Second Chance Horse Fund
Just a few month's ago we spontaneously manifested bring home a dear member of our family, his name is Cooper. Before my divorce in March of 2014 I owned a ran a stable known as Five Stones Equine Equestrian Company out of North Carolina near Fort Bragg. When my ex and I went our separate ways, and I had a new born in tow, I had to make the call to let go and sell all of my horses and equipment. Life as a single mom was unexpected. Of the 8 horses I sold, Cooper was one of them. I taught so many kids, teens and even adults to ride and my 7 lesson horses were the only reason I was able to do that - but Cooper, Cooper was my personal horse and I regretted selling him from the moment the bill of sale was signed.
{Below is a photo the day he arrived from NC, cut up with a back leg injury, mass on his belly which is being removed this winter surgically, head scraps and cuts along with his head injury that broke his skull. He also had a new mass on his neck which we found later by veterinary opinion was from someone giving him a shot wrong. They could of killed him AND they shouldn't of given anything to him as I had already OWNED him at the time of this shot administration. Son Tyler is photographed as well.}
For years after his sale I searched for him and offered thousands of dollars down to get him back. It was by divine intervention that we found each other again and I trekked from PA to NC to see, buy and bring him home. Through vet screening and being with him we found that in the 5 years we'd be separated from each other - neglect and abuse had occurred. Cooper has several health issues from a hole in his head, literally through his skull to a swollen mass in his neck that cuts of flow to an vital vein. Cooper is currently boarded at a wonderful barn here local that I work part-time at 3x a week to cover the expense. But we want to bring him HOME. We were denied bringing him home to our backyard by our landlords - which in all honesty is understandable, but we are not in a position to search and buy a home/property of our own. Thankfully we are now in the permit process of building on my mother-in-laws property. She lives roughly 20mins away and Cooper would be literally in family's back yard. He'd have a warm stall for the winter (something he doesn't have right now) and I wouldn't have to pay the monthly +$400 boarding cost.
{Below is a photo of Cooper NOW. 100 times healthier and happy! He has gain weight. His cuts and back leg have healed. We have to be mindful of the broken skull but without VERY expensive surgery there is nothing that can be done. His mass on his belly will be removed in the winter when the flies are non-existent to reduce risk of infection.}
But he can't live alone.
Horses are social animals and enjoy a herd or at the very least a pasture pal. We started our search roughly a month ago but it was this week that a pony caught our interest. Cooper is wonderful with people but isn't kid-safe to learn to ride on. Our son Tyler who's 5. Yeah that's right the newborn that I chose over my horses and life it all came full circle and the bond that Tyler and Cooper have is UNREAL. Cooper who is now 11 years old loves Tyler who's now 5 but sadly Cooper is just not the right horse to learn to ride on other than walking around and feeding treats. We thought a pony would be perfect. What we found was unreal.
After making the hour+ trip we pull into a property with numerous horses, over 18 estimated of all sizes, breeds, ages mixed together in 2 pastures. Normal yes. BUT these horses were biting, fighting, standing in mounds of poop - many underweight - many still had auction stickers on their butt - many didn't have a name... what we found were two young men running a horse flipping business. This isn't a crime or sin... but horses are amazing creatures that deserve love. Food. Shelter in the fall/winter weather. Compassion and proper veterinary care. Many horses had terrible teeth, extremely long hooves - some had missing shoes while others had shoes hanging on by a couples nails!
My stomach turned.
We saw the pony, adorable. The best looking out of the herd and sure to sell fast. Something whispered to me to look at more. So I asked who else was for sale. Horse after horse came out of the pen, all with the same look "get me out of here please". Rescued from auction to be sold for $$$ with a time frame on their head to go back if they didn't sell quickly, this very well could be there final stop.
We were almost prepared to take the pony. We had to take someone.. I didn't have the space in my home for 18+ horses. Until one of the gentlemen said, "we got this Appaloosa".
Show me.
{Below is a photo of our 2nd horse and new rescue. No Name the 16 year old Appaloosa. Considered ugly cute, and I mean that endearing! He is not one most would snatch up because of looks. Making him less likely to find a home - similar to black cats in shelters.}
In walks a poop covered, coat matted, gangly maned gelding. He didn't have a name. They didn't know his age (we later found out on papers he is 16 years old), his feet were the only thing 'good looking' on him. His teeth desperately need to be done. I rode him to ensure we'd have an understanding and to be sure he wouldn't kill my kid or husband. And we began the negotiation. $900 he spouted off and the man started telling him that's a steal he is worth $1500. Their skit went on for much longer than needed. I remember thinking all day long this horse is $500 to 600 - hell he should be free look at the poor boy! After I wrote up a bill of sale (to which they didn't have one prepared) and a hand shake our new family member is set to come home Tuesday, Oct. 29th. Only after we pay them an additional $100 for travel.
I'm telling you all this because we are in a space to help, but this wasn't the life plan. I never expected honestly to get back into horses. Ride once in while, yes. But get my personal horse back, get a friend - a rescue for him - no. We are fully capable of supporting and maintaining these horses once established but have set up this GoFundMe in an effort to get the initial started/completed. In full transparency this is what we need the funds for.
$900 + $100 for our rescue Appaloosa (who we are to pay in full for Tuesday, October 29th) now in all honesty we had budgeted $500 for a pony/horse so we realistically only need $500 of this as we simply couldn't leave him behind.
$5,500 for a 2 stall barn w/ overhang for winter weather and feed room. The stalls are 10X14 (a little bigger than the average 10X10 stall as Cooper is +16 hands high and our "old man" Appaloosa deserves comfort after the life he's led. We are going through a local company called Waterloo Structures who build, pour the concrete for flooring, deliver and install the complete structure.
$1,200 for pasture fencing. My mother-in-laws property has no fencing what so ever. We need to fence in a small area around the barn once delivered and need to fence in an actual pasture for the horses to enjoy time out. We will be doing this ourselves but need the money for materials.
$400 estimated in vet care for our rescue Appaloosa. He needs his teeth done, shots, new Coggins, supplements, wormer, ulcer meds. The care adds up.
$80 x 2 both horses need winter blankets. Again in full disclosure we planned to buy one for Cooper so realistically we need only the cost for another blanket for the Appaloosa.
$600 for a temporary shelter for the Appaloosa. We talked with our landlord yesterday, Oct 24th and they have okay'ed us bringing the rescue here. He needs to be quarantined anyways for up to 18 days from other horses because who knows what shots he has had, or what he has been through. With that said there is no existing shelter in our back yard. Tractor Supplies sells round pen panels from $80-+$100 per panel + a shelter kit that is $89. This would great a stall fully enclosed for him to stay in during the night, it has 3 vinyl sides and a roof. Keeping freezing rain off of him and giving him a space to feel safe and warm.
***Likely my husband will cover this (as this horse has touched his heart) but our new rescue needs a BATH BADLY. The problem is it is too cold to simply hose him down and give him one. Hubs found a hot water horse washer however for $200 that heats the water that comes out of a hose. This horse's coat is so matted, it's sticky and he is covered in poop. A simple brushing won't do and we don't want to wait until winter is over to bathe the poor boy.
Total of EVERYTHING: $9,060 we've set our campaign at $10,000 for wiggle room, but ANYTHING helps.
*We are capable of covering supplies (hay, grain, etc) and of course monthly upkeep. And of course if we absolutely had to we'd find a way to make all of this work - but we are blessed to be apart of such an amazing community and supports those in need of support and right now these two horses deserve to know they have a world, a community of support behind them.
{Below is a screenshot of a barn similar to what we will be getting. It is from the website of the local company we are working through. We have limited time to get this structure up and pour the concrete before the weather gets to cold for the foundation to 'set'.}
{Below a is photo of the temporary home for our rescue Appaloosa. The good news is we can resell the whole setup OR break it down and use it for the location the horses are moving too. We have options! We honestly may even just DONATE the setup to a local rescue organization for their needs. The screen shot shows the price ONLY for the vinyl kit the round pen panels are not included but bought separately. I did find one for cheaper than the $99 at a separate online shop that should be the exact same thing, it is listed for $89.}
These horses are family. Tyler loves them. I love them. Everyone else is open arms and they deserve the best life.
