I adopted 2 older TB mares over the internet in October of 2004. Thinking I would make room for the rescue to take in 2 more. The mares were brought to my property sight unseen, just trusting the word of the rescue they were in.

Two mares arrived, starved, bleeding, and with endless older wounds. I immediatley called the ER vet. We all worked tirelessly for 3 days, tragicaly we lost Proud Mary, as we called her. She passed peacefully in our arms with the carring help of the vet.

We went on to work with Nirvana. Slow intro to the proper feed, antibiotics, lots of wound care, most important tons of love and dedication.

She is finally learning to trust us and is the light of our lives. She has narcolepsey which is probably why she was sent to rescue, but lives just fine with it, in fact she has learned what to do to keep herself safe. She lives with our young horses and has now taken her place as the watch mare. She makes sure everyone is safe. She no longer looks like a rescue horse and is great to ride, we just feel she has put in her dues so is now happily retired, execept for her self assigned watch mare position.

We recieved her JC papers and her lines go back to Man 'O War.

My experience was the most heart rendering and the most rewarding of my life. It was worth all the tears money and emotion to see that lovely mare standing proudly in the pasture with our young ones. My only regret is that Proud Mary isn't beside her. I encourage anyone who has the means, space and heart to please adopt a rescue horse. Make sure to check in to the rescue your adopting from, the one that my mare came from was closed and charged with animal abuse as a result. But there are some great ones out there. I have had endless advise and encouragement from Emerald Valley Equine Assistance in Oregon, Hope for horses in WA state and Columbia Basin Equine Rescue in Spokane WA, who I encourage anyone to adopt from as the horses there are on the way to slaughter, straight from there, it is a feedlot where dedicated women have been able to strike a deal with the owner to place the horses in homes if they can prior to the slaughter truck coming. I can honestly say the most heart warming moments I have in a day are the times when that pretty old mare comes over for a love and lets me know that she is really home, forever. There are so many wonderfull riding horses and pasture pals that are headed to slaughter through no fault of their own. Please consider adopting one You will never regret it.

      ~Gerri