HHELP HORSES HEAL™ * Honor * Health * Hope * Happiness * Heart *
HHAPPY HORSE HAVEN RESCUEE
HAPPY HORSE HAVEN RESCUE Origin 2005. Texas non profit 2006. Pending 501C3 2009.
OUR STORY:
In 2005 I ran across a large herd of horses whose numbers were dropping slowly within the herd, periodically & mysteriously (so it seemed at the time), horses would die due to unknown causes. Knowing that unexplained things do happen to horses, I did not pursue the matter further. Over time the death toll rose & I became even more suspicious. In my personal investigation, it was clear a "mixed herd" was being fed daily (so they said), but only once a day in one spot. Over 50 horses (of mixed age, health, & hierarchy had to fight among themselves for feed. Those of you who really care about the well-being of horses know survival of the fittest rules in the horse world! Although I brought the need to separate the herd into more appropriate groups (at the very least for feeding), my desires were ignored. Sadly more horses died (mostly from sheer starvation & neglect). Included among the deaths was a horse dear to me: Bobby Sock Doc (son of Doc Bar pictured with me-above. I played bugle on Bobby's back. He proudly led us safely in "charge", or the "call to mess" (gather for lunch). Too little too late, I insisted they care for the more emaciated & Sr horses immediately. To my surprise I was told "you care so much-you take 'em", so I did. Due to the age & health of these particular horses, they still remain here at Happy Horse Haven (the rescues name as it became the following year). Almost all of the horses at Happy Horse Haven Rescue are adoptable to qualifying competent, loving, caring families. All adoptive families become a part of the HHH family & are contacted periodically every year for photos & updates, even visited in person. An adoption contract is signed which includes a declaration that no horse will be knowingly sold to slaughter. Even a "return clause" is included when horses can no longer be cared for, as well as an "upon death" clause to designate where the horse goes at that time. Every measure is taken to provide for a healthy, happy & safe future for adoptive Happy Horse Haven Rescued horses!
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This is Rooster, a hard keeper (their description-not mine). He came from the original herd I tried to save back in 2005. Rooster is a Palomino. Not a more loving horse will you find. He follows you around, stares in-or opens- the back door if he
wants to encourage a hand out of carrots & apples. Regardless of a bribe, out comes a big 'ole slurpy tongue. Rooster will literally lick you like a dog. When he arrived he was about 700 lbs. Due to his shaggy wintertime coat the total skin & bone skeleton was not quite as apparent until warmer weather encouraged a very slow shedding of his coat. Rooster has a cresty neck & is insulin intolerant. He is a blessing & has improved over the years to 1,000 pounds now, with minimal feeding. He is loved by all & is a favorite for short rides. He is like a man with a tall hat when you put a saddle on him-he becomes the leader of the ride. Once the saddle is off, he goes back to lowest in the pecking order yet always high among humans!!! Happy Horse Haven is Roosters forever home.
wants to encourage a hand out of carrots & apples. Regardless of a bribe, out comes a big 'ole slurpy tongue. Rooster will literally lick you like a dog. When he arrived he was about 700 lbs. Due to his shaggy wintertime coat the total skin & bone skeleton was not quite as apparent until warmer weather encouraged a very slow shedding of his coat. Rooster has a cresty neck & is insulin intolerant. He is a blessing & has improved over the years to 1,000 pounds now, with minimal feeding. He is loved by all & is a favorite for short rides. He is like a man with a tall hat when you put a saddle on him-he becomes the leader of the ride. Once the saddle is off, he goes back to lowest in the pecking order yet always high among humans!!! Happy Horse Haven is Roosters forever home.NEW YEARS RESCUE of 27 TEXAS HORSES:
This is Ms. Sassy Pants, a beautiful long lashed young wild mare. Late in 2007 it was brought to my attention that a herd of 27 wild horses was being
sold to slaughter. Oddly, these horses were not old or sick, just unwanted. The owner couldn't keep them & wanted a fast way out. This was my first "eye opening exposure to the senseless slaughter of sound horses". How could anyone slaughter young healthy horses?? Of course I became involved in the rescue. At New Years, momentum was rallied for adoption & fortunately many were pre-adopted sight unseen. The remaining herd was brought to Happy Horse Haven. In a few brief weeks due to local newspaper exposure & support from the community, 8 were adopted out, with 4 more over time as well. Only one was not adopted-the young mare whom I named Ms. Sassy pants. She gave birth to Equinox (the foal featured on the "About Us" page). He was named because he was born on the calendar day of the vernal Equinox. Another horse from the herd, a wild stud (whom we quickly gelded along with the other studs), was a stand out because of his gorgeous markings. He was immediately adopted & desired by many. Time passed & he was never picked up so he still remains at Happy Horse Haven Rescue. I later named him Comanche. He is, again, up for adoption. (Comanche is the horse featured on every card "back" of the Help Horses Heal deck of cards. See fundraising products.)
sold to slaughter. Oddly, these horses were not old or sick, just unwanted. The owner couldn't keep them & wanted a fast way out. This was my first "eye opening exposure to the senseless slaughter of sound horses". How could anyone slaughter young healthy horses?? Of course I became involved in the rescue. At New Years, momentum was rallied for adoption & fortunately many were pre-adopted sight unseen. The remaining herd was brought to Happy Horse Haven. In a few brief weeks due to local newspaper exposure & support from the community, 8 were adopted out, with 4 more over time as well. Only one was not adopted-the young mare whom I named Ms. Sassy pants. She gave birth to Equinox (the foal featured on the "About Us" page). He was named because he was born on the calendar day of the vernal Equinox. Another horse from the herd, a wild stud (whom we quickly gelded along with the other studs), was a stand out because of his gorgeous markings. He was immediately adopted & desired by many. Time passed & he was never picked up so he still remains at Happy Horse Haven Rescue. I later named him Comanche. He is, again, up for adoption. (Comanche is the horse featured on every card "back" of the Help Horses Heal deck of cards. See fundraising products.)
NORTH DAKOTA RESCUE of NINE REGISTERED HORSES:
This registered pregnant QH mare, arrived from North Dakota. She is a unique Cremello. Later giving birth to a sweet registered buckskin foal, this deserving mare still resides at HHH. In 2008, Cremello was 1 OF 7 registered pregnant mares headed for slaughter, along with 2 registered studs. Only 2-4 horses were to remain at HHH, but due to economics & the need for safe re-cooperation, the entire herd stayed. Sadly upon arrival, one sorrel mare (who had dropped 3 times on the ride from N. Dakota to Texas) was near death due to long term neglect. This sorrel, whom I later named Navaho Red, is now perfectly healthy & back to full weight. HHH found loving homes for 2 of the pregnant mares. Both had world champion background & both later gave birth to registered healthy foals. All 4 reside within 30 miles of HHH. The remaining mares, foals & stud are available for adoption.
*Note: The stud is a registered 12 year old paint. He has laminitis. We are trying to keep him in tact for his safety & to retain his working value in hopes of adoptive interests. I named him Maverick & he is gentle & very sweet. He was severely neglected, but has made 100% improvement in his favor-both mentally & physically! His foals are noticeably outstanding. (See Sergeant Major under foals.) HHH's policy is to geld studs, but the risk of death at his age is too great.SPECIAL NEEDS HORSES
This impressive gelding paint, Santana, has ringbone. He is such a loving horse & playful matriarc to young foals. To avoid slaughter due to his limp, the owner personally brought him here to live out his days. A donation was made to HHH for us to use herbs for a hopeful recovery. Although the herbs did allow for more freedom of movement & less pain, Santana needs to stay on the formulas to ensure his relief, otherwise he will revert back. This is still good news for Santana, who is clearly a very happy & wise soul. Here at HHH we take pride in the natural care we provide our horses. We feed raw garlic (which we grow organically), & provide special herbal formulas to meet each horses particular needs; including a daily herbal supplement for the more healthy horses as well. We have an array of horses with issues such as EPM, laminitis, navicular, ringbone, & insulin intolerence, drug-related, blindness, and swaybacked, etc.). We also offer plant enzymes to build their immune system & relieve digestive stresses. We are dedicated to holistic alternatives as a way of life here at the rescue.FABULOUS FOALS-NEW LIFE at HHH RESCUE:
This outstanding registered paint foal is the son of Maverick from North Dakota. I named him Sergent Major because you almost want to salute him. He stands like a proud show horse on exhibit in a ring. He is softly inquisitive, yet always well behaved. His existence is a glaring reminder of what would be lost if his birth had been "just another soul lost to slaughter". It is unfathomable to me-the thought of slaughtering registered pregnant mares. Another amazing little fellow is Buckskin Chaps (my name for him), a registered foal whose upper lip twists & turns when you scratch just above his tail. His mom is Cremello. This year it has been a privilege to welcome multiple births here at HHH. No greater pleasure is the sight of foals experiencing the wonders of life in those early moments ...and the transformation that takes place as they nurse & later grow into those gangly long legs. In all of this, my favorite is to observe the teachings from Mom, & or the interactions as a family-running, playing & learning daily lessons!
ELOQUENT ELDERS
I must admit I have a soft spot for the elder, gentle, wise & loving horses. I have even heard (or maybe it should be herd?) them referred to as "yard dogs". Whatever one calls them, they are a sheer blessing. Often I am astounded by the former hard working-often high achieving horses, the long lived family member that people just disregard for various reasons. Maybe times are hard, maybe the kids have moved off, maybe the horse just can't perform as quickly or as desired, or sadly maybe time has taken its toll and they are ill or in pain with arthritis. Many people will spend a lot of money on special feed & others do not-what is really disappointing is that those who buy what they think to be "the best" may actually be harming their horses. The horses gut is a mess. The digestive process is being put under great stress constantly. Most people do not realize the huge link between digestion & the immune system. Over time gut ills come out as various illnesses. Anyway-maybe we can explore this topic another time-just KISS: that's keep it simple (stupid)-a tip from an old boss of mine. We feed oats & coastal here @ HHH. Ample fresh Water as well as all the grazing they can get! Love your horses, give them purpose, keep them safe. They are a gift...& when you must make a change please please find a wonderful place for them to live out their lives. There are many wonderful people who want to help horses-I implore you to seek them out. (I am sorry to say that not all people are sincere in their intentions-so do ask for references & see the place if you can. You would not want to send your horse on a fast track to the slaughter house just to save you a little time & a tank of gas. In your heart you will know the right thing to do.)
I must admit I have a soft spot for the elder, gentle, wise & loving horses. I have even heard (or maybe it should be herd?) them referred to as "yard dogs". Whatever one calls them, they are a sheer blessing. Often I am astounded by the former hard working-often high achieving horses, the long lived family member that people just disregard for various reasons. Maybe times are hard, maybe the kids have moved off, maybe the horse just can't perform as quickly or as desired, or sadly maybe time has taken its toll and they are ill or in pain with arthritis. Many people will spend a lot of money on special feed & others do not-what is really disappointing is that those who buy what they think to be "the best" may actually be harming their horses. The horses gut is a mess. The digestive process is being put under great stress constantly. Most people do not realize the huge link between digestion & the immune system. Over time gut ills come out as various illnesses. Anyway-maybe we can explore this topic another time-just KISS: that's keep it simple (stupid)-a tip from an old boss of mine. We feed oats & coastal here @ HHH. Ample fresh Water as well as all the grazing they can get! Love your horses, give them purpose, keep them safe. They are a gift...& when you must make a change please please find a wonderful place for them to live out their lives. There are many wonderful people who want to help horses-I implore you to seek them out. (I am sorry to say that not all people are sincere in their intentions-so do ask for references & see the place if you can. You would not want to send your horse on a fast track to the slaughter house just to save you a little time & a tank of gas. In your heart you will know the right thing to do.) 
What ALL RESCUES DREAM OFF
...theePERFECTTMATCH: Universally ALL RESCUES desire to place horses in a safe, loving forever home that encourages the horses growth and enhances their life experiences. Occasionally that pairing is PERFECT..the horse is willing and has the ability to learn, as well as desires to please their new caretaker. In early 2008 supportive grandparents "Leon & Jill Meredith, took a chance on a 3 year old WILD FILLY whom they later named DIXIE. Dixie was to be a surprise for their grand-daughter Lacie. No one could have hoped for a better outcome. Accomplished trainer, but a bit rusty, Grandpa Leon immediately began training Dixie. It took less than 2 months to train her, and in less than 4 months Dixie & Lacie were winning ribbons at 4H camp. Everyone was astounded that Dixie, a WILD FILLY, had come so far so quickly! The two have continued to bond & learn "together" as a team, yet even younger siblings are carefully carried by this softhearted intelligent horse. Dixie & Lacie are a wonderful reminder of the potential in ALL HORSES when given a CHANCE to live, learn, & be loved!
