MEET SPIRIT.

The folks at Beauty’s Haven Farm and Horse Rescue (BHFER) heard about a group of 24+ unhandled horses roaming on 30 acres.  There were several issues with many of them but one in particular…

This 8 year-old mare.

 

She appeared to be almost blind which the owner confirmed.  “Born that way…”.

The mare had gaping holes in her chest, on her face and all around her legs.

Clearly, the poor girl had run whenever the herd ran, but she couldn’t see…

She needed help.  Her wounds were covered with flies and weeping.  The one on her chest is very, very deep.

BHFER took it upon themselves to figure out a way to have the owner surrender the mare and then collect her:

The blind mare, Spirit, is now likely more comfortable than she has been in a long, long time.  My daughter, Katie, went with me to pick her up today.  It was a good 3 hour trip getting there due to road closures because of flooding.  When we arrived she seemed stoic – her head was down and it was like her mind was in another place and time.  I was worried about her injuries and how bad they looked – worse than they did on Saturday.  And there were new injuries.  I whispered to her and rubbed on her a bit.  But when I reached up to put a halter on her for the trip home she turned her head into me and stayed there for a few seconds – she seemed to be smelling my hand.  I told her she was going home to where she would begin recovery.  She stayed close as we walked to the trailer.  She had never been loaded onto a trailer before – she was born on the property (in 2004) where we picked her up from.  She walked into the trailer in less than a minute – hesitant at first but it didn’t take much coaching.  Just patience, a calm hand, and reassurance.  She wasn’t very happy once we got to moving but unloaded really well at the rescue.

 

 

AT THE RESCUE

At the rescue, they cleaned out her wounds and waited for the vet:

Dr. Ryan examined her and said she wouldn’t have lasted much longer.  Her needs have gone neglected for a long time.  She is thin and has obviously been terribly beat up – repeatedly over time.  She has many old and new wire injuries, bites, sunburn, open sores swelling, blisters, etc.  Inside of her upper lip she has a wide cut that runs along her gum line which is likely why she isn’t very interested in hay.  She is finally drinking and but we’re encouraging her more with electrolytes.

She has no vision in her right eye.  It’s possible that she sees a very small sliver of light in her left.

BATHED, TREATED AND LOVED…

They bathed her and loved on her and named the mare, Spirit:

She’s been through a lot and will wear scars to prove it for the rest of her life – from nose to tail.  Just think about the many times she’s been bitten, kicked, run into things, and how scary it must have been for her.  I was so worried about her during Tropical Storm Debby.  She was roaming on almost 30 acres with about 20 other horses, including studs.  There were also cows.  Tomorrow she will get a good bath and these injuries will get cleaned up.  I didn’t want to do too much more to her – she’s had a tough day.

TODAY

Today, two days after her rescue, she is looking a bit better and has had some good sleep and a nice roll.  Her wound healing and after care will be ongoing…  She is a young mare.  I’d like to help her recovery and help her with her eyesight – if possible.  Poor girl…  She has been through enough.

 

LET’S HELP!

Let’s help Spirit with her recovery and her training!  Let’s help her have a very good life, instead of living in fear every day!  Let’s help her learn how to navigate her world.  Clearly, she isn’t a blind mare who cannot learn.  She obviously is willing and able.

Let’s help her continue on her new journey in life!

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