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Post by TashGaia on May 19, 2008 21:50:06 GMT -5
Here is Lucky's story. I am starting this thread for his new mom who is an active member of this board.
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Lucky Badger
Two weeks old and tagged to die
On Sunday May 18th there was an open horse sale in Hermiston, OR. On a fluke we decided to go even though it was a 4-5 hour drive each way, just to see what this auction was like as we normally only go to the Enumclaw sale. When we got there it was pure chaos. There were literally hundreds of horses going through the sale and waiting for pickup from the previous two days worth of sales. The majority of the horses were going for very cheap and many horses were going to the kill buyers so Jen decided to go back and see what was in the killers' pens. What she saw horrified her.
In one of the large group pens were three very young foals. There were approximately 50 horses in a 40 by 40 pen with no shelter. These horses were all breeds, but were uniformly of a larger size. There were mares, geldings, yearlings and foals. Many of these horses were bucking stock horses that had been sold as "straight to slaughter". The three young foals were among these already doomed horses. Their tags detailed their fate, but Jen was determined.
Immediately upon identifying the owner of this pen she went to talk to him. Perhaps he sensed that she would not take "No" for an answer, but he was willing to sell her one of the foals and told her to go pick which one she wanted. The one she picked was a little chestnut colt who was approximately 2 weeks old that was sleeping on the ground with his mother and his yearling sister standing guard. He was the youngest and smallest of the horses and she knew that he would never even survive the truck ride to the slaughter plant.
After the colt was paid for we went back to the pen to get him. He was badly scared of people and was desperate not to be caught. While he was ducking in between other horses to avoid us, we watched his mother since she was unfriendly and we were concerned she might decide to attack. Instead, after a couple minutes of watching us try to catch her colt, the mare stepped in and herded him to us. Jen immediately grabbed him and we carried him out of the pen and down the aisle to safety. The colt was screaming the whole way for his mother, but she never called back to him.
When I looked back for the last time, I could see the mare and her yearling filly standing at the gate watching us take the colt away. She was eerily calm and silent despite her foal's calls. After a long last look, she turned and led her young filly back to the rest of the doomed herd. I know this mare is just a horse, but it felt almost as though she understood that we were there to take the colt to safety. That is how it seemed to me, but I hope I am wrong. If she understood that we were taking the colt to safety, then she must also have understood that there was no safety available for herself or her yearling filly.
Many foals have been bottle raised, and now Lucky will be one of them. But whereas most foals are bottle raised because of some accident where their mother is unable or unwilling to nurse them, Lucky is different. Lucky had a good mother… a mother who guarded him and his older sister through all the trauma and chaos of the auction. A mother who although she did not like people, watched and made no protest when her baby was taken away from her and to the only safety left to him. A mother who is even now undoubtedly guarding her young daughter as they make their final journey in the slaughter pipeline together.
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Post by TashGaia on May 19, 2008 21:51:52 GMT -5
How to help: Hello, I was called yesterday evening to come & help with a couple week old foal that was with his mother in the killpen. The mom, her yearling filly (still at her side) and he couple week old colt had been in the loose pen since at least friday. Two fellow rescue friends had drove 4+ hours to hopefully save a horse or two from slaughter at the hermiston 3 day sale this last weekend. They spotted the foal in the kill pen, contacted the kill buyer & he agreed to sell it to them for $50. They drove 4+ hours & had only a car, couldn't find anyone with room to haul the young colt back over to there place, so they called me & I went over & picked him up. He is currently in one of my box stalls, so far we are having some success giving him foal Lac from a bucket. We have found someone that can transport the foal over to Jenny on Wednesday evening, she has had great success with bottle babies. She wasn't prepared to purchase or pay transport 4+ hours to her place and we need some help. She already paid for the colt, I bought some foal Lac in the powder form & pellets that I will send over. But we desperately need to raise the funds to transport the foal to her, the cost for that alone is $300. I would love to raise an additional $200 for Jenny, so she can either go buy a milking goat for him, or not have to worry about purchasing foal lac (expensive). Can anyone help? I donated picking him up, keeping him here until Wednesday & about $100 worth of foal lac. I have attached a picture of the little guy. The killbuyer would not sell the mother & she has already been shipped to slaughter. Please lets work together to help Jenny do whats right by this poor little guy. There is a story to tell with the foal, how they found him & the mare actually helping them get the foal out of the kill pen..but its not my story to tell, but I have copied at least one of "LUCKYS" 2 saviors in on this email & she will tell the story when they get a chance. They also have some great pictures they are developing to send out to everyone that helps. I know they will be happy to keep everyone that helps updated. If anyone can help, please send your donation via paypal to sosequines@gmail.com Thank you, Shawna www.sosequines.org |
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Post by piopico on May 19, 2008 23:22:55 GMT -5
What a story...........Tash, you sure know how to tell a story that gets the tears flowing.
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Post by Admin on May 20, 2008 2:03:00 GMT -5
Been crying all day.
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Post by sundancer on May 20, 2008 5:31:27 GMT -5
Awww....I'm bawling my eyes out too! Especially for the doomed mother and filly.
Thank you for giving this little one a CHANCE. So many other horses don't have that.
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Post by jenm on May 20, 2008 10:46:00 GMT -5
I would like to share this story with the people on my California anti-slaughter call list. Do I have permission to cross-post?
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Post by leosolis on May 20, 2008 10:48:30 GMT -5
I would like to share this story with the people on my California anti-slaughter call list. Do I have permission to cross-post? honestly I'm pretty sure its ok to cross post this just about anywhere. Lucky has only $115 of the $500+ needed for transport. I am leaving for Kelli's high school rodeo state finals on thursday or friday morning...and I can't take Lucky to Ellensburg with me...we really need to get him over to Jenny. |
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Post by jenm on May 20, 2008 10:52:46 GMT -5
Oh, okay. Now that I know it is a fund raiser I will make sure to spread the word! mta: Is there a Paypal address? mta: I donated! Wishing this guy well in his new home.  |
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Post by agilitygal on May 20, 2008 11:07:01 GMT -5
Crying here. Wish this would all just stop.
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Post by kayceepaint05 on May 20, 2008 11:21:16 GMT -5
If anyone can help, please send your donation via paypal to sosequines@gmail.com Thank you, Shawna www.sosequines.org[/quote][/quote] Here is the paypal addy, come on guys, let's get this little fighter home !!!
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Post by earlybp on May 20, 2008 13:07:20 GMT -5
Of course that mare knew that she was going to slaughter, and that she couldn't save her daughter or herself. I think she was very happy to see her boy get saved.
It reminds me of a story my mother remembers from WWII. At a concentration camp, there was a little girl that had been removed from her mother, and put in a separate line. Her mother asked the guard to let her join her daughter, and the guard said, "You'll die in that line." and the mother said, "I know, but at least I can keep her from being afraid."
I can't even comprehend this. I just don't get it, but I am very happy to see Mr. Lucky get a chance to live! Congratulations on your new boy.
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Post by agilitygal on May 20, 2008 18:36:42 GMT -5
I think she knew that she and her daughter couldn't leave and was resigned to whatever fate awaited. I am totally amazed at the inner knowing operating at such times and this was a case that was seen and documented by the those helping get the littlest one to safety.
I've seen it time and time and time again at the shelter. Some of them know. . .and, most of the time there was nothing I could do about it. I'm haunted by what couldn't be done. All I had to offer them was a prayer and God's grace to speed them on their way.
Thanks for getting this little guy. Praying that all goes well. You all sound experienced in this area. . .but, if you want some support, Last Chance Corral website (nursemare foal rescue) certainly has experience with these high-risk babies.
Waiting for updates.
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Post by jessiegirl1981 on May 20, 2008 18:39:42 GMT -5
Allrighty guys its time to rally for this baby. It seems without the sense of urgency of the truck we have all had a tough time getting behind a fundraiser. Without these gals begging for his safety he would be allready gone without ever having a chance to experience life. They did the hard part now all we have to do is help get him home!!!
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Post by drjinva on May 20, 2008 21:34:31 GMT -5
In memory of Lucky's mother and sister, please send a donation if you can.
If anyone can help, please send your donation via paypal to sosequines@gmail.com
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Post by kayceepaint05 on May 21, 2008 13:11:48 GMT -5
Ok guys, it is getting down to the wire. If you can, PLEASE donate. Lucky needs us to help him get home!!
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Post by agilitygal on May 21, 2008 13:51:52 GMT -5
Already donated.
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Post by leosolis on May 21, 2008 16:29:27 GMT -5
So far we have raised $383.55 for Lucky Badger...$300 of it is for hauling. Would really like to send her enough to purchase a milking doe or foal Lac, this baby is going to be expensvie & any help we can give her would be most appreciated.
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Post by Admin on May 21, 2008 16:46:57 GMT -5
We'll help out with foal lac here if needed. I already have a tub in the barn! ;D
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Post by leosolis on May 21, 2008 16:52:07 GMT -5
We'll help out with foal lac here if needed. I already have a tub in the barn! ;D Thank you I am sure she will appreciate it. I am sending Lucky with a starter kit for her, but it won't last more than a week. |
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Post by pnp4kidz on May 21, 2008 17:10:16 GMT -5
We bought 25 lb of foal lac at our feed store on sale...
let me look into how much to ship it...
oh, and you can buy powdered goat's milk... might be way easier..
UC Davis had us mix part foal lac, part goat's milk to keep the poop the right consistency...
foal lac causes diarrhea, goat's causes constipation...
a wonderful combo.
we were able to go about half and half most of the time...
you can call directly to the goat dairy company, and ask about powdered milk. It is expensive but lasts a long time... I think it was $200 for a 100 lb bag... you mix is 1 cup powder to 4 cups water... the company is.... evading my memory, they make all the goat's milk you buy in the grocery store... dang it... and you call customer service, and tell them you are feeding your own horse foal... and you have to sign a form swearing you will NOT sell it, or use it in a product to sell... only for raising an orphan.
then they ship it via UPS.
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Post by countrygirl on May 21, 2008 18:58:31 GMT -5
Shawna, How is little Lucky doing without his momma? Is he drinking ok? Poor little guy.
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Post by angelinmydreams on May 21, 2008 22:18:50 GMT -5
The feed store sells goat milk replacer. I have not bought any for years but I think it is around 50-60 bucks.
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Post by pnp4kidz on May 22, 2008 1:24:30 GMT -5
I was cautioned not to use goat milk replacer... it is way too high in fat. Horse milk is very low fat, and goat's is way high...
you can use real goat's milk, just not the kid replacer stuff... unless you cut it so far down that it is dangerous to use that way too...
but the stuff from the dairy is real, honest to goodness goat's milk, just dried.
oh, remembered another tidbit...
or two... from our 'orphan'.
put fresh manure in with him from another horse, he needs to eat that... mare's is best, but gelding's will do... gives them digestive bacteria... do at least every few days.
second is to be sure you feed only the milk or milk pellets, with some grass hay to nibble for at least 3 months... their mouths will eat hay, or grains.. but their intestines can't properly digest it and they need the right nutrition... so hold on for 3 months, then switch to a junior feed... and hay. They need the extra protien and minerals for a full year...
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Post by cutiepiepmu on May 22, 2008 3:01:13 GMT -5
I second NOT using the goat milk replacer - use fresh goats milk - but not goat milk replacer. Or, if you can get a gentle dairy cow sometimes they will gladly let the baby nurse We have had to do this a time or two on the ranch. Jersey cows that are halterbroke and sweet work wonderfully You will still need to supplement foal lac, but this not only helps with the feedings but gives the baby a surogate mama if the cow is gentle and sweet. I suggest that you offer the foal-lac pellets as well as the powder mixed with water or goats milk. Over time it can help cut down on feeding every hour or two. At 6 weeks of age mix the foal lac pellets with calf manna. 3/4 foal lac and 1/4 calf manna. Also - I STRONGLY suggest that you keep on hand a product called PediaSorbEQ - Can be purchased via valleyvet.com and comes in 2 dose packets. This is an absolutely outstanding product to stop diarhea and is for foals specifically. It is also cheap - which is a bonus. Also - I would start dosing 1 small scoop per bottle of PROBIOS POWDER - not the granules. This will help as well to keep the gut populated. DO NOT offer a salt/mineral block at this point(actually I hate those stupid blocks!) Salt can give baby the runs as well. Also - if the baby gets diarhea or soft stool at ALL - get on it - dehydration can be very serious with youngsters. Take care, Sara |
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Post by shadowstormwolf on May 22, 2008 6:47:02 GMT -5
Ok Guys Kaycee left her house 2hours ago so should be to shawnas in about 16hours give or take YAYYYYYYY and then lucky will only be 5hours away from HOME!!!!
Jingles for a safe trip[a href="http://[del:shadowstormwolf]"]http://[del:shadowstormwolf][/a]
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Post by Admin on May 22, 2008 21:07:12 GMT -5
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by shelberttk2 on May 23, 2008 10:26:35 GMT -5
I have never seen another Kaycee spelled the way I spell my Kaycee! Cool! Sorry, totally off topic....Great advice here on the baby, can we save this info under health somehow?!
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Post by Admin on May 23, 2008 11:38:35 GMT -5
Good idea! I'll move the thread later ;D
Any news?
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Post by Admin on May 23, 2008 14:48:14 GMT -5
woohoo!
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Post by TashGaia on May 23, 2008 17:12:01 GMT -5
He's there!!!!
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