Friday found Jason and Larry on the road heading opposite directions.
Larry was delivering Scarlett to her new home. They were so excited to finally get her home where she will be loved on each and every day. She is going to be a therapy horse.
Her new horse friends were excited to meet her.
They also just had to show Larry their pet pigeon that they had saved as a tiny baby awhile ago.
Meanwhile Jason was up in the mountains picking up Trigger, who was being surrendered. Trigger was unable to stay with his family as they were moving away.
He is an older horse with an extremely swayed back.
We had a very exciting event happening first thing Sunday morning. You may remember the Appy gelding named Captain from last Sunday’s blog. It turns out that his old family from years ago recognized him.
Tawnee asked that pictures be sent to confirm. So many times people can think they know a horse, but it turns out it’s not the same. But this guy was definitely the same horse! The lady had purchased him as a 3 year old, and had him until he was 14 years old. She had to find him a new home, and was led to believe that a little 5 year old girl really loved him and he would be cherished in a new home. She sold him with a strict first right of refusal contract. She kept up with how he was doing on a regular basis, but 4 years after selling him, she got the tragic news that he had been shot and killed in a hunting accident. She was heartbroken.
She was completely dumbfounded that 10 years later her precious boy turned up, alive and well, but at a shelter. Where had he been for those 10 years? What had he gone through? It was so heartbreaking for her, but it was exciting all at the same time .
Sunday morning the special reunion happened. Captain (Cappy as she called him) held his head high as his mom hugged him, sobbing with joy. He was alive and well, he was not killed by hunters.
You could tell that Cappy knew that his mommy had come for him. It was so precious to see the love they shared.
Soon the adoption paperwork was signed, she promised that she would never ever get rid of Cappy again. She learned the hard lesson that only you, the owner, can make sure that your beloved horse is cared for. You can try your best, but do you really know the home?
Cappy’s mom got him ready to go in the old trailer he used to ride in. She put on his old blanket from 10 years ago. Yes, she still had it to remember her sweet boy by.
Cappy watched carefully as she got his shipping boots ready, the same ones from 10 years ago too. He smelled them as if confirming that they were his boots, yes, they were!
Soon he loaded up in the trailer ready to head off to rejoin his mom forever.
As the trailer pulled away, we all wished every senior horse that comes to us could have this happy of an adoption. Every horse at one point had someone that loved and cared for it. Cappy is one lucky boy to have found his mommy.
We got a phone call Sunday morning stating the hay grower we have been getting hay from could deliver 2 truck loads (600 bales) for $6 a bale. Delivered and squeeze stacked for $6 a bale. At such an unbelievably cheap price, we knew we had to say “Yes.” It would take Jason about 10 trips (and 2 weeks) to be able to get this hay moved. And it would still be $6 a bale. What a deal and time saver to have it brought in with big trucks!
The hay trailer started pulling into the lower gate. It was so exciting to see all that hay coming our way!
Soon the squeeze got to work and started unloading the trailer in earnest.
Squeeze load after squeeze load came off the trailer and onto the ground.
Soon the trucks were empty and they were on their way.
Of course, the easiest way to make it rain is have hay delivered. Thankfully, the staff was prepared and they started covering the hay before it started raining. This was an unexpected large outlay of funds for hay, and we could really use your help to pay the bill. If everyone donates just 1 bale of hay ($6) who reads this, it would be paid for. Just $6! Click here.
Buttercup and Betsy are back at the shelter, ready to find their forever new homes, hopefully together. They are so cute together, and are so incredibly friendly.
Jason and some volunteers hooked up the big trailer and headed out. No, not to get horses, but to get something a little taller…
Phone service is supposed to be coming to the shelter first thing Monday morning, and the pole had to be up! There was a great deal on Craigslist and soon it was in the trailer.
Back at the shelter kids started drifting in from what seemed everywhere. What was happening?
Soon there was a huge group of kids in the barn hiding from the downpouring rain, about 20. This was our first kids educational day about horses at the new shelter. The kids were here to get their horse honor badge for their club.
They were all so excited to meet the horses, and Phoenix was excited to meet them too. Phoenix was going to be their teacher.
Part of the honor requirements was that each kid learned how to saddle and bridle a horse.
They all did really good and Phoenix did great too.
They were all horrified to see the pictures of Phoenix when we first rescued him. They couldn’t believe he was so abused and neglected.
After they learned how to saddle, they all got to work cleaning pens, and soon they were done. Thanks guy!
Macho Man enjoyed having all the kids messing with him too. He got his mane braided all over.
When they were ready to go, they each got to pick out one Macho Man / Dottie button to take as a momento of their fun day at the shelter.
They all loved their button and are going to wear them with pride!
They got a quick photo and soon they were gone. What a great group of kids! It was long after 4:00 by now, and it should be the end of the blog, but there was still work for the staff to do. Remember the pole?
Well it had to go in! Larry borrowed the trusty tractor from Connie and got to work digging the deep hole.
Then, the hard dangerous part of raising the pole began. It was an incredibly long pole…
…but soon it was up in the air and just had to be straightened out. We can’t thank the staff and volunteers enough that helped raise the pole, it was a really hard job!
This blog was written from the road, we will post all the donors names next blog! The slaughter pipeline horses did get in at 2:30 am last night, next blog will have more information and we will be posting to Facebook.
Please remember the hay, $6 will help if we all pitch together, click here!