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When a cut and scraped three-year-old Kid awoke on July 8, 2008, he had no idea his life was about to get immeasurably better.

For on that day, the well-mannered thoroughbred gelding managed to find his way to Beauty's Haven Equine Farm and Rescue, located in Morriston, Florida, after getting out of his paddock more than a mile away.

According to Beauty's Haven President Theresa Batchelor, she received a call from the local sheriff's office to alert her that a horse was on the loose. The staff concluded that as the result of a severe storm the prior day, Kid must have panicked and escaped from the pasture where he was kept. When the call came, no one had contacted authorities to report an escaped horse.

The deputy on duty followed footprints to the home a man who confirmed he was missing a horse and said he would take a trailer to pick up the gelding at Beauty's Haven. While waiting for this individual to arrive, the staff began to treat the many wounds they noted on the horse.

Once the man reached the rescue, he reported that Kid had been unsuccessful on the track due to a leg injury received a few months earlier while swimming, adding that the young horse's owner wanted to train the animal to be a pony horse. He also revealed he was leaving the state the next day for a few weeks without mentioning what would have become of Kid during his absence.

After Theresa Batchelor explained how Beauty's Haven helped horses by rehabbing them and finding them homes, he asked her if the rescue would like to have Kid. With the sheriff's deputy present, the owner agreed to this over the telephone. Kid then joined the dozens of other horses - past and present - that Beauty's Haven has helped.

The rescue received its charitable, 501(3)(c) status in 2007. It operates through the generosity of donors, many of whom earmark their contributions for the care of a specific horse described on the Beauty's Haven web site. For some of the animals, the care they receive as part of the rescue herd is the only love they will ever remember.

When Kid arrived, the rescue was filled to capacity. Among the herd was a two-month-old filly who had recently undergone reconstructive surgery. However, the staff scurried to find a place for the brown gelding, who had suffered a great deal of physical and emotional stress before his arrival. They learned that his registered name was "Graeme Cracker Kid," and his sire was Graeme Hall.

Beauty's Haven workers immediately examined the gelding, noting he was covered with cuts, scratches and lumps. He suffered from rain rot from head to toe and was so sore, he cringed whenever anyone touched him. However, he appeared to be a patient, kind horse, and the staff surmised he was aware they were trying to help him and cooperated accordingly.

So far, Kid has been treated by both traditional and holistic veterinarians. He continues to heal. His caregivers believe he would profit from more chiropractic and acupuncture treatments. They've also concluded that after training, he will make a wonderful riding horse. They report he's become trusting and is very loving and easy to handle.

Their hope: that Kid will soon be adopted to his very own forever home.

Learn more about this author, Vonda Sines.
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