Why we do what we do

I haven't been here in a bit to add to this blog and i decided what should have been done is talking about why I personally started this rescue. People have their reasons why they do this and some i have seen have there hearts and minds in the right places others sad to say they dont.
Our family has been into horses many years, never really took a look at how others where caring for their horses because we lived in our own happy little world, everything was perfect there.
My reason for getting into this? Well...you can say I'm not the rescuer here, it is the horses that rescue me. For all those who ask me why? Here's your answer.
Many years ago while in the US Navy i was injured in a damage control simulator, injury was to the right side of my body, i was paralyzed, i couldn't even brush my own hair let alone take care of anyone else. 18 months of physical therapy, mental and physical pain far beyond any normal human can handle i struggled every day to get out of bed. I was diagnosed with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome, Fibromyagia Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (this i got from a shot i got while in the military 80% of those who got this shot got this diagnoses), and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. I'm not going to go into detail because it would take forever but these are trauma related pain disorders that have no cure, hence the word Syndrome. Lets just put it this way, I'm in pain 24/7 i dont remember what having no pain feels like. After a few years deal with this learning to use the right side again and trying to figure why i was still alive, what my purpose was because you know we all need one i seek out a new adventure. I went to work with our local fire dept...Loved it, oh my i cant explain how being able to help people, being able to walk into a burning building and walking back out alive does to you. Now i dont think I'm some sort of superhero but it does give you the feeling of power you can do anything and survive it. This last many years until...while directing traffic at a traffic accident i was struck by a one ton truck...Ok maybe i have a target on my forehead that says hurt me i can take it. So needless to say here we go again, i still do not feel parts of my body but have learned through the years how to do things differently. I spend more time trying to get myself together and i decide I'm going to get me a couple of horses, i missed having them around and we have plenty of space here.
Here's where it starts, I'm out and about looking at horses and i see things, things to me just dont seem right. I have a friend with me who has been riding and training well over 40 years and she pulls me aside, we have to get this horse out of here whatever it takes. So i purchase the horse loved her dearly how anyone could hurt her is beyond me. I didn't own her long because she passed on Aug 2nd, 2009 she was older and i gave her the best few last years of her life, she never knew pain or hunger, only love. Purchasing this horse got me thinking, i should look into getting a rescue started, maybe this was what i was meant to do. Paperwork and more paperwork to get this 501c3 and not to mention the money, lots of it. I started taking in horses, i believe at first it was a dozen, then one or two sliding in here and there. People who know me and know i will take care of the horses started telling other people and here i am two years later and I'm moving horses in and out of here. I'm so grateful that the people who have adopted the horses from here are so good i want to move in with them also LOL. There have been return visits and one adopted three from me. I believe in being honest with folks, if the horse is crazy i will tell you, there is no need to call 911 because of some bad behavior a horse has and it hurts someone, that firefighter in me is still rescuing people.
People often ask me how do you do it? I just tell them being disabled hasn't stopped me from living its those who curl up in a ball and pity themselves are not living, they are just surviving. Sure i do things different but i have adapted to my limitations and its those whinnies and big brown eyes that give me my purpose, it makes all the aches and pains of everyday worth it. Granted i do have bad days and with the help of my board members and volunteers we make miracles happen here.
My plan is to get a therapeutic riding program for disabled adults and children, they need to have this feeling i get from working with these horses, i cant even express in words how they make me feel. Pure love comes from theses horses, they dont ask for much, only a full belly, a little love and attention and they give back 110% more than you put out.
Our Ranch Foreman is a paraplegic, he is paralysed from his upper chest on down, my goal is to get him on a horse. Everyday that man is out there working with the horses, i know he has bad days too. He told me one time, this just breaks my heart to say but that he felt like half a person, he had no purpose and I hope now he feels as i do, these horses love him. The first horse we got basically was his, everyone picks a horse out here to tend to as their own till they are adopted, i figured this was the best way for the horses to get more one on one time with someone. When she passed he was it her and she left behind a 2 1/2 month old filly who he is working with. I believe he wants to keep her, hasn't said anything to me yet but i see it in his eyes.
We also having working on the ranch an Autistic adult who handles, feeds and whatever the horses need he does. He is supervised but with his autism he is consider a functioning which means he can take care of himself basically with limited supervision.
So that's it, a ranch full of crippled folks helping those who can not take care of themselves. Maybe we have a better understanding, maybe our hearts and minds are in the right place, maybe this is what we were suppose to be doing with our lives and our accidents that bound us to this same place was meant to be. Whatever it is that brought us all together has now created something special and i hope in the years to come we are able to take care of many horses that pass through our gates.

More rescue stories to come...

Around the Ranch

July 5th 2009 all is well on the ranch, received 500 bales of hay so we are set for a while. The babies are growing...Miabella is almost as big as her mom, she will be a monster size horse.  I think her path in life may be more of the look at me I'm pretty horse, this baby is so kick back she will be a nice mount when she grows up. Vinnie is a wonderful baby also, not a big as Mia but he was an orphan and will catch up in size in the following months, i believe he will be a grey. Mona Lisa, what a filly i think this girl would love to be someones new jumping mount...she thought she was a race horse when she was born and ran everywhere...well i should say nowhere mama is on top of her all the time, she is turning grey. Fiona...ok Fiona thinks she is a bucking bronco...either that or this filly is so happy she bucks all the time. All the babies are stunning and one day i hope to see them in show, they are that nice and I'm not saying that because they are here, I'm saying that because everyone that has seen them says the same thing...ok so i got lucky and had 4 quality babies. We have 4 more mares here due to foal early next year and I'm just hoping for healthy, happy babies and the mares of course. The mares that have foaled will be up for adoption after the babies are weaned. We do not adopt out pregnant mares, they will not leave the rescue until the foal. Why you ask? We cant take a chance people want these mares just for the babies they carry. A lot more things will be happening around here as soon as it cools off...I have met a few new great people since i started this rescue, Kim Reynolds who owns Painted Spirit Ranch has helped me rescue horses, Lynnette Wilson and her girls who will be helping with the training of the critters here and has also helped me rescue horses, and Dean who drives 2 hours one way to help me clean corrals. Justin who volunteers here daily and takes care of all things around the ranch, this guy out works all of us...Being paralyzed has not stopped this guy, I'm so proud of him and how he doesn't let his disability effect is ability to do anything... He gets around faster in that wheelchair then us...just stay out of his way he will run you over, and the horses love him. Justin is my hero and a great example of not letting anything in life you enjoy stand in your way...ok so he is sitting. I too am disabled a lot of people don't know that, it isn't something i normally share, plus looking at me i look like everyone else. I suffer debilitating pain, pain that would normally cripple someone enough that they spend the rest of their life in a wheelchair or in bed, or 3 out of 5 of us end up killing ourself due to the pain. I see myself as a surviver, one who will not let whats wrong with me limit me, i cant, thats giving in and I'm not one for doing that, just not in my nature. I have days where i rather be in bed but i think this rescue gives me something to live for, to fight for and is my mission in life. I wish people who are in the same boat as Justin and I would find some passion in life so that they too can wake up every morning with a purpose, this is something a lot of them are lacking and as humans drives us...we all need something to live for.
Going on our second year here as a 501c3 non profit has been an adventure and I personally have enjoyed every minute of it...well if i could get these horses to poop in one area i would be an even more happy camper.
I just want to thank all of those involved in this rescue and we are always looking for volunteers, not just to pick road apples but heck if you have time to groom a horse and give it that little extra love, you can make their day...to make them feel even more wanted. Some of these horses were abandoned by their owners, you as a human know what its like not to feel wanted...imagine being stuck in a little corral, left in a pasture with no one to care for you...you to would want that contact, just to know someone cared enough to spare a few minutes just on you. So for now thats all i have...I just wish someone would turn off the freaking heater outside so i could enjoy more time outside without wanting to pass out. Ok i had to add a wee bit of a vent LOL
Thanks You everyone for your support

Vinnie the orphan colt

We started this rescue officially on the 3rd of June 2008, well that's the day we got notice of our 501(c)3 status. Many horses have passed through our rescue and all found great homes with wonderful people. We have a few here still that need training before they leave and we've had several babies born here this year. We dont breed here they came here infoal, we dont keep stallions on the property i dont need accidents happening.
Our first born here is a colt, his name is Vinnie a FriesianXArab he was born on Friday March 13 2009 at 1300 hours Vinnie came into this world. His mother had retained her placenta and the vet was called. It took several hours for Doctor Dennison to remove the placenta it did not want to come out. In the mean time here is poor Vinnie little guy was hungry. Milk was removed from mom Jo and Vinnie was tubed so he could get fed, plus he needed that thing only new mamas can share with their babies. Needless to say after all the work mom wanted nothing to do with Vinnie, we tried, I stayed up all night trying everything to get her to take her baby and nothing worked. Frustrated and tired I called the vet and she brought out milk replacement for Vinnie. We did have to have plasma flown in for Vinnie because the milk we did get from mom wasn't enough. I spent 2 grand in 5 days saving both mom and baby and they are both doing fine now.
I have to give a extremely huge thanks to my mother who helped me out with the feedings, orphans are fed every two hours...I took the 6pm to 6am and mother let me get a couple hours of sleep in the morning and she fed him throughout the day so i could work with the other horses.
Fast forward Vinnie is an awesome colt, feeding him was an an adventure...weaning him was easy and he made friends with an Arabian mare Zephyr, she is now teaching him how to be a horse. Vinnie is one special baby, i will truly miss this one when he leaves here.
I will be posting stories on the rest of the foals and other horses here soon...

A thank you and wee little vent

I want to thank Lynnette her girls and Kim at Painted Spirit Ranch for getting Bee A Tigress here, she has a sad story and is lucky they cared enough to save this mare from another local horse rescue. Its sad this mare was suppose to have sanctuary at the rescue but instead she had to be rescued from the person who rescued her, that just doesn't make sense. Lately rescues have been getting a bad reputation...Who's fault is this? A few bad apples they say is all it take and it give those of us who sacrifice our time, energy and funds to rescue these horses a harder time gaining the trust of the public. People there are still good rescues out there please give them a chance, there are many horses who can use your help...please check the people out prior to adopting. I don't care if your adopting from someone else if you need help or advise don't hesitate to ask me, i want horses to find homes thats the important part here, thats why i got into this. I just do not want these bad apples ruining the chance of a legit rescue finding great homes for these great horses...Be careful people and do your research, getting a horse should be pleasurable not a nightmare.
If this posts twice...sorry. I did try to edit the post below this and it didnt show, im new to this so bear with me. Too add to below Bee A Tigress arrived May 23, 2009....at midnight, you try moving a jet black horse in the middle of the night...it was an adventure.

Rescue Story Bee A Tigress

Our newest addition and jet black TB named Bee A Tigress/Sweets aka Beauty...She looks like Black Beauty so the kids here renamed her. Beauty came to us through people who cared enough to rescue this mare from another rescue. She was suppose to have sanctuary at this other rescue but i guess since she wasn't bring any money in and they were not about to lose money the horse had to go. It stated on their website they could not do her feet because she had to be tranquilized, my farrier had no problem doing her. Beauty does have a broken leg that has healed and is really only broodmare sound or companion horse only. Her feet were in such bad shape she was almost dragging this front leg around. My farrier has her upright and she now can get around like a normal horse. He figured she hasn't been done in a very, very long time. It stated on the website also that companion horses were not released until they had their feet and teeth done, either have been done on this horse. She was purchased at auction, they rode her in and i guess the rescue who bought her figured they could sell her right away, big mistake a blind person could have seen the problem with her front leg. The rescue wasn't into losing money on the horse and she was then rescued from the rescue so they wouldn't have her put down or resold at auction. This mare is amazing and beautiful I will be contact prior owners to see if i can get more information on the horse and how this injury happened. More on Beauty in the coming days...She has found a home here with us.

Rescue Story Shilo

This is Shilo arrived May 22nd 2009, we have a lot of work ahead of us. She is the sweetest mare, she is underweight, her hooves are bad, and her teeth are a mess. She is also covered in massive scars, what this little horse went through we will never know.She was abandoned in a pasture in Northern California, she was lucky the lady was kind enough to take her in and feed her till the hauler arrived to bring her here to us. This is a perfect example of what can happen if you turn your horse loose because you no long want or can afford to take care of them. They are unable to take care of themselves because they have been taking care of by humans their whole life, they are set free to die a slow death, this is how i see this. Shilo has a lot of love to give someone, she is starved for attention, the kids you can see in the photos pet her, i let them in with her and she is as calm as they come. Our mission now is to get her straightened out, get the weight on which will be a slow process but we will get there. I had to remove most of her mane, did that without a halter and even cut a bridle path and she just stood there.There will be more on Shilo in the days to come we have a battle ahead of us...one we intend on winning.

Intro

Everyday many people are losing there homes, everyday horses are being sold, abandoned, turned lose, or taken to auction. Gas is high which makes the food we eat and the food we feed our animals more than some can handle. We here at Golden Hills Ranch Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation, Inc along with countless other rescues state wide are being overwhelmed with horses owners can no longer afford. Its not the horses fault that the economy is bad, nor is it their owners who in a way are giving the horses they donate to the rescues hope for a second chance for their equine friend.

Our mission at Golden Hills Ranch Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation, Inc. is to improve the quality of life for all horses. We are a non profit 501(c)3 publicly funded horse rescue and our mission is to save as many horses as we can. We are committed to the rescue and rehabilitation of horse and equine suffering from abuse or neglect and to find homes for those best suited to be with someone else. We also aim to improve the public awareness and knowledge of the standards of care necessary to take care of the horse both financially and physically through educating the public on the proper care, responsible horse ownership and all related issues involving equines.

Each year countless numbers of equines are euthanized or sold at auction. There are those, who for unforeseen circumstances as owners, can no longer take care of their equine friends; or prior to buying a horse did not think of the expense, time and energy it took to care for these animals, and there are also those who buy more horses than they can handle at their level of riding ability. We would love for the chance to give these horses a second chance at life and to find them homes where they will be taken care of properly. We take every step humanly possible to insure the new homes our horses go to have the proper facilities, proper care, the understanding and knowledge it takes to care for a horse for the remainder of their life.