TLC. She is a smaller breed and will always be pony size. As of late 2023, she measures 13 hh and demonstrates the strong and surefooted traits of the Spanish Barb line!
Lillibet is full of life and in need of a Sponsor to support whatever the future may hold for her. Sponsor Lillibet today!