Every year, nationwide, there are hundreds of unwanted/orphaned foals (baby horses) sent to “livestock” sales. People take baby horses to these auctions to be rid of them quickly. No questions are asked either from the buyer or the seller.
Who buys these foals? 1) Many go to individuals who have their hearts set in the right place but have no experience raising a foal and often lack the financial resources. Sadly, many die from neglect and abuse, or are passed around from one person to another, often ending up at another livestock sale facing the nightmare they were first saved from. 2) Some foals are bought to practice questionable roping techniques until a leg is broken or the foal succumbs to an ailment. 3) Another horrible prospect is experimental research, and finally 4) Livestock sales attract people who are interested in these animals primarily for food. They are sold at these sales by the pound to slaughter plants in Mexico and Canada.
Both Lila Tate and Athena were found at such a local sale barn. Once a week, from 25-80 horses, coming from various counties, are auctioned off. No information is given about any of the animals for sale.
Most of these horses are bought by a man known as “the kill guy”. He buys most of the horses for sale, and then resells them, mainly in Mexico for slaughter. He also sells horses for research. Some of the horses he buys for slaughter are pregnant mares.
Lila Tate was at one of these sales in May. A bid was placed by the rescue organization. Later that day, they were told she was theirs and they picked her up that evening. Her estimated age was about 6 months and, it appeared that she had never been handled. She was most fearful and distrustful! Progress has been slow, but now she allows her caretakers to place a halter lead and groom her. She has some front leg issues. She is pigeon toed and has growth plate abnormalities, but proper food and healing light treatments are helping. Like her emotional issues, this physical problem is not permanent. Lila is a beautiful, sensitive American Paint.
Athena was brought to the same sale barn in mid-June with her mother, a big bay quarter horse. Athena came to live at the rescue, but unfortunately her mother was purchased by another bidder. Athena still had her umbilical cord. A big leggy foal, her age was guessed to be about 2 months. She has an umbilical hernia which will require surgery in the near future. She is a little ray of sunshine. The moment she was placed with Lila Tate, it helped Lila calm down.
A foal under three months of age without its mother requires very special care and diet. The wrong feed will kill a young horse. This special nourishment, for an infant, costs about $100-$150 a week. Often these babies require medical care as well and extra attention. Their spirits require nurturing, as they are broken hearted about being separated from their mothers at such a tender age.
This organization goes to the sale barn during the foal season and rescues only two young ones a year. Because rescuing a horse is so expensive, this group can only commit to two at risk foals at a time, which includes four years of raising and training, giving them the best chance to live a full life. It takes four years for a horse to mature. During that time, the colts receive 300 training hours each. It costs an average of $1200 a year to feed each one plus their medical care. The goal of this organization is to train a horse to become an excellent rider and companion so they can eventually be placed in a permanent home.
We have a crisis on our hands today. Rising costs of feed and veterinary care make owning a horse a luxury which few can afford. Horses are still bred irresponsibly. As with dogs and cats, there are not enough homes for horses to live out their lives as cherished companions.
This two-person rescue “operation” does its part by taking in two foals a year and then readies them for the best possible future opportunities. Let’s do what we can to help alleviate the pain and suffering of these beautiful creatures by giving generously for food and vet care to Animals Abused & Abandoned here. Your gift will be deeply appreciated.