Rescues We Loved and Remember

A  phone call from a friend alerted Deb to a situation involving a herd of mini horses. 

A call to the owner uncovered a sad story of too many horses, health issues with family and 

a need for help.

Deb and Lorrie took a trailer over and listened closely to the story the owner had to tell.  It was sad.  There were mini horses everywhere.  Charlie was on a 6 foot dog chain in front of a round bale of hay.  No shelter available for him  There were also two mini mares, mother and daughter in thin shape.  4R offered to take Charlie and the two mares and the owner agreed. She signed the paperwork and Lorrie and Deb witnessed her signing.  

The minis had been well loved at the owners place and were easy to load.  Deb felt for the owner, as it was a hard thing for her to do.  We didn't post photos of what Charlie looked like when we brought him home,  it would break you heart to see the shape he was in.

It took time to brush all the tangles and nastiness off him.  Volunteers spent hours at it.  And still there was more.  First trip for Charlie was to see the vet and have his teeth looked at.  Glad we did, the poor horse could not chew as his teeth were so long they were locked together.  We had to leave him at the vet's office for a few days so they could sedate him to work on his teeth.  Did I mention Charlie was still a stallion? Did I mention he was over 40 years old? Due to his age, the vet recommended we not geld him.  Potentially the operation could kill him.  

When we first looked at his hooves to determine  how to approach them, we weren't certain what we were looking at.  I had seen hooves grow so long they curled up in front, but with Charlie, they curled under his hoof, so he was walking on the shell of his hoof.  You could not see his frog at all.  After several small trims, we managed to get him normal, and his hooves were healthy!  

Charlie passed away at age 52, here at 4R.  He was our mascot and went everywhere we did.  He traveled in my mini van, just took the middle seats out and he would jump right in.  He died peacefully, by himself late one afternoon.  He touched us all.