Meet Blue Jean, he is
now 3 years old, and his story begins in 2012 with a call on my youngest son’s
birthday asking would I take a horse? Blue Jean was beaten and abused for 2
years of his life and was only 2 yrs old when I found him, I was the only
rescue willing to take him. He was going to be shot by the owners as they
didn't know what else to do (mind you they did that too him) He was so very
mean. He hated everything! They freely admitted to beating him in the face with
belts, punching him in the face, poking him in his eyes, pinching his nose so
he couldn't breathe, and yanking on his ears, and not to mention they also
stopped feeding him to finish breaking his spirit on top of the horrible abuse
he had to endure! Poor Blue Jean had been through hell at the hands of his
owners who was supposed to love and protect him, but instead failed him!! We
sent Blue Jean to a professional trainer as we knew right away we were in over
our heads with him, he was considered a dangerous monster and I was told by
many he would kill me, and he did try many times and all I wanted to do was
feed him, he was so scared and was very mean because of his fear, and also he
was a Cryptorchid, which some studies
suggest that it causes a chemical imbalance that can cause them to act up.
He has been here for over a year now and still has some trust
issues when meeting new people, but overall is a good boy! His before and after pictures can be seen in the Before and After section.
Meet Trigger he is now
6 years old, and his story begins in 2012 when I got a call asking if I could take
2 horses, they owners were moving out of state, and didn't care where they went
just wanted them gone, they told me they could go for meat for all they cared!
That they had stopped feeding them to save for their big move! I went to the
property to see what type of condition these horses were in, I was sickened
when I pulled in! I saw Trigger a 5 year old stallion running crazy with
a broken down mare that I couldn't believe was still standing! I started
bringing them food, and brought over 2 new halters to prepare them for
transport. The owner offered to help transport at this point and we had no idea
that would lead to many vet bills as while in route to KARES Trigger had fallen
through the floor of their trailer going down I4. When the doors opened this
beautiful white horse I just saw was now covered in blood and cuts and freaking
out!! He drug the guy down my drive way and around my fence line and finally
freed himself from his past but he was not in our pasture yet, and now was
running the neighborhood scared, injured and unsure of his surroundings! He
eventually found his way down to my neighbors farm it may have been the fact
that she has about 30 mares and I am sure many were in heat UGH mind you her
horses are top blood lines and very expensive horses and here is Trigger
running her fence line wanting her gals and all I could think of is OMG what I
am going to tell her when he gets in there, and how on earth do we get him
out!?! Thankfully her fence held better than mine because during all of this
Blue Jean decided well I want to see what going on and joins the chase UGH face
palm!! Now I have a crazy Crypt and a crazy stallion running amuck!! I was
finally able to catch both boys and got them back in the pasture that was being
repaired while I chased them. Now it’s dark and I am trying to find out how bad
Trigger injuries were, remember he just fell through a trailer and to my
surprise he only had minor injuries, so I clean him up and applied some
medicine and now have to clean Blue Jeans wounds too because he wanted to join
in on the fun, he also had minor injuries so I also apply some meds to his
wounds and call it a night. The next day the vet came out and evaluated both
boys and said how lucky Trigger was that it appears he fell through the floor
causing the wounds above his hoofs but as soon as he hit the road he was smart
enough to jump back up and positioned his foot back on to solid wood and remained
still for the remainder of the ride causing minimal damage to his hoof! He was
very lucky! And after him being here for so long I see that he has tough skin,
he is always breaking stuff; my deck, fences, buildings, shelters, feed bowls
you name it he has broken one LOL and never even so much as gets a scratch! His before and After pictures can be seen in the Before and After section.
This is Fancy she was 21 yrs old when she came is and she came in the day after Trigger but from the same home where they owners were moving out of state, and didn't care where they went just wanted them gone, they told me they could go for meat for all they cared! That they had stopped feeding them to save for their big move! I hired a hauler to go get her after Trigger fell through the floor of their trailer. She was very thin, and had many old injuries, her front knees were calcified together and had low ring bone in both front legs, my vet and I couldn't believe she was still standing as she was also very weak and malnourished! It took about 6 weeks for her to look like a horse again and she lived out her last year and half here being the heard mare keeping it calm and quite, I could not have had a better keeper for our sanctuary horses than Fancy, she will be forever missed and always will be a part of KARES! Run free Big Fancy Mama, till we meet again! Her before and after pictures can be seen in the Before and After section.
Meet Pistil Pete is now 7 years old and her story began in 2012 when she came here to KARES, We were actually looking for a personal pony for our Autistic son after meeting many horses we still had not found the "one" One day I was contacted by a boarding facility and they said they had a pony that I may be interested in, we went there expecting to see a beautiful pony that was for sale (I was told that the previous owner was behind on her board and they were selling her, I found out later this was NOT true!) but any ways we were not ready for what we saw next!! Out in the pasture stood little ole Pistil Pete covered in oozing wounds from a serious case of summers itch, all her wound were infected, all 4 hoofs were brushed and you could clearly see that she had abscesses at one point blow through the top of her hoofs, and all 4 of her hoofs were like that! I couldn't believe what I saw, I was horrified and was not going to leave her behind!! She has now made a full recovery and is a little firecracker. Her before and after pictures can be seen in the Before and After section.
Meet Big Red he came here
for sanctuary in 2013 as his family who loved him very much could no longer
keep him. He has lead a hard life from being a roping horse out in Vegas to
running in the rodeo here in Florida last year. Red was not supposed to be ridden
hard after suffering a stifle injury when he fell in a septic tank. So he was
taken here to live out his life and just relax as he has worked hard his whole
life and was ready to retire. He is 22 years old and is loving retirement!
Meet Justice a 20 year old
thoroughbred, to say he has been through hell and back would be an
understatement! He has been starved 4 times that I know of, due to pure greed
and ignorance! He came into KARES emaciated, covered rain rot, had thrush in
all hoofs, no vaccinations, needing his teeth done, but he still looked 100
times better than the mare he came in with, their story broke my heart and
still does, to think of what these 2 beautiful horses went through! He is now
fat and sassy, loving his new life here at KARES! He is very kind and funny, and is very thankful for a new life! His before and after pictures
can be seen in the Before and After section.
Meet Shianne 18 year old thoroughbred, to also say she has been through hell and back would be an understatement! She has also been starved 4 times, due to pure greed and ignorance! Shianne is nothing short of a miracle! She was so emaciated and sick, when I was asked to take her, just like her best friend Justice. We had the vet on call in case she had to be euthanized when she arrived if not in route to KARES. She was nothing but skin and bones with a body score of 0.5-1 on the Henneke scale, the smell of death rolled off the trailer. You could seriously smell her long before you got to her; it was the worst case of neglect I have ever seen. She required round the clock care when she came in, and I still wasn't sure if she would make it through the night. She had the worst rain rot I have ever seen and she was covered in it. She also had thrush in all 4 hoofs that was so painful she was lame. Her first round of blood tests gave us little hope to save her, and we thought we were too late, but everyday Shianne grew stronger, and stronger!! Her next set of blood tests showed all around improvement and we knew she was a fighter and was not going to give up. Shianne is KARES miracle mare who beat all the odds, even our vet said she wouldn't make it, but she did! She is now the head mare of the front pasture (which is just old mares in rehabilitation still just like her, but she is the boss!) This mare has taught me so many things about never giving up! The first time I seen her run and kick up her heels I almost cried; it was the most amazing feeling in the world! She is so sweet and loving, and is very thankful for a new life! Her before and after pictures can be seen in the Before and After section.
Meet Mystic 25 year old thoroughbred, she was used as a broodmare for many years after the racing industry threw her away! Once the owner was done breeding her for all those years, now said he was going to shoot her, that she no longer served a purpose to him. Then she ended up at a place where horses were dying, and fighting for food, and she had to be rescued again, she brought her friend Marley with her! When she arrived at KARES we found her riddled in cancer, emaciated, thrush in all her hoofs, as well as large painful cracks and chips in her hoofs, making her semi lame. She was very scared and head shy. She is now an in your pocket type of horse,loves attention, and is growing stronger everyday. Before and After pictures to come.
Meet Marley 23 year old thoroughbred she was used as a broodmare for many years after the racing industry threw her away! Once the owner was done breeding her for all those years, now said he was going to shoot her, that she no longer served a purpose to him. Then she ended up at a place where horses were dying, and fighting for food, and she had to be rescued again, she came in with Mystic. We also found her emaciated, with thrush in all her hoofs, as well as large painful cracks and chips in her hoofs, also making her semi lame. She also has ring bone in 3 legs, thinking they are old racing injuries. She was very scared and head shy as well when she came in but is now also an in your pocket type of horse, who loves attention, she has a strong personality and makes me laugh daily! Before and After pictures to come.