Early in June, I was contacted by a rescue organization that had located a blind horse at an auction in Tennessee. Actually, this was the same auction where Rosa was found in March. Rosa is our little pinto mare, who is also blind. She came to live at Rainhill in April. The good news is Rosa is doing amazingly well. We had matched her up with an older Standardbred gelding, Lakota, who is also blind.
If this is the first time you have read our articles, you must be confused about all this talk about blind horses. So let me explain. We are Rainhill Equine Facility, a 501c3 non-profit horse rescue/sanctuary that has a special “focus” on blind horses. Out of our 50 horses, most are blind or have a disability that limits their usefulness as riding horses. Since no one wants a horse they can’t ride, these unfortunate animals wind up in a very bad place. That’s where we come in. I can’t accept every horse that needs help. There is simply not enough money, time or space to rescue them all. But when I can, I do.
And so, back to my story. I agreed to give a life-long home to the blind horse that was located in June. Somewhere along the way, I was also asked about taking a mare, who might be in foal, and was at the same auction house. It seems someone else had agreed to take her and then changed their mind. By this time both horses were in quarantine for at least 30 days. The blind mare was coming to me and the other mare’s fate was unknown. How could this be? A pregnant mare whose life was spared only to be unwanted again! I couldn’t bear the thought. So, I agreed to take them both.
And yesterday they both arrived after a long ride from Virginia where they were in quarantine. I didn’t find out until a few days before their arrival that neither mare was wearing a halter. Evidently, both horses were so terrified by their recent experiences they were untouchable. So, when the hauler arrived yesterday, the horses were loose inside the trailer. Luckily, the vet and farrier were at the farm and, without their valuable help, I never would have been able to get the horses safely inside a stall.
It will be a long road to calming these horses down. This kind of hurt and mis-trust cuts deeply into a horse’s soul, leaving a wound that doesn’t heal quickly. Some animals never heal and become somewhat feral, never trusting another human again.
And so, life goes on at Rainhill. The horses that are lucky enough to go to a sanctuary will be allowed to live out their natural lives in peace. No more trailers, no more rough treatment. I love all these horses and only want the best for them.
If you are touched by the plight of unwanted horses and would like to help us make a difference, we would be honored. Horses are very expensive and are a big responsibility. Their care goes on every day, rain or shine, hot or cold. They never asked to be born but they do ask to be cared for and treated fairly.
To see more information and photos of Rainhill, check us out on Facebook.
Thanks for reading our little stories. If you would like to sponsor a horse or make a donation, we would be very grateful as you join Rainhill saving a horse, one at a time.
-by Karen Thurman
Rainhill Equine Facility
11125 Ky. Hwy. 185
Bowling Green, KY 42101
270-777-3164
