Animal Welfare United States Project #47307

Broken Horses Healing Broken Kids in Colorado

by Charis Youth Ranch Home Of New Life Thoroughbreds

Project Report | Apr 21, 2023
Rescued Horses Rescuing People

By Tracy Cookman | Founder/CEO

Birdie and her new forever owner, Larissa

One of the difficult aspects of rescuing horses from hard places are the various emotions we and the horses experience throughout the process. There is sadness, regret, anger, relief, joy, satisfaction, to name a few.

When we are made aware of a horse in a dire situation, for example at an auction where we know the majority of horses are sold to kill buyers, there is sadness, anger and fear. We are so sad that this horse is having to go through such a difficult time. Was he torn away from his friends and home and has no idea what is going on? Did his owner feel she had no choice but to sell her horse at auction? Did she need the money? Is she losing her home? Or does she not care and just want the money? Can the horse sense the unrest and anxiety of the other horses at the auction yard he does not know? Is he hopeful that someone is coming to get him out of that unknown place? Does he even have trust in people to hope for such a thing?

Followed by our heartbreak is anger. Why? Why are horses dumped? Who wants to slaughter a horse? Don't they know it is inhumane? Horses are such intuitive creatures. Most of them trust us and expect that we are their caretakers. What a betrayal they must feel when left at an auction without their people.

The feeling of relief and hope we have when we are able to save a horse is elating. For a moment, before the hard work of evaluation and rehabilitation begins, we are so happy that this horse is safe. One more saved from the slaughter pipeline. Who is he? Is he gentle and kind? Is he a kids' horse or untrained? What does he need to feel secure? He needs feed and space and time to let down his anxiety and fear, to know he is safe. He can exhale now.

As we watch the horse thrive and flourish with our love and care, we are excited and joyful. How wonderful that this horse has found a safe haven where he can thrive and grow and show more and more of his personality. We have great joy when we see a rescued horse who has realized he is safe and can reach out to a child or volunteer who may also need to find sanctuary, a space to exhale. Rescued horses rescuing people is the name of the game. We rescue them so they can rescue us. How wonderful a dream that is.

When one of our beloved rescue horses finds a forever home, we are again sad. Along with our sadness of letting him go, is satisfaction that this once unwanted horse in need of rescue was seen. He was seen and understood and helped so he could find his way to the exact place he was intended to be. What a glorious feeling of bittersweet emotion it is to see our beloved rescue horse leave with his forever person, to be kept safe and loved his whole life through.

Rescue is not for the faint of heart. It is heartbreaking. It is sad and there are some we are unable to help no matter how hard we try. It is part of the job and we accept the good with the bad. Despite the pain of losing some, we continue to believe that we are making a difference in the lives of the horses we save and we remain hopeful and filled with faith that there is purpose in our endeavors to empty the slaughter pipeline, one horse at a time.

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Dec 23, 2022
A Rescue

By Tracy Cookman | Founder

Getting to know you: Cooper

Bus is a 23 year old QH Appendix gelding that we rescued last fall, 2021. He was extremely skinny, malnourished, lonely and very depressed, having been left behind by his owners and horse herd when they moved. They left him alone in a paddock where he was not receiving proper care. We brought Bus back to full health and he became a companion to Cooper, another senior gelding, who was rescued some years back from a severely neglectful home.

In December 2021, a caring home was found for Cooper and Bus to retire! We were elated to have found a safe place for them both to live out their remaining years. The family was so excited to welcome them into their herd and very enthusiastic about caring for both Bus and Cooper. We are very selective to whom we entrust the care of horses and we did our due diligence in vetting the family. Sadly in this case, in October 2022, after a home visit to check on the boys, it was found that the family was not providing the best care to Cooper and Bus. We knew we had to find a true forever home for these beloved horses.

One last measure we keep is to hold the brand ownership papers for most of our adopted horses for a time, so that in an event like this, we can easily bring the horse back into our care. It was agreed that we would take them back and we urgently went to work seeking a soft landing for these precious oldster geldings. We gratefully found an incredible home for them within the week! Through much searching, we received a referral from a friend and we got in contact with Skyward Ranch in Cheyenne, WY. After a series of conversations and vetting, it was decided they would go to Skyward.

We cannot say enough good things about this amazing family. Skyward Ranch is a place that takes on unloved and unwanted dogs and horses due to age or special issues. They opened their home to Bus and Cooper and within a day, asked if they could permanently adopt them. Now Bus and Cooper are loved by a girl and a boy and they are treated like kings! They nicker at feeding time and come when they are called. They are more interactive than they have ever been. Now Cooper and Bus’ days are filled with kid hugs, love, wonderful care and time with kind people.

It is thanks to the support of our community that we are able to continue to care for the horses that fall through the cracks. We are grateful for our work and the wonderful people who help us on our mission of providing a sanctuary for kids and horses.

Excited For The New Arrivals

Going Home

Happy Horses In Their New Duds

Intentional Connection: Bus

Whatcha Doin?

Links:

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Aug 28, 2022
Joys and Sorrows

By Tracy Cookman | Founder and CEO

Cisco in his paddock

There are joys and sorrows in rescuing senior horses. As horses are forced into retirement due to advanced age, owners are faced with the agonizing decision of whether or not to incur the expense of caring for a senior horse or putting them down. Sometimes owners lack the knowledge in how to provide the specialized care a senior horse requires and it is necessary for us to step in and bring him back to health. As we have availability, Charis Youth Ranch is blessed to provide a soft landing to a senior horse who has given so much to his owners and just needs a safe haven to enjoy his remaining days and years.

We have provided soft landings to many seniors over the years. Currently, we have six horses over the age of 20 for whom we care. They require specialized and expensive pelleted feed soaked twice per day so that their smooth teeth do not have to work so hard to break down the hay fibers. This way, their food can be more easily digested and thus absorbed, providing the nutrition they need.

When asked by an owner who has struggled with the decision to surrender or euthanize their equine friend, if we will give his/her beloved horse a new home, we find limitless joy in being able to say yes. It is our great pleasure to give a senior horse a new lease on life by allowing him to have an age and ability appropriate job again! It makes the horses so happy to be needed! Maybe he can no longer hold a rider, but he can certainly hold a child’s heart. However, senior horses don’t have many years to live and when we have to say good-bye, the sorrow is heart wrenching.

Cisco was just such a horse. Cisco retired from racing and became a show horse. After that, he enjoyed a third career as a lesson horse and taught many kids how to ride. Cisco came to us from a dear friend who owned a schooling stable. As retirement crept up on him, Cisco's owner asked if we would give him the rest and relaxation he deserved. We happily obliged. Cisco was gentle and kind. He was trustworthy and capable and still had so much love to give and lessons to teach our youth and volunteers. As a gentleman and schoolmaster, Cisco happily shared his invaluable wisdom with every rider who was fortunate enough to learn from him. He was a character and a true gem.

This summer, it became apparent that Cisco was not feeling well. His affliction came on suddenly - one day he was his normal goofy self, the next he was listless. After transporting him to our vet, Cisco remained for three days. His blood work revealed that Cisco was in terminal liver failure. We had caught it before he was truly suffering and for that we are so grateful.

We knew we had to let him go, it was time. We regretfully shared the sad news with our volunteers and many came to say their tearful goodbyes to Cisco as he spent the day in a beautiful pasture enjoying all of the green grass he could eat. Cisco was peacefully laid to rest surrounded by his adoring human friends. He was thirty years old.

We know when we take in these beautiful senior souls, that one day we will be faced with the grievous decision of when to let him or her go. It is the hardest part of loving them, but it is a burden we gladly bear knowing the contentment we can provide them in their last years and knowing the joy they will bring so many children and adults alike. The sorrow of losing them is inevitable, but the joy in saving a senior horse and giving him the best life to the end makes every tear worth it.

Our Senior Rajah, age 30

Cisco and Sven grazing

Rajah and The Queen enjoying summer pasture

Cisco with his girl Hope

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