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Operating a small rescue, rehab and retirement home for unwanted equine is life as we know it. I say "we" because I am sure if my husband knew the full extent of what he was getting into, he probably would have run the other way!

Horses have come and horses have gone; all with a story. Some have come in with hooves curled like twisted roots. Others have come in with skin hanging off protruding ribs; hip and backbones pronounced. Eyes lacking in spirit and life; awaiting the next harsh hand. Scars of frustration and hate; bald spots where halters were never removed; some even embedded. Eyes lifeless and despondent.

Only by the grace of God, a wonderful Veterinarian and a superb farrier did all of them make it to go on to richer, more greener pastures!

There was Mariah who came to us with proud flesh protruding from over both eyes and a huge gash down the back of her leg. There was Felix who had been left after someone moved and survived through sheer will and a nosy neighbor! A gray & white pony who was at an auction; head hanging down, eye swollen from an apparent kick, "older than dirt", whom I named Clara after my grandmother. We put her in purple for that poem, "When I am old I shall wear purple." There was Kanzas who graced our lives for 4 years and passed away at 39 yrs. of age. There was Camelot who we bought at an auction; a 20+ Saddlebred who was burnt out from too many years of showing; quite psychotic at times! There was also Mulligan; a 2 yr. old who we picked up at a private slaughterhouse (sheep, cows, etc.) that had a stall with full view of the actual slaughtering and with so many wood ticks on his head, we lost count!

Then there are the people who call to see if we will buy their horse for thousands of dollars! Or the people who say if we don't come and get them that they will have to put them down. And then there are the people who call to see if we are the "people with the free horses?"

Now let me share with you the wonderful people who have adopted some of our horses. There is the couple from Winterport who fell in love with Clara; she is spoiled beyond words and yes, she still wears purple. There is Barbara who adopted Camelot; he was the love of her life (even after going over backwards with her several times!) until he passed away. Our friend Elisa and her "non-horsey" husband Mark now have Mulligan. And there are so many more wonderful, compassionate people who have offered not only their home/barn..but their hearts.

To us, a horse is not just an animal. It is a creature of nobility. They have spent their lives pleasing people; plowing fields, racing, riding, showing....only to have someone decide that they are now disposable. No longer usable. Too old, to lame, not pretty enough anymore.....I can't imagine being a family member..I would have to wonder what they were thinking of me!

So we continue to cry, to love, to nurture and to rescue; one horse at a time.

Learn more about this author, Kay Blanchard.
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