| ||||
|
|
Nonprofit group runs haven for horses
EVANSVILLE (AP)--A chestnut American Quarter Horse stood in an empty enclosed arena at Double M Stables one rainy Friday afternoon. The horse, sometimes referred to as Red, carried three riders around the dirt-covered arena, trotting with some while leisurely strolling with others.
Four months ago, Red was barely able to stand on his own. In a picture taken in March, the gelding's hips protruded beneath his chestnut coat. His ribs could be counted.
"When we first got him, we were afraid to walk him around because we were afraid he was going to fall," said Monica Freeman, president of Horse Advocates Voicing Equine Needs, called HAVEN for short.
HAVEN is a nonprofit agency that provides care to neglected or abused horses such as Red. The agency's bylaws were approved in July. The organization was created by Freeman after she bought and adopted Red and five other horses.
"I just thought there was a need in the area to help horses," Freeman said.
The owner of the six horses had come upon some hard times, Freeman said, and wasn't able to take care of all the animals.
"What I like saying is that we're helping good people help good horses in bad situations," Freeman said.
Red hadn't been able to eat because he had been bullied by 30 other horses where he used to live. Freeman said that because of Red's passive behavior, the other horses were able to push him out of the way when it was time to get food, leaving the gelding 100 to 200 pounds underweight.
But HAVEN helped Red regain his health.
"It's just tender loving care," said Linda Freeman, Monica Freeman's sister and a HAVEN advisory board member.
The organization wants to protect the identities of the horse owners and the original names of the horses so owners will not feel threatened by turning their horses over to HAVEN. The group also plans to work with the Humane Society and local animal control, Monica Freeman said.
"We want to create a safety net for owners on hard times," Monica Freeman said.
Red and another horse from the original six have since been adopted. The horses have stayed on Freeman's property and at Double M Stables, owned by Roy and Kim Gilkey. The group also plans to lease another 20 acres for the horses.
HAVEN was created as a project committee of the nonprofit group Four Rivers Resource Conservation and Development Area Inc. One of HAVEN's goals is to help the horses recuperate to the point that they can be made available to children involved in 4-H who work on horses as projects. HAVEN also hopes to eventually provide horses for Boy and Girl Scouts.
"The horses are great, but they can also be used to school the kids," Gilkey said.
Leah Newton, a member of 4-H, has been taking care of an appaloosa called Ebony Pearl--Pearl, for short--one of the six original horses obtained by Freeman. Red and Pearl are staying at the Double M Stables. Leah, 13, has spent every day during the summer at the stables, grooming the horse she showed at the Vanderburgh County Fair and caring for Pearl. Her daily regimen for Pearl includes brushing the horse's black coat and spreading moisturizer onto her hooves.
Leah said Pearl has a good personality and is easy to work with because Pearl is thankful for being cared for.
"She's got the sweetest personality ever," she said.
For now, HAVEN is continuing to provide care to the horses and find them homes. Goosebumps appear on Linda Freeman's arms as she describes what it was like to see Red ridden by his new adoptive parent, and what it's like to know that Red will be taken care of.
"It was tough. It was really tough. It chokes you up," Linda Freeman said.
Date: 9/23/04
Copyright 1995-2008. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com
 
| |||||||||||||||||||
