"Everything we do is for the horse"
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2002?
Hope was found at a local auction house in a condition that could only be described as heart breaking. She was several hundred lbs underweight, and so malnourished that her coat was falling out. She was run through the auction once, but no one was willing to pay the relatively hefty cost for such an abused animal. She was put away for the night, but one kind soul at that auction house could not stop thinking of the mare. The next day, the woman went back to the auction house and purchased Hope in an attempt to rescue her to a better life.
The mare's new owners recognized that Hope was in horrible condition and they were in no position to be caring for the mare. So, in "hopes" of saving the mare, they contacted SCR and we agreed to help care for the mare. They retained possession of Hope, and contributed funds to care for the mare, as the vet bills, special diets, medicine, etc was bound to be expensive even with the generous discounts given to SCR. We provided the intensive care the mare required and a place for her to stay at one of our foster farms in Somers, CT.
The first few days were nerve wracking for the people around Hope. At one point, we were afraid to let her lay down because we didn't think she would have the strength to stand back up. Her stall was fitted with rubber matting on the walls to prevent her from scraping her skin off as she leaned there for support. She needed to eat several tiny meals throughout the day with medicine, and have a fan on her at all times to keep the flies away. In order to prevent her skin from cracking - it was bald and covered in sores and scabs - we covered her in oil and moisturizers.
Despite her battered appearance, Hope seemed to have an inconquerable spirit. Some days were better than others, but over all, the gleam in her eyes remained bright.
Slowly she began to heal, regain strength, and gain some weight back. As she gained that weight, however, her disused muscles began to cause her problems. She had a difficult time walking and we began to fear she had foundered, or was developing changes in the hoof. However, regular turnout with her pal Clyde, a mini also owned by SCR, turned out to be the best medicine for her, and her movements quickly returned to normal. Click here for pictures comparing her upon arrival at our foster farm, and months later in November 2003.
At this point, Hope is flourishing, and is scheduled to go back to her owners so they can enjoy her as much as we have. We wish her the best in her new future.