Panhandle Equine Rescue Progress Reports

As time goes by.......

2011-07-05T18:30:00.000-07:00

The world of rescue doesn't always involve seizing horses, getting on the news, cruelty cases, etc. While all of that is a big part of it, most days are spent caring for the horses. It is not all glitz and glammor to shovel manure and clean water tubs on a daily basis. That is where the volunteers play a major role in the success of a rescue.

Lately, I had to really ask for people to come forward and help because things had gotten in a lull and it seemed that most people had gotten involved with their everyday life; leaving me mostly alone to do it all. I get worried when that happens. My mind starts working overtime. I wonder what will happen to the rescue horses if PER fails? Where is everyone? Do they just not care anymore? Everyone wants us to rescue horses, but what about making sure they have adequate care now that they are not a story on the local news. People can forget that the horses are still here. They are still relying on us, not to rescue them, but to meet their daily needs. Feeding, cleaning stalls, watering, grooming, training, vet care; the list is long, but this is the reality of horse rescue.

When I asked for volunteers a month ago, I got a pretty good response. I understand that people come and go for different reasons, but for now, things are pretty good. I'm sure that in the future, I'll have to send out another SOS when necessary. Hopefully, people will understand and come forward to help if their circumstances will allow it. Until then, we'll be grateful for the help we've got. I just want to say once again, "Thank You, Volunteers". You play an integral role in the big picture of rescue.

Oh Happy Day!

2011-03-25T15:19:00.000-07:00

Not long ago, I watched the movie "Secretariat". One of my favorite parts was towards the end when they played "Oh Happy Day". That song popped into my mind again today after PER was privileged to place another horse from the county impound, saving her from the sale pen and an unknown future.

Thank you Thomas for assisting in delivering Penny to a wonderful home where she will be loved and cared for. We also appreciate Sheriff Morgan for giving us the opportunity to place the horses that for one reason or another end up at the county impound and never get claimed.

This placement has special meaning, since the woman, Jolee Josephs is the one who first went with me back in December 2008 to investigate a neglect case involving this very horse! Jolee remembered it well and was quick to offer up a home after she was picked up as a stray and never claimed. Their first meeting was sweet as these photos show and also very rewarding to see Penny come full circle from a neglectful home, into the impound and finally at Forever Sky Ranch!

Another cool thing about this story is that during that investigation in 2008, there was another horse with Penny that was surrendered to PER since she was older and they no longer wanted to care for her. Lady is currently being fostered at Forever Sky Ranch by Jolee. We are excited that Lady and Penny will finally be reunited.

Horse rescue is very rewarding and I am so glad that I've been able to be a part of it. With the support of our community and the many volunteers, I hope we can have many more "Happy Days" for horses.

Walker Gets A Dental!

2011-03-24T16:14:00.000-07:00

Today, Walker visited a dentist. He has been dropping his feed, but we had to wait until he gained enough weight to be able to handle the sedative. We transported him to Howard Finley's on Klondike Road, where several other equines were also scheduled to have their teeth done.

Panhandle Equine Rescue would like to thank Dr. Tyler Dees D.V.M., CEqDT for doing such a good job on Walker. We have used him in the past on other rescues and are quite pleased with his services. Our veterinarian, Dr. Hank Lee highly endorses him also, which is a plus. Howard Finley assists Dr. Dees on most dentals and makes it easier for the client, since he is very good at handling the horses.

If you are coming to the Ride For Rescue, this Saturday, March 26th, Dr. Dees will be there doing a demonstration. He also has the whole afternoon filled with clients, so he will be busy working at Coldwater Stables!

If you are interested in getting professional dental work done on your horse, you can call 251-802-0112 to set up an appointment. Dr. Dees provides equine dental services throughout the southeast. He also has a facebook page that is filled with lots of interesting photos and videos, as well as what areas he will be working in. Go to Facebook and enter "Performance Horse Dentistry" in the search box.

Walker, you've had quite a week, boy! I'm sure this will hasten your recovery, so hopefully by the end of Spring, you will be looking and feeling your best! Thank you, Dr. Dees!

Walker Gets A Massage!

2011-03-23T13:48:00.000-07:00

Walker, the 10 yr. old TB gelding that was rescued out of a neglect case in January had a special, but much needed treat today. Allison Sokol donated her services to aid in his rehabilitation. From looking at his scars, he's had a lot of mishaps in his life; probably due mostly to careless, uncaring or uneducated people. He spent most of his life as a race horse until he was retired at 6 yrs. old due to an injury sustained while racing.

Allison was very good at reading the horse and watching any signs that would show discomfort as she gently ran her hands over different parts of his body. She was kind and soft spoken and "listened" to him if he stepped over if she hit a tender spot. She said that he "hurt everywhere" and put his needs first. She did not spend her usual hour massaging him, simply because he was not ready to handle it yet. She plans on coming back next month to continue therapy with him.

I was very impressed with Allison today. She was very professional and knowledgeable and I admired the fact that she put the horse's needs first and foremost.

PER highly recommends her if you are seeking massage therapy for your horse. She also does massage on canines! She has a website at www.sighandreliefmassage.com or you can reach her at 850-736-5526. Thank you Allison!

The long road begins

2011-03-11T09:10:00.000-08:00

Horse #8 was one of the horses that the sheriff's department allowed PER to find homes for. We were very grateful that we could be a part of keeping them from running through the auction and possibly going to another bad home or even slaughter.

When this horse was rescued on that cold February day, she was already in danger of dying. The veterinarian carefully examined the herd of 20 and pointed out nine that needed to be removed immediately and placed in shelter or they possibly would not survive the brutal cold temperatures along with the wind and sleet that was only going to worsen through the night. Even after she arrived at the vet clinic, we didn't know if she would survive. Her pasture mate, in the stall next to her, was in worse condition, hanging in a sling, because she was too weak to stand on her own. Sadly, she eventually had to be humanely euthanized.

After a few days, the vet told the county livestock officer that the red Arabian could go home, but after being at the impound for a short time, she got down and could not get back up. Her caretakers managed to get her back to the clinic, where she remained a few more days. On the second attempt to go home, she went down in the horse trailer and was immediately taken back to the clinic.

After a longer stay, she finally was able to leave the clinic. But, while at the impound, one of the pressure wounds on her hip busted open, leaving her vulnerable to infection. The livestock officer applied medicine to it daily.

When she arrived at PER, she was still in very bad shape. Since her survival was still questionable, we decided to keep her at our facility, instead of placing her in another home, which would have placed a huge responsibility on someone. We weren't sure if they would be able to commit to all of the extra care she would require. It was a good idea to keep her, because, sure enough, the hip wound got infected.

We were fortunate at the time, since our vet, Dr. Hank Lee, was due out that day to do yearly vaccinations on the other horses. He was able to treat her right away. He lanced the wound to drain out the infection and inserted a drainage tube. He left us with antibiotics.

Since she is an Arabian, we named her Amirah (pronounced "Ameera"), which in Arabic, means "Princess". She has a long road to recovery, but we expect she will survive and blossom to become beautiful and healthy! We will keep you updated on her progress.

Volunteers Are Key to Success

2011-02-24T11:44:00.000-08:00

Volunteers are the reason why we still exist. I don't know if they realize their importance, but without them, we couldn't help any horses. Whether they are cleaning a stall, working a booth or volunteering their services, they play an integral part in the operation of this rescue. I would like to say thank you to all who have given up a portion of their time to help PER.

All Animals Matter

2011-01-16T18:22:00.000-08:00

As I sit here at my computer and stare out the window at my horse grazing, I am amazed at how my life has changed since I got involved in horse rescue. My long time friend, Linda Lambert and I started this adventure in February 2005, when we realized that the horses in this county were falling through the cracks and not receiving any help when they were abused or neglected. Since then, PER has rescued 68 horses and helped hundreds of others by educating the owners or sometimes unfortunately even having them prosecuted.

For the most part, we rescue all kinds of equines including donkeys and mules, but we have also rescued pigs, goats and dogs. The system is still not perfect and we find in some situations that animals will suffer if we leave them behind because the help simply is not there on that particular day for different reasons. So since we are a rescue, our instincts kick in to help other species when necessary.

Very recently, we were involved with a case where seven dogs and four horses were seized by the county. We were glad to see them "step up", since we didn't have space for any horses at that time. It was good to see them trying to do the right thing. While the horses are still safe in the county impound, it is really sad for the dogs because the owner surrendered them to avoid paying fines and three of the dogs were euthanized by the animal shelter. We are not happy about this and we don't understand why they were destroyed. But we are thankful that the director of the animal shelter called us one morning to see if we would take the other four dogs; a mother and her three puppies out of the shelter. We knew what their fate would be if we did not "rescue" them and we were given until 6 PM that day to pick them up. Linda and I got busy calling all the dog rescues that we knew of, but either they were full or we didn't get a response back. It was during the holidays, so that may have been part of the problem. By the afternoon, we realized that we would have to pick up the dogs in order to save their lives. We had no where to house them, but were able to find a special person that was willing to keep them at his family boarding kennel. When we picked up the puppies from the animal shelter, we were told that one of the puppies had a runny nose.

A few days later, that puppy took a turn for the worst and after spending days at the vet clinic, she had to be humanely euthanized. The other two puppies began to get runny noses, so we rushed them to the clinic and got them started on antibiotics right away. They pulled through and today they were adopted by Jimmy and Melissa Brown of Pensacola, pictured on the left. They took both pups so they could be raised together. We are very grateful to the Browns for giving them both a wonderful life.

The mother dog is still at the boarding kennel, so we are desperately trying to find her a foster home. I took photos of her today and I was brought to tears when I saw how timid and shy she was. She was emaciated when she was rescued from a puppy mill, where she was being kept in a tiny cage and used for breeding. She is still thin, but gaining weight slowly. The puppies are weaned, so that should help her get to her normal weight. Animals can be so forgiving and she is no exception. As she crouched and shivered, she looked up at me and halfway gave me a kiss. Her eyes were empty; she has never learned what love is or gotten any kindness from humans.

I wish I had space for her at my home. I hated leaving her at the kennel. They do a good job caring for her physical needs, but they don't have the time to socialize her to people. Dog rescue is new to me and while horses are my passion, my heart breaks for this special dog. I understand the ins and outs of why people can't foster or adopt horses; there are so many reasons, but I am not sure of the many reasons why people can't foster or adopt a dog. I know my reasons, I have too many responsibilities already, with four dogs, four cats and six horses to care for, my time is limited. Maybe someone will care enough to give this dog the love that she deserves. Maybe I will find that the world of dog rescue has it's rewards also. So, as I stare out my window watching my horse graze, I wait. I wait for that phone call or email from someone to open up their heart and home to help this dog, who deserves a chance. I know that certain someone will respond.

Playing the Games

2010-11-30T11:51:00.000-08:00

Since Natalie has started working with the rescues doing Natural Horsemanship, I have learned that there are several "games" that you can play with them, such as the yo yo game, the porcupine game, etc. I have also learned that you can understand how horses think just by watching them interact in their herd. Every horse exhibits behaviors that make up its "Horsenality". He can be a left brain extrovert or introvert or a right brain extrovert or introvert. Some horses can switch over from left brain to right brain in an instant. It sounds complicated I know. But as I watch the horses, it makes more and more sense to me everyday.

Two of our rescues, Our Man and Lucky, both geldings, are turned out together every day. A natural horsemanship trainer would label Our Man as a "leader" and Lucky would be considered "dominant". Yes, in a herd, there is a difference. You really need to take the time to study this, it is so interesting.

It is amazing to watch Our Man and Lucky interact in the pasture. Neither one of them really want to "give up" their status. To mix a leader with a dominant horse can be very educational, as well as entertaining. These two are really good buddies and they tolerate each other so well. All day long, they battle over who is going to move who or which one is going to get that pile of hay or stand at the gate to come in at feeding time. It makes me laugh to watch them. They never make physical contact, but the language they use with their bodies and facial expressions have really taught me how the relationship should be between human and horse. Watching Our Man "drive" Lucky and then Lucky moving Our Man from the water trough is hilarious. These two would be an asset to any herd in the wild. They are both kind of special around the rescue facility too.

My Highlight of the Yard Sale

2010-11-15T10:18:00.000-08:00

We had our yard sale this weekend and it was a huge success thanks to all of our volunteers who worked very hard and all of the people who donated such great items.

I don't have much experience with yard sales as far as attending them or putting them on. As I watched people park up and down the road and enter the gate, I was struck at how many participants were desperately trying to find much needed items, such as clothing and shoes. Our failing economy has really put a hardship on so many.

At one point, a young lady came up to pay for her items and discovered that she had lost her $20.00 bill. In a panic, she ran around all of the tables desperately searching for it. Some of the volunteers helped her look. After much searching in vain, she started to leave with tears rolling down her face. She walked past her "much needed items" still laying on the check out table and then I watched in amazement as several volunteers grabbed her items and said, "Here take your stuff", you don't have to worry about paying." This proud woman said, "No, that's okay", but the volunteers persisted until she agreed. As she took the stuff in her arms, the $20.00 bill fell out! She was so happy and started to come back to the table to pay for her items. The volunteers said, "No, absolutely not, you just take your stuff." This woman was so grateful. After she left, one of the volunteers, wiping tears from her eyes, said, "Oh my gosh, I was about to go get my purse and give her the $20.00 she had lost."

What I learned from this is that our volunteers have so much compassion, not only for abused and neglected horses, but also for humans. It was so touching to witness such caring people trying to help someone who is not as fortunate as others in these hard economic times. To those of you who stepped out to help this lady, God has a special blessing for you. I am proud that you are a part of our rescue.

Starry Starry Night

2010-10-08T11:41:00.000-07:00

One of my best volunteers, Jill, who comes out regularly to help with barn chores has nicknames for all of the horses. She calls Star, "Starry Starry Night", which takes me back to my younger days when I loved to listen to Cat Stevens. Jill is much younger than me, but I am often surprised at how much she knows about the music that I grew up listening to. In my book, she is a very "cool" person. The picture at the top is Jill and I showing off our muck boots. We try to stay in style.

In the meantime, Star's training is going very well. Natalie and her mother, Terri have been coming out on a regular basis for over a month now. It amazes me at how much patience Natalie has working with the horses. Her goal for now is for them to want to be with her, which is challenging, since these rescue horses have been mishandled by humans. But Natalie hasn't given up and it is finally paying off. All of the horses have come so far!

Star was one who was terrified of the "stick and string", a tool used by Natalie, as well as most Natural Horsemanship trainers. Now he has come to accept being rubbed by it and today, her mother, Terri, who brought her own "tool" sat in a chair while tossing the string over his back, which is huge, since Star had such issues with it 30 days ago. He would not even stay at the same end of the pasture with Natalie, if she had that "thing" in her hand.

Now she is working on making him comfortable with putting on and taking off the halter. In the past, Star has immediately ran away when the halter was removed, so he is learning that the halter is not a bad thing.

Thank you Natalie and Terri for being so kind to these special horses. They deserve the time and patience that you give. They deserve a chance.

Richard and Scam; Reunited!!!

2010-09-21T12:12:00.000-07:00

Little Richard and Scam were both rescued on November 30th, 2009 from a case of severe neglect. After their rescue, we were able to trace down most of their history and were even able to obtain their registration papers. The story we were told by reliable sources is that Little Richard and Scam were kept at the same barn for years. Because of health issues and through circumstances beyond the original owner's control, the horses were sold to another man and they ended up at a sale. The bids were just not high enough, so the man "no saled" them and ended up selling both horses to another man, who nearly starved the two to death. Investigators received a report and found the horses in very bad shape, but were relieved when the owner surrendered both of them to the rescue.

In December 2009, Scam was moved into foster care for further rehab, but sadly had to leave her long time friend and companion, Little Richard. Then, in June 2010, Scam was moved to a different foster home. At this time, she was totally rehabilitated. Meanwhile, Little Richard remained at the quarantine facility and was also brought back to great health!

Today, Little Richard and Scam were reunited, thanks to Ruth Martin who has been fostering Scam. She agreed to also take Little Richard into her care. Now the two of them can hang out together once again under the shade trees and talk about the good old days. And I think they know, that they are going to be okay now, for the rest of their lives.

This blog is dedicated to their original owner, Richard Dean, a.k.a. "Lucky" who passed away this year. We pray that he can look down and see his beloved Little Richard and Scam; together once again and living a great live with no worries.

Legs; a.k.a. Max

2010-09-15T20:09:00.000-07:00

Legs, a.k.a. Max was rescued by PER in June 2007 out of Santa Rosa County, along with 12 other horses. For years, he was tethered on a rope 24/7 without shelter or the ability to exercise or just be a horse. He was a stallion when he was rescued, so what little bit of "free time" he had, it was spent breeding the mares in the herd. Included in the rescue, were four of his babies, one was still not born nor did we even realize that the mare was pregnant until we got a surprise one morning! That colt was named "Wonder's Never Cease" and has grown to be as beautiful as his sire!

Max was adopted by Karen Tucci in November 2008 and received two years getting plenty of TLC. Karen did some ground work with him, but recently became very interested in Parelli Natural Horsemanship and made the decision to send Legs to Mirka Pitts, who specializes in this training.

Today, Michelle Phillips and I assisted Karen by moving Max to Mirka's. We are all very confident that Mirka will do an excellant job with him and bring out his full potential. Karen also plans on taking lessons from Mirka,so she can continue to use natural horsemanship on Max for his lifetime. This will be a whole new chapter for both Karen and Max and I'm sure it will be a good one. Good luck to you, Karen. I know this will be an adventure to remember.

New Trainers On Board!

2010-09-06T14:38:00.000-07:00

Most rescues have a trainer to assist in evaluating and retraining their horses. While it is great to ride and see where the horse is at, it's difficult to get a horse started or restarted when there is no one available with the knowledge and great patience required with some rescues that have been abused, mishandled or allowed to get away with "stuff". We are very blessed to have not only one, but two trainers who have agreed to work with our horses. Both of them are very good at natural horsemanship training. Some well known trainers that do this are Pat Parelli, Clinton Anderson and Chris Cox, just to name a few. This training starts with lots of ground work which establishes respect from your horse before you ever get in the saddle. Mirka Pitts and Natalie Thomas have both recently started working with the rescues and we are so grateful to them both. The pictures here show Natalie working with Star. These special horses deserve to have a relationship with a human being that doesn't involve abuse or neglect. Rescue horses are very forgiving, but some have major trust issues, through no fault of their own. It is wonderful to watch these ladies work with them and see breakthroughs! We will keep you updated on their progress. To see videos of Mirka and Natalie; go to www.doublepfarm.com.

Rescue Teams

2010-08-01T09:44:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in a few days, so I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of those who have been a part of the actual rescues. Even though you are volunteers, you do not hesitate to drop whatever you are doing and come to the aid of horses (and other animals) that are in trouble. I have witnessed some very talented horsemen and women in the handling of horses; some which have never been touched. To load a horse like this without injury to the horse or people can be challenging, but with the patience and skill of our volunteers, we have been able to successfully remove all horses from neglectful and abusive environments. I have seen compassion with these special volunteers that would bring tears to my eyes. It really touches me to see so many hearts for rescue. I applaud you and dedicate today's blog to you. But most of all, the rescued horses thank you every single day.

Two Stripes Gets A New Foster Home!

2010-07-23T12:58:00.000-07:00

Today we delivered Two Stripes to his new foster home. Thanks to Larry and Ruth of McDavid, FL. for providing him a place to stay.

Two Stripes is a special little guy; not big in stature but he has a huge heart. We're sure he will do well as he begins another new adventure.

We would also like to thank Larry for servicing our vehicle while we were there! He was so nice to make sure our trip home would be a safe one!

Magic Graduates!

2010-07-21T18:49:00.000-07:00

Magic was picked up from school today and transported to his foster home in Crestview. He did a lot of growing up in the past few weeks and was very well behaved for a yearling stud colt. He has gone to a wonderful place with a very knowledgeable lady who will bring him up with patience and plenty of ground work to prepare him to be a great trail horse someday! Thank you Rose for taking him in! Magic was very calm when he arrived and took everything in stride. He is very special. Everyone that comes in contact with this colt really likes him. We'll keep you updated on his progress as he grows!

Dentist Day

2010-07-20T14:30:00.000-07:00

Today, equine dentist, Tyler Fowler came out and did dentistry work on all of the horses at the isolation facility. He did a wonderful job. He has a lot of patience and knowledge. The picture shows him working on Star; a gelding that was recently returned to us. If anyone is interested in using an equine dentist, Tyler can be reached at 251-510-5226. Tell him you saw him on the PER blog!!!!

Raven's Foot Cast

2010-07-19T14:54:00.000-07:00

Raven went into foster care on June 5th with Dolly Gibbons and on July 5th managed to get a nasty cut on her back foot. She is being treated by Dr. Stewart from Gulf Coast Equine Hospital in Summerdale, AL. Since Raven wasn't the best candidate to have her foot wrapped daily, he put a foot cast on her to aid in healing and also make aftercare virtually maintenance free. Raven must remain stalled, however, to keep the cast dry and sand out, but can be hand walked daily. Today Linda Lambert and I accompanied Dolly to take Raven in for a recheck. Raven will stay overnight to have her cast removed and they will see how she behaves for wrapping. If she is manageable, they will leave the cast off. While we were there, Dianna, took us on a tour of the new clinic. It was very impressive! We appreciate Dolly and Dr. Stewart for taking such good care of Raven.

The Old Man Is Gone

2010-07-18T17:16:00.000-07:00

We knew the day was coming soon when we went to check on him early this summer. He was sort of "wobbly", but he still had that gleam in his eye and was happy to see us. He followed us around the pasture and loved getting attention. When I left that day, I was almost positive that I would not see him alive again.
Trouble, a.k.a. Domino was rescued in May 2006 from neglect; his owner was not willing to take the necessary steps to maintain a senior horse, so she surrendered him to PER investigators. His age could never be determined; he just didn't have enough teeth to tell, but once in rehab, he blossomed into a very healthy horse, much to the surprise of more than one veterinarian! He was a kind old man and was very sweet natured. He loved people and kids and looked forward to getting treats from everyone.
Trouble went over the Rainbow Bridge sometime during the night; there was no sign of struggle; he was found this morning at feeding time; lying peacefully in his paddock.
PER would like to thank his foster mom, Paula Johnson for giving him a quality life for the past four years. Also, thanks to all the others who took care of him when Paula would take her summer vacations.
When I spoke to Paula this morning, she again told me something that I have heard her say many times, "Trouble was no trouble at all." He will be missed by many and always remembered as a kind old gentleman.

Fundraising

2010-07-03T15:49:00.000-07:00

Today was yet another day out in the heat doing, you guessed it, more fundraising! As long as there are horses to feed, we must keep on collecting donations at every opportunity we can get. Since we currently have 22 horses in foster care, funding is critical!

PER would like to thank Winn Dixie Stores, particularly the one in Cantonment for allowing us to set up a booth in front of their store. The holiday weekend brought in a lot of people to shop, so we got great exposure and donations.

Thanks also to all of those who sacrificed a few hours out of their holiday to come out and help man the booth. As long as we have committed volunteers and a community to support us, we can continue to help the horses!

Little Richard finds happiness

2010-06-27T09:58:00.000-07:00

Little Richard (horse pictured with the halter) was a stallion when he was rescued in December 2009. He was used occasionally for breeding since his lineage went back to Man O' War and Seabiscuit. He was known as a "pacer"; always going back and forth on the fence line, wanting to be with the other horses.

Today, for the first time in many years, he finally got his desire as he was introduced to the herd. The herd consisted of one gelding, Our Man, who always longs for a companion and has been known to be a "pest" to the other horses; he has a strong urge to play with everyone and will intimidate until he gets a response, good or bad. Both Our Man and Little Richard have been kept by themselves for quite some time, but after weeks of being on the same fence line and leaving all mares totally out of the picture, we released Little Richard into the pasture with Our Man. At first, it was frightening because Little Richard took off like he was going out of a starting gate, beelining for Our Man, screaming with his ears pinned back. Volunteer, Mandy Preston was at the other end ready to "break it up", if Little Richard went in for "the kill". But much to our amazement, they bonded very quickly with no blows or contact by either one. They quickly became friends. They even hogged the water hose from each other as Mandy rinsed them off over the fence; both are true "river rats"! They took turns rolling and standing to be hosed off; it was very comical to watch!

We feel good that they both have pasture time with another; after all, horses are herd animals; they thrive when they are socialized and somewhere in a pecking order. While Little Richard is the leader of this herd, one day we hope to place him in his forever home, where he will bond with others and make new friends, but most importantly never be isolated again.

Magic goes to school!

2010-06-23T10:03:00.000-07:00

Today, recently rescued Tennessee Walking Horse, Magic was transported to a two week yearling class where he will learn to lead, tie, load, back and give to pressure. He will also be introduced to baths and fly spray as well as obstacle training, picking up his feet on command, lounging and desensitizing to various objects. PER would like to thank Greg and April Violette for donating their services and giving this youngster such a good start. If you have a weanling up to a two year old; even one that has never been touched, that you would like to get a foundation on for a better future, then give April a call at 207-9069. Also, her husband, Greg is an awesome farrier! April will be happy to set up an appointment for you!

Spell

2010-06-19T11:15:00.000-07:00

Recently rescued "Spell" was moved into a foster home today to complete his rehabilitation and then begin an evaluation of his training level. Now, he will begin a new life, free from abuse and neglect. He has many scars that show the pain he has endured such as "chains", "soring" and "blistering". These methods are used mostly with the Tennessee Walking Horse breed to get a horse to lift his feet high in a show ring. They are no longer permitted in the large shows, but unfortunately, this still goes on at small shows that are not regulated. Spell will never have to endure that pain again.

Here he is, greeting the mares at his new foster home.

Happy and content, Spell makes himself comfortable.

Spell with his new foster mom, Sarah-Jane.

Scam

2010-06-18T14:59:00.000-07:00

Scam was rescued in December 2009 from a sure death in the cold of the winter. She was very thin and sick with a cough and runny nose. Today she is fully recovered and ready for adoption.

I spent the day moving her to a new foster home. Her original foster needed a break so she could bring in a bull for breeding purposes, so Ruth Martin was kind enough to provide a place for Scam. When I first saw Scam, my word was "Wow!". She was gorgeous! The picture of health! This 23 year old even ran laps for me and showed off a little bit.

Here is Scam at her new foster home.

Rescue can be difficult, tiring and heartbreaking, but watching a horse come back to life is very rewarding and what keeps us going. Thank you Debbie Trocki for doing an excellant job in rehabbing Scam!

Blueberry Jamboree

2010-06-12T16:26:00.000-07:00

Today we set up our booth at the annual Blueberry Jamboree in Molino. We received donations and met many who were interested in fostering, adopting or volunteering. It was hot, but thanks to Matt and Vickie Bell who had a booth set up next to us, we we were able to plug in a fan. They brought a portable generator which is a great invention, especially on days like today! In the picture starting on the left are Mimi McClelland, Sarah Jane Conti and her husband Blake, myself and Werner Maucher. We had a great time and plan on being there again next year!

Raven Sadly Leaves

2010-06-05T17:45:00.000-07:00

After almost two years at the isolation facility, Raven finally found the perfect foster home! She has gone down a long road to recovery of stomach ulcers, which almost killed her. We have been in search of a stress free environment for her and while we realize that is impossible, we have come pretty close to finding a very peaceful home for her to lounge around and not be asked to do anything but look pretty, which by the way, she is very good at!

We want to thank Dolly of Pensacola for giving Raven a special place to spend her days this summer. She has acres of pasture and plenty of companionship.

When we delivered Raven today, we arrived to find that Dolly had gone out of her way to welcome her with her own name plate decorated with beautiful flowers on her stall!

Ironically, Dolly already has three grey Arabians, two of which are almost identical to Raven! I suppose she favors that color and breed?

We were pleased to see that Raven settled in quite nicely. I think she will be happy there. Thank you Dolly for taking in this very special horse. I will miss her very much, but I am confident she is in good hands.

Miss Penny Returns

2010-06-03T19:56:00.000-07:00

Miss Penny was rescued in December 2007. She and four others were surrendered by their owner. Penny was thin, but not as poor as her companions that were also rescued that day. She stayed in rehab for almost two months and was then tranferred to a rehab/evaluation foster home, where she remained until November 2008 and was then finally adopted.

She remained at this home for a year and a half, but was returned to PER on June 2, 2010. Circumstances had changed in the person's life who had adopted her and Miss Penny was no longer going to work out.

Since her return, Miss Penny seems sad somehow. When I first put her in a paddock to "settle in" she just stood at the gate as if to say, "I don't belong here. This is not my home." She stood at that gate for an hour before she finally decided to investigate her temporary home.

Tomorrow, Miss Penny is scheduled to go to another foster home. My heart breaks for these horses when they are shuffled around. It's stressful on them because it takes time for them to acclimate. We always worry that they won't fit in to a new home for whatever reason, whether it be that the herd won't accept them or that they won't be compatible for the person. We can only hope that they will find a friend to hang out with under a shade tree, like the story of Black Beauty. But all too often, even after it's been well over a year, sometimes that horse just doesn't work out any longer.

Such is the life of a rescue horse. Our promise to them is for their lifetime; so once again they go back up for adoption; once again they are seeking their forever home.

Little Richard gets some TLC

2010-06-01T10:03:00.000-07:00

Little Richard got a much needed bath today. After a long winter and having suffered from severe rain rot and neglect, I know he enjoyed a good scrubbing from volunteers Mandy Preston and Jill Duncan. Thank you ladies, you did a great job!

Richard is seeking a special home, since he was a stallion most of his life. Someone familiar with the behavior of a newly gelded stallion and would not be intimidated by that, would be great. A separate area needs to be available, although that may not be necessary as time goes by. He is settling down a lot since he was gelded almost four months ago, but since it is breeding season, he finds it difficult to think like a gelding at times. But he is very respectful of the fenceline and will graze next to mares quietly. He loves attention from people and enjoys being groomed. He ties, loads, is good with the farrier and vet and can be ridden at a walk or trot. He is a great horse and we are hoping that we can find someone that will enjoy him as much as we do. We wish we could keep him around, but he must move on, so we can help others out there that are in trouble. If you would like to foster or adopt Little Richard, please contact us.

Critical Need; Foster Homes!

2010-05-30T09:08:00.000-07:00

With all that comes with horse rescue, one of the most frustrating issues actually are when we get horses back from foster or adoption homes. The reasons vary; circumstances may change in someones life, financial or health issues may arise, they are relocating to a home that won't allow horses, etc.

But then there are times, when the adopter or foster home realize that the horse is not perfect. As John Lyons will tell you, it's usually not the horse, but the people. I do understand that a lot of rescue horses, through no fault of their own, come with baggage; whether it be trust issues, health issues or just plain being irritated with people. We don't blame them; I'm sure there are reasons for this.

We strive to be very honest when we are placing our horses in foster or adoption homes; we do our very best to make sure that a horse is suited to the correct environment and handler. That may be why we still have so many seeking homes; it can be very difficult to place a horse who is aggressive towards people or other horses, they may crib, they have health issues, etc. We can only hope and pray that the right person will come along for a particular horse.

We are now facing the problem of having excess horses with no where to put them. I will post each horse for the next few days in hopes that someone out there can help us out.

Molino Memorial Festival

2010-05-29T18:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped man the booth at the festival today. Even though we had to shut down early due to rain, we met a lot of really nice people and collected donations. We really appreciate the support we receive from the north end of the county. Thank you Matt and Vickie Bell, Sarah-Jane and Jessica Conti, Dawnmarie Ingwell, Velda Overbey, Jim and Joyce Gill for being there today! We look forward to working the upcoming Blueberry Jamboree in June.

Volunteers come from Brown Barge Middle School

2010-05-21T09:33:00.001-07:00

Panhandle Equine Rescue would like to thank volunteers, Sara Goff, Ashley Schroeder, MaryClaire Dance and Deanna Genung for coming out today and doing barn chores. Thanks also to Sara's mother, Martha for transporting them. They all did a very good job! It is good for kids to learn the responsibility that comes with animals.

Education is important!

2010-05-18T13:51:00.001-07:00

PER is grateful to Ms. Hunter's class at Brown Barge Middle School for inviting us to speak about horse rescue. The kids were very receptive and asked great questions. We feel that education is vital for the welfare of all animals in our area. Kids need to learn early on that owning animals is a huge responsibility and daily care is required. It is a commitment that needs to be taken seriously. I think the kids got that today. Thanks again to all the class for being so willing to listen! We hope to return again next year.

Eli begins his new adventure today

2010-05-17T15:04:00.000-07:00

Due to illness, Eli's foster family had to return him back to PER today. We really appreciate all the care they gave him over the past several months. They were very sad to see him go. But thanks to another family, Eli was transported straight from there to his new foster home. We want to thank Rick and Elaine Olson and her brother, David of Bellamore Farms for opening up their hearts and home to take in Eli and provide him with plenty of hands on and lots of love, that he so richly deserves. Eli is a very special horse, he has always been very friendly and people oriented. He was born from one of our rescues, Glitter and had we not rescued his mother, his life would have been very different. He would have been locked in a stall 24/7, wearing wedge shoes and remaining a stallion for his lifetime to be used for breeding purposes. But we were fortunate to get Glitter out of that situation and Eli was born into a loving environment, where he grew up in a pasture setting with lots of companions. Visit http://www.bellamorewalkers.com/ to see Eli's new home!

Visit from the Vet

2010-05-05T09:18:00.000-07:00

Today Dr. Hank Lee came out and did annual vaccinations. He was assisted by Beth who is interning and of course, Leigh Ann, his trusty "horse whisperer"! All of the horses and Maggie, the donkey did very well. Jack, Ginger and Little Richard did not need anything today, but Dr. Lee took the time to peek in on them anyway. He is good about that. He said that Richard looks great. He has gained a considerable amount of weight! He looked at Jack's hoof that has the plate on it and agreed with us that Jim LaClair was brilliant to come up with that idea! (To read that story, click on our blog titled "Jack") We are taking him to the clinic on Friday for Jim to do a recheck. A reporter from a magazine wants to do a story on his new shiny hoof!

Rainy Days and Mondays, Ugh!

2010-05-03T08:20:00.000-07:00

Such is the life of rescue. When there is work to be done, it's rain, sleet, hail or snow, it's off to do the chores we go! The horses depend on us; I'm sure all of you who have your own realize all too well. When volunteers show up to help, I really don't want to send them away, so unless the weather is just too dangerous, we usually go at it to get the daily chores of mucking and watering done. This morning was especially wet, but with the help of one of our devoted volunteers, we managed to get everything done. Thank you Mimi, you are awesome!

PER Cookout

2010-05-01T19:14:00.000-07:00

Today PER had their annual cookout. We all had a great time! It is good for us to get to know each other more on a personal level, outside of working! The food was delicious! Thank you Matt and Vickie Bell and Michelle McKee for hosting the event!

Air Force Assistance!

2010-04-30T11:24:00.000-07:00

Today was a special day. We were blessed to have a group of volunteers from Eglin Air Force base who came out with their own tools ready to assist in clearing the fence lines, which was much needed before the temps get into the 90's. They worked hard and actually enjoyed it! They loaded down the trailer with limbs and will be back next week to begin again where they left off. Having volunteers to give of their time and labor is the lifeline of horse rescues. We simply could not do it without all of the hardworking dedicated people who support us. PER would like to thank the squadron and all the others who have given of themselves in the past and those who help in the future!

Dee Dee

2010-04-27T14:46:00.000-07:00

Dee Dee was rescued in January 2009, when her owner surrendered her and another horse to PER. She was emaciated and had "gotten down", so her owner had been hanging her in a makeshift sling using a saddle girth to help her stand. When we first saw her, she just hung her head and walked away, seemingly giving up. (see first photo)

In her early rehabilitation, she developed a serious sinus infection and it was necessary for the vet to insert a catheter, so her sinuses could be flushed daily. Miraculously, she made a full recovery!

In December 2009, she was adopted by Alice of Havana, FL. Dee Dee is now a beautiful show horse winning blue ribbons! She pulls a cart and is now in training to be in lead line with the important responsibility of carrying a three year old girl into the show ring. Alice and all the locals love her very much. (We do too)

Jack

2010-04-26T19:11:00.000-07:00

Jack is a cute little donkey that everyone loves. He has a bray that sounds like a trumpet. He was rescued in July 2009, along with a horse, two pigs, four goats and one dog. All of the animals had no water and poor Jack was tied to a tree tangled up in the dog's chain. He was thin and very thirsty. He was eager to be rescued, as were the others.

Jack needed to be gelded right away, so we could make him adoptable. At first, he didn't want anything to do with us, but that quickly changed when he realized that he was going to get food, water and plenty of petting! He loves to back his rear up to you for a good rump scratch. He is full of personality!

About a month ago, Jack developed a hoof problem called White Line Disease; which is a seperation of the hoof wall. The vet had to remove a large part of his hoof, thus opening it up for infection and major discomfort. But thanks to a brilliant farrier, who donated his services, Jack received a special metal "plate" to cover the open wall, so that his hoof could grow back and eventually the plate would be removed. Jack is not lame and or in any pain. We are so grateful to this special man and also to the vet who worked to make this happen. And I know Jack is very happy too! He is home now and back to his trumpeting! We really missed him!

Maggie

2010-04-25T13:12:00.000-07:00

Maggie was rescued with Ginger in March 2008 from the junkyard. Her and Ginger were a pair for sometime and were once dubbed Morning and Night and then Laverne and Shirley. Upon their separation, when Ginger was adopted the second time, that was when their names changed. Maggie May has got to be the coolest donkey of all time. She loves her privacy when the days get hot and buggy; she spends the afternoons enjoying the privacy of her little house that was built by one of our volunteers using privacy fence for siding and billboard material for a roof. It is unique and Maggie is proud to call it her own. She is also very uncomfortable if she is dirty and loves being groomed. She sleeps in her house at night and demands that it be cleaned daily with her shavings fluffed up to make a fresh bed. She loves to be talked to and will listen intently with her ears perked forward. I am still amazed to this day that she has not been adopted. She would not require a lush pasture, because she has weight issues (not caused by us). She would make a loving pet and companion for anyone who wants a backyard buddy.

Ginger

2010-04-24T09:15:00.000-07:00

Ginger is a small, but very cute mule. She was rescued in March 2008 along with four others who were living in a junkyard. After torrential rainstorms, they were forced to stand in water 24/7 and the owner refused to move them to a dry location. They were all literally standing in a pond with no where dry to lay down. In addition, they were always getting out (I don't blame them). We were finally forced to seize them and when taken before a judge, we were awarded custody of all five of them. Ginger has been adopted twice and returned to us. The first time she was returned, it was because her owner, who also had Maggie (more on her tomorrow), was moving and had no where to keep them at her new home. The second return was because Ginger who is very herd bound said that the barn manager could not lead her to the barn without her bolting back to her buddies! Oh well, the old saying is true, mules are stubborn. But this mule is so sweet! As long as she is close to her pasture buddies, she is very content. Lately, we have been working with her to stop her bolting; hopefully we'll have good news to report on that at a later date.

Racer

2010-04-23T16:29:00.000-07:00

Racer is Raven's colt. When he was rescued with his mother, he had never even been touched by humans. He was like a wild skittish deer. Today, he is a calm, sweet and very loving horse. Of course, he has his "Arab" moments, he can't help that, but when I watch him being worked with by our volunteer trainer, doing natural horsemanship, I am so amazed at how smart and what a quick learner he is. Our trainer really enjoys working with him; Racer has a lot of personality and is quite comical. He is going to turn three at the end of the summer, so we'll spend the next fews months getting him desensitized and learning ground manners. He is already proving to be an excellant horse and someday someone will be lucky to call him their own.

Raven

2010-04-22T17:36:00.000-07:00

Raven is a very special Arabian mare that in the beginning, required a lot of TLC. She was rescued in April 2008 along with her colt, Racer, who at the time was only 4 months old. Both Raven and Racer frequently roamed Hwy. 168 and Raven was not being fed adequately. After working with the owners for several months, the owner finally realized that it would be in the best interest of both horses to surrender them to PER.

Raven was fostered by two different homes and returned because she just "wasn't right"; she was exhibiting signs of mild colic on a regular basis. We decided to have some tests run on her, which were conclusive; she had grade two ulcers. She was put on a paste for 30 days that rid her of them, but the vet advised that she live a stress free life grazing in a pasture somewhere. She still is a little off at times, but she always gets over any mild discomforts on her own.

Because of a possible reoccurence of severe ulcers, we have never evaluated her under saddle or ever asked her to do much of anything except stand quietly for the farrier or to be groomed. Raven has some minor trust issues, but has a very nice personality. She loves my horse, Daisy and is quite content to be close to her roaming around in the pasture making a great pasture ornament. We hope to find her a home one day where someone wouldn't mind adding her to the family. She is quite a looker; I don't know why someone hasn't already adopted her!

Little Richard

2010-04-21T12:50:00.000-07:00

Let me start out by introducing the rescue horses that we have at our quarantine/isolation facility. That happens to be my house; all three acres of it! Yes, we are full and seeking foster and adoption homes for these special equines.

I have the honor of fostering Little Richard, Jack, Ginger, Maggie, Raven and Racer. I used to have four horses of my own, but to make room for horses in need, I am now down to one palomino mare, Daisy. I have owned her since she was two and now she is thirteen. I guess you could say she is a "keeper".

I will start with Little Richard. He was rescued in December 2009. He was a good stallion at the time, but now he is a GREAT gelding! He is a beautiful Thoroughbred standing almost 16 hands.

He would have died this past winter. He already had that "empty stare" that we have seen before when a horse has already given up. But thanks to the PER rescue team, volunteers and our awesome veterinarian, Little Richard has blossomed and he is doing very well. Anyone who fosters or adopts this horse will be very blessed!

Tomorrow, I'll introduce you to another very special equine! See ya! Diane

Starting a new era

2010-04-20T07:08:00.000-07:00

This year is a new beginning for many things in PER. We have a new board of directors which comprise of nine wonderful, talented and fundraising oriented people. We are looking at creating new and different ways to stay afloat in this economy.

This blog was created mostly to keep you apprised of what is going on behind closed doors, especially with the horses! I hope that this blog proves to be interesting, as many things happen beyond the realms that you just don't realize.

Rescue horses are unique and special and the steps taken to make them trust and bond again can be quite interesting to say the least.

I don't claim to be a "writer", but I will do my best to keep you updated.

I hope you enjoy, Diane Lowery