Category Archives: Horse Care/Protection

YREKA, CA, UNITED STATES, September 7, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ — Based on a true story and actual events, Horse of Nature is set in the middle of the remote Cascade Siskiyou Mountains near the Oregon/California border, where the tiny town of 400 people called Henley Hornbrook exists.

In 2018, a deadly wind driven wildfire tore through the town, the lives of its people, and surrounding countryside.

The documentary film Horse of Nature offers a glimpse into the lives of some of the survivors of that wildfire and the local herd of cultural heritage wild horses that played a role in the battle to control what became known as the Klamathon Fire.

“Horses have been integral in building and progressing societies around the world, and so it’s been healing to explore in this film how horses can help save our modern relationship with nature and the aid in the wildfire epidemic,” said the film’s producer director Autie Carlisle.

Of great historical importance is that, in the year 1580, British officer and serving Knight Sir Francis Drake was on a military exploration mission of the west coast of what is today America, when he discovered horses living among the local indigenous peoples of the area that is today the Oregon/California border. This documented observation was included in the doctoral dissertation of Dr. Yvette ‘Running Horse’ Collin, PhD:

This is the excerpt from Dr. Collin’s doctoral dissertation:

“The Spanish conquistadors were not the only European explorers to have noticed and recorded early sightings of horses in the Americas. In 1579, the Queen of England sent Sir Francis Drake to ‘The New World.’ Drake also recorded having seen herds of horses in the Americas during his voyage off the coasts of what are now known as California and Oregon. An account given of Drake’s landing in the geographic areas now known as Northern California and Southern Oregon includes the English explorer’s description of the homes of the Native Peoples, as well as the animals that he encountered. It related his wonder at seeing so many wild horses, because he had heard that the Spaniards had found no native horses in America, save those of the Arab breed which they had introduced.”

The relevance of Drake’s discovery is that it came just 88 years after Christopher Columbus first landed on the east coast of the North American continent with just a few horses from Europe, which were critical assets and closely guarded. During the 1500s, there was no manner or method for the importation and subsequent accidental release of tens of thousands of horses that would be required for some of them to somehow reach the far northwestern opposite side of the North American continent in just 88 years. This historical fact provides evidence that splinter populations of native North American horses did in fact survive the Ice Age contrary to now obsolete science and belief that they went extinct. And some of the descendants and genetic blood lines of the Drake horses remain on the landscape in the mountains of the Oregon/California border area near Henley Hornbrook, California.

Deb Ferns, president of the all-volunteer nonprofit Wild Horse Fire Brigade (‘WHFB’) said: “We are very pleased and excited that the EQUUS Film Festival has ‘Officially Selected’ Horse of Nature to be screened at the festival. That is such an honor! Autie Carlisle has done a splendid job producing this documentary along with her team. This heartfelt documentary drama takes an honest look into some of the lives of wildfire survivors and the cultural heritage herd of horses that our organization (WHFB) is working hard to study and preserve. There is no doubt that this herd of horses should be protected under the Antiquities Act.”

About the EQUUS Film & Arts Festival (http://www.equusfilmfestival.net):

The EQUUS Film & Arts Fest is the world’s premier showcase for domestic and International Equestrian Content feature films, documentaries, shorts, music videos, commercials, training and educational materials, art, and literature, in addition to film programming, interesting guest speakers and presenters, informative panels, industry workshops, hosting exhibits, and interactive experiences with horses and trainers.

EQUUS Strives to bring a greater awareness and understanding of the unique relationship between horses and the humans who love them.

More about Autie Carlisle here: https://www.autiecarlisle.com/documentaries

Horse of Nature: The Trailer — https://vimeo.com/998882803/001b27d9c1?share=copy

Deb Ferns
Wild Horse Fire Brigade

Visit www.wildhorsefirebrigade.org for more information.

Dressage, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Horse Care/Protection, Olympic Games, Show Jumping

Beating the Heat in Versailles: FEI Implements Climate Mitigation Protocols

July 30, 2024 Associate Editor

Photo: Cooling stations were set up across the Paris 2024 Olympic equestrian venue at Versailles, equipped with cold water, ice, and personnel ready to assist horses with immediate cooling needs. © FEI/Liz Gregg

Olympic Equestrian Dressage competitions got underway with comprehensive heat and humidity protocols put in place by the FEI in response to rising temperatures.

“While we strive for all equestrian events to take place in optimal climatic conditions, it is often logistically challenging to achieve such conditions,” explained FEI Veterinary Director Göran Åkerström.

“Thanks to our protocols, horses cooled down swiftly and displayed no signs of heat stress, underscoring the efficacy of our climate mitigation strategies.

“The FEI uses the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) Index as a standard tool for assessing and managing thermal stress.

“The WBGT Index measures solar radiation, ground heat reflection, humidity, and windspeed, and is used by several sports as it is the most comprehensive index to monitor the climate’s effect on humans, and in our case, also horses.

“This precise method allows us to accurately gauge the potential for heat stress at events and implement the necessary measures to safeguard our horses’ and humans’ welfare. These measures get put in place once the WBGT index is higher than 28 degrees Celsius, and in today’s case the Index reached the high peak of 33.8 degrees Celsius.”

Key measures put in place included:

Continuous WBGT Monitoring: Beginning at 09:30 on Tuesday morning, on-site monitoring of climatic conditions was implemented, and the data was crucial in accurately assessing the potential for heat stress on the field-of-play throughout the day.
Thermal Imaging and Veterinary Supervision: All horses were monitored with advanced thermal imaging technology by a world-class veterinary team. This non-invasive technique accurately estimates body temperature from a distance, allowing for early identification of potential heat stress. Monitoring was conducted at warm-up stages and immediately upon horses returning from the field-of-play.
Cooling Stations: Further to the two cooling stations in place, three additional cooling stations were set up across the venue, equipped with cold water, ice, and personnel ready to assist with immediate cooling needs. These stations provided crucial support for rapid temperature reduction of the horses, post-performance.

The FEI has been at the forefront of researching and implementing climate mitigation strategies for equestrian sports, ensuring that athletes, both human and equine, perform safely in all conditions.

These comprehensive measures have been developed and refined since the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, to ensure the safety and optimal performance of equine athletes competing today.

The heat mitigation protocols were developed specifically for high-risk environments like Tokyo 2020 and were adapted to suit local conditions for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris 2024.

press@fei.org
www.fei.org

*Featured/Spotlights, Horse Care/Protection

Update on Cloud Foundation Lawsuit to Get Cameras on Helicopters

July 26, 2024 Associate Editor

We wanted to share some GOOD news regarding The Cloud Foundation’s lawsuit to get cameras on helicopters at roundups.

As you may know, public observers attending roundups are only able to see a small portion of the operation (and that is dependent on the government providing adequate observation areas — which is not usually the case). As a result, most of the government’s highly controversial activities at these tragic roundups go unseen and unknown by the public. This is why last August TCF filed suit to require cameras on roundup helicopters, at trap sites, and in holding pens. This will allow the public to see in real time (or as close to real time as possible) how wild horses and burros are treated for the entirety of a roundup. Camera footage will hold BLM accountable, compel more humane treatment, and hopefully change the paradigm to show that wild horses are not “over-populating” our public lands and deserve their fair share.

Of course, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) does not want this transparency and accountability, and are fighting our lawsuit by moving to dismiss two of our claims. They argued to the court that BLM did not need to consider TCF’s public comments request for the cameras or whether “real-time cameras would be an easy, cost-effective method to facilitate public viewing of roundups and prevent inhumane treatment of horses during roundups…”

Thankfully, the court recently ruled that BLM is wrong. This means ALL the claims in our lawsuit will move forward, despite BLM’s attempt at dismissal. We are 10 months in and there is still a long way to go, but we have overcome the first of BLM’s obstacles to government accountability.

We will embrace each win to build strength to continue this fight for our wild ones. The court’s decision on the BLM’s motion to dismiss can be read here.

We cannot undertake actions such as this without the generous support of people like you. So, THANK YOU — this win is yours. If you are able, please consider donating by clicking here to support this important effort. Your donation will support this lawsuit and make you a part of history to reverse BLM’s distorted management of our precious wild horses and burros.

Thank you for your dedication and perseverance in fighting to get wild horses and burros fair and humane treatment. Together, we can do this.

The Cloud Foundation
www.thecloudfoundation.org

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, FEI, Horse Care/Protection, Olympic Games

FEI Announces Provisional Suspension of Dressage Athlete Charlotte Dujardin (GBR)

July 23, 2024 Associate Editor

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro at the London 2012 Olympic Dressage (own work, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license)

The FEI has officially announced the provisional suspension of British Dressage athlete Charlotte Dujardin (FEI ID: 10028440) effective immediately from the date of notification, 23 July 2024.

This decision renders her ineligible to participate in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games or any other events under the jurisdiction of the FEI.

During this period of suspension, she is prohibited from participating in any activities related to competitions or events under the jurisdiction of the FEI or any competition or event under the jurisdiction of a National Federation (NF). This also includes any FEI or NF-related activities. In addition, the British Equestrian Federation has mirrored this provisional suspension, which also makes Ms. Dujardin ineligible to compete in any national events during this period.

On 22 July 2024, the FEI received a video depicting Ms. Dujardin engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare. This video was submitted to the FEI by a lawyer representing an undisclosed complainant. According to the information received, the footage was allegedly taken several years ago during a training session conducted by Ms. Dujardin at a private stable.

Upon receiving the video, the FEI promptly initiated an investigation. As part of this investigation, Ms. Dujardin, British Equestrian, and British Dressage were informed of the allegations. Ms. Dujardin was given a deadline of 17:00 Swiss time on 23 July to respond to the allegations. Subsequently, Ms. Dujardin confirmed that she is the individual depicted in the video and acknowledged that her conduct was inappropriate.

On 23 July 2024, Charlotte Dujardin requested to be provisionally suspended pending the outcome of the investigations and voluntarily withdrew from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and also confirmed that she will not participate in any competitions pending the outcome of the FEI’s investigation.

The FEI condemns any conduct contrary to the welfare of horses and has robust rules in place to address such behaviour. Our commitment to ensuring the highest standards of equine welfare and sportsmanship remains unwavering.

The FEI acknowledges the cooperation of Charlotte Dujardin, British Equestrian, and British Dressage with the ongoing investigation and intends to proceed as swiftly as possible.

“We are deeply disappointed with this case, especially as we approach the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. However, it is our responsibility and crucial that we address any instances of abuse, as equine welfare cannot be compromised,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.

“Charlotte has expressed genuine remorse for her actions, and we recognise and appreciate her willingness to take responsibility. Despite the unfortunate timing, we believe this action reaffirms the FEI’s commitment to welfare as the guardians of our equine partners and the integrity of our sport.”

To maintain the integrity of the investigation, the FEI will refrain from making further comments on this matter until the process is concluded.

Media contacts:

Vanessa Martin Randin
Senior Manager, Communications & Media Relations – Corporate Campaigns & Advocacy
Communications Department
Vanessa.randin@fei.org

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager, Governance Communications, Stakeholder & Media Relations
FEI Communications
malina.gueorguiev@fei.org

*Featured/Spotlights, Horse Care/Protection, Wild Horse Fire Brigade

Wild Horses and American Wilderness Deserve Ecologically Appropriate Management

July 12, 2024 Associate Editor

YREKA, CALIFORNIA, USA, July 10, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Little Book Cliffs herd area in the state of Colorado is located to the north of the populated town of Palisade, and to the northeast of Clifton, Fruitvale, and Grand Junction Colorado. These towns are extremely vulnerable to catastrophic wildfire. Any large landscapes of managed wildfire fuels that border these vulnerable towns is a hugely valuable consideration in regard to the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of these towns, as well as the properties at risk and costs for wildfire suppression.

MORE from the insurance industry analysts at AM BEST here: https://www.ambest.com/video/video.aspx?s=1&rc=wildhorses323.

Clearly, maintaining the wildfire fuels on the landscape of the Little Book Cliffs area using an environmentally friendly herbivore, such as the resident Little Book Cliff horses, makes for a very logical and cost effective wildfire fuels management argument.

Nevertheless Doug Vilsack, the Colorado Bureau of Land Management (‘BLM’) State Director, wants to pursue what many wild horse experts feel is an illogical and unreasonable roundup and waste of American taxes. Under NEPA Number: DOI BLM CO G010 2024 0007 EA, the roundup has the Project Name: ‘Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Range Management’.

Peggy Coleman Taylor, a long time Colorado resident wild horse advocate and member of the Wild Horse Fire Brigade Advisory Board, said, “This proposed roundup flies in the face of all the work and money that was spent by Gov. Jared Polis and lawmakers to create the Colorado Wild Horse Working Group.”

Peggy Coleman Taylor’s opinion seems well supported by a recent article in the Colorado Sun: https://coloradosun.com/2024/07/08/wild horse working group/.

Science-supported facts:

“Horses re-seed the plants and grasses they consume while contemporaneously managing grass and brush wildfire fuels, whereas ruminant herbivores (cattle, sheep, goats, deer) digest most of the seeds they consume. No other large herbivore on the North American continent is capable of this kind of symbiotic, natural range management, which is also very cost effective,” said Michelle Gough, wild horse researcher and board member of Wild Horse Fire Brigade.

More information at this EIN News release: https://www.wboy.com/business/press releases/ein presswire/620446849/american wild horses are understudied that results in grossly overlooked ecological benefits/.

According to the Bureau of Land Management’s webpage (https://www.blm.gov/visit/little book cliffs wsa):

The Little Book Cliffs wild horses have a diversity of colors, band sizes, and ages. Through the introduction of wild horses from other herds, the range of colors within the herd is exciting and photogenic. Horses include palominos, paints, grays, blacks, bays, sorrels, blue and red roans, as well as a few Appaloosas. In recent years, a curly was also introduced and has since foaled. Band sizes range from two to 10 horses. Due to high public visitation, the wild horses are less skittish than other horses, so photo opportunities are ideal.

“The loss of the foregoing ‘photo opportunities’ and related annual tourism revenues is of grave economic consequence to the local towns,” said Deb Ferns, president of Wild Horse Fire Brigade, who holds an MBA and believes that the solution offered by Wild Horse Fire Brigade’s proven management plan can be a cookie cutter solution for increased tourism and wildfire fuels management in many areas, under the guidance of the highly experienced team of researchers from Wild Horse Fire Brigade, who live among and study a herd of heritage horses in a wilderness area.

In 2023, Wild Horse Fire Brigade, an all-volunteer 501(c)3 wild horse research, re-wilding and conservation nonprofit, signed a 5-year contract with California State University to teach wild horse ecology ethology and wildfire fuels management via wild horses. More here from Sacramento State University: https://www.csus.edu/news/newsroom/stories/2024/1/wild horses internship.html.

William E. Simpson II, a former rancher/logger with wildfire experience and a long time wild horse researcher and ethologist, stated that “the close proximity (just 8 miles) to an area that will become even more laden with wildfire fuels, as a result of the loss of any of the horses, greatly increases the wildfire risk to nearby towns. Wind-blown wildfires can cross and spark spot fires over 8 miles of ground in a matter of minutes. The Herd Area size of 36,113 acres can easily support the existing 200 horses with a current distribution rate of 1 horse per 180 acres.”

According to the BLM’s website:
The topography & vegetation are as follows: The wild horse area is characterized by four major canyon systems falling to gentle sloping plateaus covered in sagebrush and pinon juniper. Wildlife includes: elk, turkey, mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, chukar partridge, gamble’s quail, midget faded rattlesnake, snowshoe hare, mountain lion, bobcat, bear.

Kelsey Strangebye, lawyer, award-winning equestrian, and the Vice President of Wild Horse Fire Brigade, said: “The BLM’s suggested Appropriate Management Level (‘AML’) of 90-150 horses is in conflict with the population management guidelines found on page 22 in the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Management Handbook (https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/uploads/Media_Library_BLM_Policy_H 4700 1.pdf), which states:

“4.4.6.3 Herd Size”
“A minimum population size of 50 effective breeding animals (i.e., a total population size of about 150-200 animals) is currently recommended to maintain an acceptable level of genetic diversity within reproducing WH&B populations (Cothran, 2009). This number is required to keep the rate of loss of genetic variation at 1 percent per generation. Animal interchange between adjacent HMAs with smaller population sizes may reduce the need for maintaining populations of this size within each individual HMA. Research has not yet established a recommended minimum breeding herd size for burros.”

However, what is considered by many scientists as the more reliable data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission recommends minimum populations of 2,500 individuals in a connected area for the conservation of genetic diversity.

Given the risks for catastrophic wildfire and the approximation of communities that border this area, removing these horses presents an unreasonable risk to the health, safety, and economic welfare of the local American citizens.

Wild Horse Fire Brigade believes that the honorable Colorado Governor Jared Polis should use his power as Governor and issue an Executive Order to call a halt to this proposed roundup.

Public Information (https://www.nga.org/governors/powers and authority/) about the use of Executive Orders and Executive Power provides the following information:

“The authority for Governors to issue executive orders is found in state constitutions and states as well as case law or is implied by the powers assigned to state chief executives.”

Colorado Governor Polis has the power and authority to stop the proposed roundup to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people of the affected communities from the grave dangers presented by the impending risk of catastrophic wildfire and exposure to toxic smoke.

Simpson has written a letter to Governor Polis urging him to immediately take action, and issue an Executive Order halting the planned BLM roundup, at least and until additional in-depth research and comments from local city and town officials, business leaders, chambers of commerce, and affected citizens can fully weigh in to the issue.

This press release can be viewed online at: https://www.einpresswire.com/article/726582866/.

Visit www.wildhorsefirebrigade.org for more information.

*Featured/Spotlights, Horse Care/Protection

Firework Safety Tips for Equestrians: Keeping Horses & Barns Safe on the Fourth of July

July 4, 2024 Associate Editor

Wellington, FL (July 4, 2024) – While celebrating Independence Day is typically filled with sparklers, barbecues, fireworks, and red-white-and-blue clothes, food, and drink, it is unfortunately not the most horse-friendly of holidays. A few easy tips from FireHorse and WorldHorseWelfare.org can keep your equine friends calm and prevent injury this Fourth of July.

Fireworks can cause stress and fear in all animals, and it is important that we try to minimize this as much as possible for pets. Horses are flight animals and will generally try to remove themselves from a stressful or scary situation, which could result in injury if they attempt to jump a fence or climb over a stable door. However, there are some simple steps that you can take to help keep your horses safe.

KNOW THE DATES, TIMES, AND LOCATIONS OF LOCAL FIREWORKS EVENTS

Find out where the local displays are going to be, on what days and at what time. It’s not uncommon for people to use fireworks to mark other occasions such as New Year’s or a wedding, so keep an eye out for public notices of such events. Speak to neighbors to let them know that you have horses and need to prepare for any fireworks displays so they can let you know in advance if they are planning any. If any events are going to be held close by, consider bringing your horses into their stables during this time. However, if your horses are used to living out, then they may be best kept in their normal field.

KEEP YOUR HORSES IN A ROUTINE

Don’t alter your horses’ routine on the day of a fireworks display, as this in itself can be stressful. If you do plan to stable them during firework displays, and they are currently living out, then start bringing them in a week or so ahead of the display to get them used to it. You don’t have to keep them in for the entire night, just for a few hours covering either side of when the firework displays will be on. Set up the stable exactly as you would on the night of the fireworks display, so for example, if you plan to have the radio on, have the top door of the stable shut, and to give them a treat ball to keep them occupied, then do this in the weeks leading up to the display too.

FIRE SAFETY

Although the likelihood of a rogue firework causing a stable fire is low, it is every owner’s worst nightmare and being prepared for the event of a stable fire could save lives. Make sure you have fire extinguishers, sand, and water nearby in case of a fire around the stables. If you keep your horses at livery, familiarise yourself with the fire drills – make sure you know where you should go with your horses – and encourage other liveries to do the same.

ON THE NIGHT:
REMAIN CALM

As an owner, your mood and stress levels will have a direct impact on your horses, so it is important that you don’t get angry or upset in front of your horses if neighbours nearby have a display that you weren’t expecting. Try to remain calm and hopefully your horses will too. However, remember your own safety is paramount, so do not try to handle your horses if they are acting in a dangerous or unpredictable manner. Limit the risks to them by ensuring there are no sharp or protruding objects near them but keep yourself at a safe distance and out of harm’s way.

USE DISTRACTIONS

Give your horses plenty of hay to keep them occupied, even if they are in a field. If stabled, put a radio on to mask the noise of the fireworks, but make sure that the radio is positioned safely so it cannot be accessed by the horses.

Check your horses regularly during the evening to make sure they are okay. If you can, it’s often a good idea to stay with them, because your presence may have a calming effect. Make a night of it; you could bring a flask and picnic to the stables and do some of those jobs you keep putting off, like giving your tack a deep clean. If you are on a livery yard, encourage other owners to do the same.

THE MORNING AFTER:
CHECK YOUR HORSES FOR CUTS OR INJURIES

The day after a display it is important that you just carry on with your horses’ normal routine, but do check your horses thoroughly for any cuts or injuries, just in case they have over-reached or run into something.

CHECK YOUR FIELD FOR ANY STRAY FIREWORKS WHICH MIGHT HAVE LANDED THERE

Fully inspect the entire field and water trough to make sure there is no debris left in the field which could injure your horses or wildlife or contaminate the area.

Source: WorldHorseWelfare.org

Media contact:
Equinium Sports Marketing, LLC
Holly Johnson
holly@equinium.com
www.equinium.com

*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Horse Care/Protection, Horse Racing, Racing, Rescue/Protection Sources

Inspiring Stories of Rescued Horses Turned Champions

June 22, 2024 Teri Rehkopf

Introduction to the Heart of Equine Triumphs

I’ve always found horses’ resilience remarkable. Beneath their majestic exteriors lies an extraordinary capacity for recovery and transformation, as I have witnessed with my own rescued horse, Panimetro. In this exploration, I share a slice of reality where once-forgotten creatures find new life and achieve greatness. We often see horses as symbols of power and grace, but for some, their beginning is anything but glamorous.

In the stories of rescue horses—those saved from uncertain fates and the brink of despair—we witness real-life tales of triumph. Emotional and physical transformations are common among these animals, and I will outline their narratives in the following sections. Each story presents a horse who, through a combination of human intervention, innate spirit, and often a touch of luck, emerges from the shadows of neglect to shine in the spotlight of the championship.

Let’s introduce the first of these equine champions. Snowman’s story is particularly poignant for its cinematic quality—it tells of a horse who, after nearly ending up in a slaughterhouse, leaped into the annals of show jumping history with the heart and soul of a true champion. This Cinderella story highlights how the unlikeliest heroes can emerge from dire circumstances, exemplifying the potential waiting to be uncovered in rescue horses worldwide.

Snowman: The Cinderella Horse

Snowman’s story begins as a bleak tale of near miss. Saved from a slaughterhouse in Pennsylvania for a mere $80 in 1956, this gentle giant, with a knack for jumping, transformed his fate entirely. His rescuer, Harry de Leyer, a riding instructor, recognized a glimmer of untapped potential in the disheveled gray gelding.

Harry deLeyer and Snowman By VentnorNJ - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=107870915 — Harry deLeyer and Snowman

The bond between Snowman and Harry de Leyer was nothing short of extraordinary. Snowman defied all expectations within two years, winning the national jumping title. His ability to easily clear towering obstacles earned him the nickname ‘The Flying Dutchman,’ he soon became an equestrian legend.

What makes Snowman’s championship all the more inspiring is the juxtaposition of his humble beginnings against the backdrop of prestigious show jumping competitions. His sweeping victories at Madison Square Garden showcased his capabilities and solidified Harry’s belief in second chances. Snowman’s legacy champions the idea that every horse, no matter how oppressed, carries the heart of a champion.

Neville Bardos: From Rags to Riches

Neville Bardos, named after a notorious Australian gangster, is a horse whose story captures the essence of resilience. His journey begins with humble origins on Australian racetrack circuits, where he failed to make a mark. Unwanted and almost forgotten, he found salvation when American event rider Boyd Martin brought him to the United States, sensing the spark of untapped potential.

The turning point in Neville’s story is as dramatic as any. In 2011, he was caught in a devastating barn fire that would have spelled the end for most. Against all odds, Neville not only survived but returned to the top of the eventing competition with sheer determination. After months of intensive care and rehabilitation, he astonished everyone by competing in the Burghley Horse Trials in England, merely four months post-injury.

Neville’s accolades are impressive: he earned the title of US Eventing Horse of the Year and became a beacon of hope for rescue horses everywhere. His fighting spirit is a testament to what can be achieved through faith and perseverance. His legacy inspires, proving that a second chance can lead to greatness.

As we turn from Neville’s inspiring tale, we understand that his journey is far from a singular occurrence in the equine world. Indeed, there are horses like Metro Meteor, whose stories await to affirm the incredible transformations possible with dedication and love.

You may like to hear about my ex-racehorse, Panimetro, AKA Metro. His picture of him running around his paddock is on the cover of this article and the cover of the 2009 VICCTRE calendar. He was an OTTB who had broken his left front leg in a race. He was smart enough to lie down for almost a year to heal it enough to stand and even run on it.

One day, I found him in his stall, unable to put any weight on his bad leg. After the vet visit determining that there was nothing she could do for him, we decided it was best for him to put him down. I cried for almost two weeks.

Meteoric Rise of Metro Meteor

Metro Meteor was a racehorse turned professional artist.

Initially, Metro Meteor had a promising career on the racetrack, but he had to retire after undergoing two knee surgeries. Gettysburg painter Ron Krajewski adopted him, hoping to use Metro as a riding horse. However, the damage to Metro’s knees was too severe for this to be feasible.

Krajewski noticed Metro’s frequent head-bobbing and saw potential for a different kind of career. By giving Metro a paintbrush to hold in his teeth, Krajewski enabled the horse to start painting.

Metro’s paintings quickly gained national media attention and attracted many patrons. His artwork sold regularly, with the proceeds used to cover Metro’s veterinary bills and to support charities aiding other retired racehorses. Over the course of his artistic career, Metro’s work raised over $80,000.

The Transformative Power of Love and Care

I’ve seen first-hand the dramatic change that love and dedicated care can instigate in the lives of rescued horses. It’s not just about providing shelter or food; it’s about meticulous attention to their unique needs and the willingness to invest time and emotional energy into their recovery.

Rescue facilities and adoptive families play a crucial role here. They are the unsung heroes in these stories, offering a second chance at life for equines that have faced neglect, abandonment, or abuse. Their commitment not only heals physical wounds but also restores trust between the horses and humans.

Understanding the rehabilitation process is key. It usually involves a tailored approach, addressing both psychological and physical hurdles. Behavioral therapists, veterinarians, and loving caregivers collaborate to create an environment where these horses can thrive. The goal is always a well-rounded recovery, allowing them to explore roles beyond racing or labor—perhaps as therapy animals or as beloved pets.

Witnessing the hidden potential in every rescued horse is the reward for such efforts. It’s not mere chance but the result of consistent, compassionate care. This potential can translate into impressive achievements, such as those of Snowman, Neville Bardos, and Metro Meteor, proving that circumstances do not define destiny.

Remarkable Examples of Possibilities of Compassion and Resilience

The stories of Snowman, Neville Bardos, and Metro Meteor serve as remarkable examples of what’s possible when compassion meets resilience. Each horse’s transition from dire circumstances to a life of accomplishment wasn’t just a stroke of luck. It resulted from concerted efforts by individuals and organizations dedicated to equine welfare.

Rescue facilities and adoptive families play crucial roles in rewriting the fates of these animals. In these nurturing environments, horses receive tailored care to address their physical ailments and psychological traumas. Rescue horses can recover astonishingly with proper nutrition, veterinary care, and positive human interaction.

The final and perhaps most compelling part of this journey is the potential that blooms with nurturing. As these champions have shown, with the proper support, formerly neglected horses can heal and excel in new careers—often beyond what anyone could have anticipated.

In sharing these narratives, I hope to shine a light on the profound impact we can have on another living being’s life. Let’s take this inspiration into our communities and support local rescue operations. Whether through volunteering, donating, or advocating for these graceful creatures, we all can play a part in the continuing saga of rescue horses turned champions.

Horses in the South – An Equine News Publisher

Category Archives: Horse Care/Protection

Documentary Film Horse of Nature Officially Selected by Prestigious EQUUS Film & Arts Festival

Beating the Heat in Versailles: FEI Implements Climate Mitigation Protocols

FEI Announces Provisional Suspension of Dressage Athlete Charlotte Dujardin (GBR)

Wild Horses and American Wilderness Deserve Ecologically Appropriate Management