Meet Duke (on left) and Fancy (on right). Both are blind and are long-term residents of Rainhill. They came from different parts of the United States and are different breeds but their journeys here are quite similar. Thunderen Duke, or Duke as we call him, was born in Florence, Kansas in June of 1997. He is a registered Appaloosa gelding who was actually brought here after being given to a rescue in Connecticut when his owners were “downsizing.” Fancy, registered name Fancy Jet Jack, was born in July of 2004 in Grenada, Mississippi. Her previous owners decided to stop feeding her when she became blind. She was saved from certain starvation by a lady in Baton Rouge who then brought Fancy to Rainhill. Those are two sad stories but nothing I haven’t heard before. No one wants a horse they can’t ride and so the poor animal begins a long, slow journey which ends in a really bad place.
There are very few rescue/sanctuaries that care for blind horses. Sadly, they have a reputation of being unpredictable and dangerous. And they can be. Just think – it’s a thousand-pound animal who may be scared, maybe hurting or simply does not understand what’s going on. A blind horse must always be handled with care.
Rainhill currently has 26 blind horses. All shapes and sizes, big and small, many breeds, many personalities, but one big thing in common – they all just want a life free from harm with friends and food, shelter and love. It’s really simple… they are just like us, only bigger
Which brings me to the point of this story. Duke and Fancy had no one. Their days were numbered. Who would want them? Who would spend money feeding and caring for a horse that was “worthless?” They were both very sad and confused when they arrived here. We progress very slowly with new horses, especially the blind ones. They are kept in a stall for several weeks with daily turn-out, which gives them time to adjust to the new surroundings. Then hopefully we can match them with a friend, because a friend is everything! When we introduced Duke to Fancy it was love at first, well not sight but smell maybe. They are always together, side by side, enjoying life as sightless horses. I’m sure the apples taste as sweet and the sun feels warm on their backs as the breeze ruffles their manes. They can’t see but they can feel and isn’t that where the truth lies?
Thanks for reading our little stories. If you have been touched by our mission and would like to help us save unwanted horses, don’t hesitate to make a tax-deductible donation. We have no paid employees and all money raised goes directly to the care and feeding of these amazing animals.
-by Karen Thurman
Rainhill Equine Facility
11125 Ky. Hwy. 185
Bowling Green, KY 42101
270-777-3164
