Helping Hearts Equine Rescue, Inc.

02/20/2025

Bob enjoying his evening nightcheck soup. It’s a mix of soaked Speedi-Beet and Cavalor Mash & Mix, with a couple scoops of MSM. The dry pan is a mix of Max-E-Glow Rice Bran Pellets, Alfalfa pellets and (currently) Purina Senior.

Up until his holiday malaise it all got mashed together into a big nightly stew. To get him back to eating I separated out the components to keep track of what he didn’t want and I’ve kept it that way. I don’t want him not eating because he doesn’t want one of the ingredients. I also make the mash more “brothy” now because he loves drinking up the flavored water first, and it ensures he stays hydrated.

What too many don’t realize is that their retired seniors don’t need Less care, they often need More. Tossing the once coddled riding/show horse out into a field too often isn’t retirement, it’s just surviving.

02/15/2025

Valentine’s Day!
AJ & Finn 💕

02/13/2025

Wow, A year ago yesterday. 💔

I’m saddened to share that Gemini was laid to rest yesterday afternoon.
😢💔😔❤️‍🩹

The last several weeks we’ve been struggling with Gemini’s weight loss. Despite feed additions and changes, she continued to lose weight and her appetite was declining. Yesterday she did not want to eat at all.
She was tired.
It was time.
She passed quietly with her BFF Bob in attendance.

Gemini arrived at HHER in May, 2011 after her second trip through Camelot in less than a month. Information came to us that she’d been run through and purchased out of several auctions in the region but her extremely fearful behavior caused her to be re-consigned time and time again. At the May 18 auction , she was purchased by yet another private buyer, but this time, the buyer reached out to us the next day realizing she would Not be a safe child’s mount. (A friend, Lynsey Sandy, actually had given the buyer her number to call, just in case she didn’t work out. Thankfully for Gem he called). While trained to ride and drive, Gemini was terrified to be touched. She’d shrink back and curl her head away when offered a treat. She was clearly a victim of extreme abuse. After months of efforts to gain her trust proved fruitless, my husband and I agreed to just let her be, let her live in our largest field, and come to terms with us at Her comfort level on her timeline. Over time we were able to hand feed her treats at arms length. She would whinny greetings and hurry-up-and-feed-me through the fence. At least twice a year we Would catch her (a 3 to 5 person operation) for general maintenance - vaccines, deworming, teeth, hooves and limited grooming/detangling with copious quantities of Cowboy Magic. It was like an Indy 500 pit stop, lol.

Gemini lived on her terms with us for nearly 13 years, safe and secure, at peace. She had many human and equine admirers. Her most ardent and devoted admirer and friend has been Bob, our Other late-30’ish/possibly 40’ish resident.

Now, while we grieve Gem’s passing, we are giving Bob the support and attention He needs. His attachment, his love, for Gemini has been so strong these last few years that he had to be first out, last in to be with her regardless of weather. The old post office motto sums it all up -“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night” would keep him from insisting to be with his girl.

While he received some tranquilizer to ease him during her transition, he still called to her as she passed, and was quite troubled. Afterwards he spent time standing over her, occasionally touching her gently with his nose.

This morning he’s anxious, in his stall chewing hay but looking out the window for her. We have meds to calm him if necessary, CBD is in our bag of tricks. I’ll bring him to visit her once more before she’s picked up. Please send Bob your positive vibes for a smooth recovery from his loss.

02/13/2025

A Jabbar, now Barney, Update. 💕
I’m thrilled that HGLMR took the chance and pulled this guy from Philly, beating his timestamp. Now he needs a Wonderful forever home where he’ll be loved and appreciated.

02/06/2025

Coming Soon‼️‼️
Helping Hearts’ On-Line Easter Candy Sale‼️
Yummy-Yummy-Yummy!! 🍫 🤤 🩷

02/06/2025

A Jefferson Airplane Triptych by Andrew, 2017

02/05/2025

AJ, a/k/a Houdini.
Every closure/buckle on the blanket was closed but he managed to get out of it.

01/31/2025

Help SHARE these dogs into homes and rescues. ACCT Philly is starting the day with No Open Cages, and the intakes never stop.

01/28/2025

I’m late to report, but The Santana Center’s Hattie is back home now and they know that Finn is Safely with a family. Fantastic News!
This pony ran through FOUR auctions in a week!!

Unfortunately, rescues can make our contracts as rock-solid as we can, but they’re only as good as the people signing them. 😔
When I started HHER I didn’t want to be one of those overbearing, hard to adopt from rescues. Our first Contract was only 3-4 pages. Live and Learn, now it’s like 8-9, requires the adopter to initial every page, and important paragraphs like “you cannot sell, give away, transfer this horse” is printed in Red And requires it’s own initial and I’ve still heard excuses that they didn’t know. Sigh 😮‍💨

01/28/2025

A few Night-Check faces …

01/27/2025

Update on Finn & Hattie!! Good News, 1 located and 1 to go!

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