08/27/2022
It's not easy
Running a rescue is not an easy task.
Many do not grasp the enormity of it.
Just feeding the horses is a lot of money. Add in bills that include farrier, worming, vetting, etc, and you're well on your way to the poor house.
The ranch requires upkeep, and despite offers of help, most of the time help is just coming over and riding horses.
I love connecting humans to horses. But there needs to be a happy medium of give and take.
It's just so easy for people to take and not pay it forward.
If you cannot donate $ to the ranch, then groom a horse. I mean really give the horse an enjoyable brushing. Not 10 seconds either side because you rode them. Love them, connect to them, appreciate them.
Clean a paddock.... Please.
Offer to help in some aspect.
It's not easy
Deciding whether to put horses down or just wait until next winter.
Sometimes horses will be teetering on wellness. Or they are old and struggle in the winter to keep up to weight.
I know it seems cruel, but there are times that an animal is better off in heaven. This is the hardest decision a horse rescue can make. But ultimately it is selfish to keep an animal alive for your own benefit. What is best for the horse? I struggle immensely over this. I want to do the right thing, by every one, yet not everyone agrees and I continue to go back on my decision.
In the past I have let the vet make the decision. That takes the burden off of me. But alas my favorite gelding of many years was vetted then died shortly after. I feel he suffered waiting for test results. My heart hurts over this still. I knew he was close, but I couldn't make the decision when I needed to. It is heartbreaking to think of this.
It's not easy
Dealing with humans. Often times people expect something for nothing. They use you and move on to others. That wouldn't be so bad, but what really hurts is the poison on their tongue. Slander and hatred. I do this for horses and I include children in my program as a win win. But when older children/ adults get involved, there will likely be drama. Is it helpful to bash others, cause drama, or simply be an as***le? What do you gain from this?
Just saying people need to look at things as a whole.
Consider the past, and the present of accomplishments. The horses that were saved, children that had great experiences, and people who enhanced their lives just by being a part of it.