Press here for April, 2009 updates and horses currently available for adoption.
In June of 2005, a group of Northeast Miniature Horse Club members became aware
of a horrific case of animal abuse involving a Miniature Horse breeding
operation in Upton, MA. Our ongoing interest in and participation in the
resolution of this case is the reason the Northeast Miniature Horse Club Rescue
Committee was formed.
This case was extreme - heart wrenching and stomach turning – and pointed out
to us the need to stay involved in Miniature Horse rescue activities. Our
members maintained a presence at virtually all of this case’s many hearings,
provided expert testimony, worked closely with the court and the Massachusetts
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and were instrumental in
designing the conditions of the pre-trial probation agreement which was signed
and sealed in February, 2006 – a full 10 months after the couple’s arrests on
five felony counts of animal cruelty.
Our committee continues to be consulted by the probation officers and District
Attorney and, as the couple has defiantly violated their agreement already, we
will continue our involvement until there is a final satisfactory resolution.
We will post updates as this case drags on.
 Beginning
in April, 2005, and continuing up until March of 2006, our committee and other
interested parties managed to "liberate" more than 30 of the horses in this
case. At least a half dozen of those have since died despite the heroic efforts
of the rescue team. Our "before" poster boy, "Jimmy,"represents the group of 15
horses who were purchased by Jodie-May Rose and her family last April. These
were by far the sickest and weakest on the property. By some miracle and lots
of love and dedication, Jimmy survived and is doing well. We will post his
"after" pictures soon. Unfortunately, the mare "Spirit"died of massive organ
failure shortly after these photos were taken.
 The
Rose family will be offering some of the now-healthy survivors for adoption. We
will post a listing shortly, but please feel free to inquire if you are
interested in providing a loving, non-breeding forever home for one of these
worthy horses. Jodie and her family, who were not involved with Miniatures
before this, deserve more praise than we can possibly express, and the
gratitude of the Miniature Horse community everywhere. They have been totally
selfless and dedicated in their work with these horses, funding the entire
project with very little outside help.
With Jodie and her family as our shining example, the Northeast Club Rescue
Committee set out to remove as many of the remaining horses from the Upton
property as we could. Over a period of nine months, people associated with our
group managed to purchase 14 horses from the couple, and as of this writing
(late April, 2006) there are no more horses on the Upton property to the best
of our knowledge. Many are in their permanent new homes, but there are several
available for adoption.
For the most part, these 14 horses are the true survivors from the last 10
years. What they had to endure was, by many eyewitness reports, unimaginable –
especially for the 10 mares in the group. How many pregnancies can we suppose
there were? How many aborted fetuses, stillborns, difficult births on their own
in the corner of a crowded filthy enclosure without shelter? How many babies
then died on their mothers’ sides, all of them full of parasites, fighting for
food? That is why we know that these10 mares are not only constitutionally
strong, but have a gigantic will to live. Of the 10, one was never exposed to a
stallion in 2005, another is 18 years old and diagnosed with a uterine
infection, and the other eight are pregnant! Wait –make that six, because two
have already given birth to very healthy fillies. Miraculous survivors all.
That is our story – so far.
We are looking for and have a need for qualified foster homes on occasion,
often at a moment’s notice. For more information on Adoption, or Foster Care,
you may email our Rescue Chairperson.
And watch for new foal announcements!
If you would like to make a contribution to our Rescue/Emergency Fund, you may
make checks payable to:
Northeast Miniature Horse Club - Rescue
and mail to:
Tom Flaherty
38 Chestnut Stump Rd.
Fort Salonga, NY 11768
(631) 754-8036
cedflom@aol.com
If you would like to join us and volunteer your services, please see the
How To Join page, and/or contact any one of our Executive
Board members.
Click here to go to our rescue gallery.
Click here for membership information.
Rescue Report - April, 2009
This winter/spring has been very busy for your NMHC Rescue Committee. In December, we received a report of one particular mini who appeared to be in trouble at a farm in MA. Since it was a public stable, we sent one of our people over to take a look, and the outcome was that NMHC purchased four minis and a pony – as many as we could get – and placed them into foster care for extensive rehab. These horses, as many of you are aware, are our "Winchendon Five."
All were evaluated by veterinarians. Two had body condition scores of "2," the 31" buckskin stallion Alex, who was the reason for our involvement, and a dark bay gelding Benny, Ginger, a teenage mare with a ratty coat and a spine which protruded a good two inches along her back was given a score of "1."
Alex has an incredible spirit, and changed from hopeless, depressed, and barely able to raise his head, to a cheerful, curious and playful little guy once the worms were gone, the anemia under control, and the food and kindness continued nonstop. Alex is now a happy gelding, and has been adopted by his wonderful and dedicated foster family in NH.
Benny is a kind boy who is still at times frightened of barn tools. He is relatively young, around eight, and has a stifle which occasionally locks on him. His vet and foster mom are hopeful that with nutrition and gentle exercise, this problem may resolve. Benny is in foster care along with Ginger in NH, and is available for adoption. We feel he can start his new life at any time.
Sweet Ginger, with the body condition score of "1," was practically a walking skeleton, and her lice infestation caused her to rub herself raw. Ginger is around 15, perhaps older, and has been diagnosed with Cushings Disease. She is also Insulin Resistant, which was instrumental in her having previous laminitic episodes, as evidenced by her hooves. She will require medication for the Cushings for the rest of her life, and her IR will need to be managed by a careful low sugar/starch diet. She is doing very well now in foster care. No more lice, her coat is coming in nicely, she is happy to eat whatever is put in front of her, and the concentration camp look is starting to disappear. Ginger is our special needs girl, and she needs a very special home.
The other mare in the group, a pretty grey lady now called Arwyn, was also very thin, but in much better shape physically than the other minis. Her issues are more emotional, and all about trust. She is wonderful with children, and leery of adults...She is in foster care in MA, and we are hoping she has found a permanent home there as a therapy horse for special needs children.
The lovable bay pony that we now call Bear had more than paid his dues. Bear, who is thought to be around 18, had carried countless kids over jumps and around barrels and finally in a circle at birthday parties. We have to wonder how much his cheerful demeanor hid his sadly thin body. Did no one notice? His life will now be way less hectic, and his body and mind way more nourished. Bear truly deserves the wonderful adoptive home he now enjoys in VT.
Please contact our Rescue Chairperson for information on adopting Benny or Ginger or any other deserving minis in our care. |
