The worst of people/ the best of people... (horse rescue)....

- October 07, 2011

Today we took the kids on a field trip, to a horse rescue center just 20 minutes from my house..but a place I had not heard of..and obviously..hadn't visited. Today, after being there for 2 hours, I can't wait to go back and volunteer with my 3 kids (yes, I mean mucking stalls, grooming horses, etc)... You can read about this place at their website www.savethehorses.org

Here is ONE story from their center:

Trudy

From their website: "Trudy is a sweet Appaloosa mare. She was rescued by a veterinarian in
North Georgia in the mid 90’s. She's lived at the rescue facility since 1996.
Trudy’s history includes the most physical and mental abuse of any horse
on the farm. She was bound in barbed wire, then dragged behind a tractor.
Trudy has much fear of humans and deservedly so. Her safest place is
surrounded by horses, because she trusts them. She does not kick or
strike, even though she can easily get revenge for her horror and pain.
All she does is blow very loudly and hard through her nostrils and look for
a way to escape. Trudy will also tremble at her shoulders and arch her
neck as if to hold all of the fear in her neck muscles. It is heartbreaking to
be near Trudy and not be able to get her to understand that we will never
hurt her or let her be hurt again.

Trudy was lucky enough to be 'joined-up' with Monty Roberts when he was in Conyers, GA, a few years ago. It started out with Trudy trembling and fearful. He patiently waited for her to change her mind, and she finally put her nose on his shoulder. When that moment happened, women, as well as men, in the audience broke out in tears. It was emotional for everyone there and felt by everyone. Monty Roberts explained it this way...If you took a piece of paper, then folded it in half, ran your thumb down the fold, then opened the paper, it would have a cease in it. Rub your thumb down the crease...it will never be uncreased. It is deep into the paper now. Trudy's emotional wounds are too deep. We can offer kindness and give her understanding.

Trudy will always be a permanent resident of the rescue farm. It's been her safe place for many years. Change would only frighten her. She could use someone to sponsor her, help pay her feed and hay bills. A monthly donation will help Trudy even though she isn't capable of giving back by being ridden. Some horses need us to help them and get nothing in return."

There are so many more stories.. Bravo (their mascot and has been at the Rescue for many years), Diesel (a 17-year-old registered TN Walking Horse gelding. He is 16.1 hands and has an old injury to a back leg), Luke( a 6-year old OTB gelding who is 16.1 hands..learning the transition from the racetrack) and many more... If you are near Cumming/ Canton, Georgia... you must check them out...