Two friends of mine who are horse trainers sent me a link to a web site that had a bunch of draft horses that were in need of homes or would be sent to auction and probably slaughter. The web site was The Animali Farm and the draft horses were in Alberta Canada at a PMU barn. Most of the mares were pregnant. Since the horses were no longer needed for Premerin the farmer could not keep them and would send them to auction where they would probably be bought by “kill buyers“ for slaughter. The two ladies , Jennifer and Cheryl, who operate the 501c3 organization were working hard to save the horses. My friends Ginger and Melanie told me they were adopting three draft horses. I had no intention of adopting any because I already had 4 horses. I took a look at the web site that listed the horses and one of the first horses I saw was Duck, a big, black Percheron about 9 years old. I could not get her out of my mind. I decided to adopt her and one other. I looked at all of the horses and it was so hard to pick just one more but I did. I decided to adopt Jaye another big black Percheron. I called Jennifer and told her I would be sending the money for Duck and Jaye and I started making a list of things I would need to bring these two girls home. I had fence put up, I had 3 stalls built and had fans installed…after all this was Florida and they were in Canada in snow. I researched draft horses and foaling. I bought books and all the things I would need to take care of pregnant draft horses and bring baby draft horses into this world. |
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 Connie |
 Duck |
The waiting was hard. We had 6 horses coming to Florida and there were several other horses on the same load that would be dropped off on the way. Shortly before the horses were to leave Canada, Jennifer called and asked if I could take an additional horse. Connie, a Belgian, had not been adopted and needed a home. I told Jennifer to put her on the load. A few days before they were to leave Jennifer called to tell me that Jaye had aborted her baby and they would not be able to put Jaye on the load. They offered me another horse. At first I just wanted to tell them to put Jaye on a later load but Jennifer called back later to tell me that the farmer had to euthanize Jaye. I was devastated . Jennifer asked me to pick another horse. I knew that Ginger had considered trying to adopt Ice so I told Jennifer to put her on the load for me. So, now we had 7 horses coming to Miami and three were to be mine. |
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 Ice and Susan |
We were finally given a day that the load would leave Alberta. We got progress reports all the way. Ginger and Melanie organized a group of trailers so we could go pick them up in Okeechobee. We left early in the morning on February 25th, 2008 to go pick them up. When we arrived at the stockyard the horses were being moved out of the truck into a pen. Ginger’s first words were “Oh My God, look at Duck”. Duck was at least a head above all the others, looking out over their backs. It had been 5 degrees in Alberta, Canada on February 19th when they left and it was 85 degrees in Florida as they moved into the pen. They had their winter coats and were sweaty and nervous. We stood on ramps looking down on them and picking them out as we recognized them. Duck, Connie, Ice, Tar Baby, Jinx, Paris, and Patty. Joe Mangravito (our friend and trainer) lead the horses into our trailers and we started home. It was dark by the time we got to my house. They were a little nervous but we got them all out of the trailer and into their new home. The current residents were fascinated watching the newcomers and were interested in getting acquainted. Even my neighbors horses came to say hello. |
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 Duck and Roxy |
Duck is a 9 year old black Percheron. She was used in the PMU barn. She is (according to my vet) the biggest horse in Miami Dade county. She is very sweet. On mother day, May 11, 2008 Duck gave birth to Roxy a beautiful black filly. Connie is a 9 year old Belgian. She was used in the PMU barn. She is real sweet and loves to have her had hugged. She will go to sleep in your arms. On May 30th, 2008 Connie gave birth to Ruby a beautiful chestnut filly. Ice is a 3 year old Blue Roan Percheron. She came from a PMU barn but was going to be used for breeding. She was thought to be pregnant but was not. She is really sweet and is in training right now. Duke is a 29 year old “Bull Dog” Quarter Horse. He was used for cutting in his youth. He knows everything there is to know about riding and is teaching me. He is the sweetest most gentle guy and loves people. He has cushings disease but it does not slow him down at all. I adopted Duke from the SPCA. |
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 Duke |
Shadow is a 4 year old Morgan I adopted from the SPCA. He is the devil in disguise. He can open most gates and loves to be. the center of attention. After tossing me in the bushes he went for 30 days of training and is now a great horse to ride. Swani is a 4 year old Spotted Mountain Horse. I saw her in an expo in Ocala and fell in love. Adopted her from Pure Thoughts Horse Rescue. She is great to ride and is gaited. She is very sweet and loves people. Vanessa is a 3 year old Paso Fino. I adopted her from the SPCA where she was because she had been abused by her previous owner. She was a kicker and biter when I first met her. She is still a bit cautious around people but has turned into a really sweet girl. She is also gaited. |
 Shadow
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 Vanessa |
 Swanee |
 Roxy and Ruby
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 Max |
 Ruby |
| I live in the everglades with my “herd”. Just before Christmas several years ago a very sick and injured horse showed up on my property. She was standing in a pool of blood and emaciated. The vet said she would be destroyed by the SPCA but when asked told me she might have a chance if treated. I decided to treat her. She was doing really well, gaining weight, cushing’s being treated, leg wounds healing, when she fell in her stall one night. She struggled all night trying to get up but could not because of her leg wounds. It took two vets, two helpers, and my 2 neighbors to get her up. She went down again the next night and the vets told me she should be euthanized. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. I decided to volunteer at the SPCA and that is how I met Vanessa.. Vanessa needed to learn that people could be kind. I was asked to work with her. I did and decided to adopt her along with Shadow and Duke. | |
 The End |
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