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 Here is yet another urgent need situation. I am copying the post in its entirety in the hope that someone in the area (Thompson, PA), is in a position to help. This horse clearly meets our criteria for urgent need, but we cannot accommodate another blind horse at the moment. If anyone out there can, you would have our heartfelt thanks for stepping up. Remember, this horse is not at our facility and she is certainly not safe. Please contact the individuals listed below.
“Please help us find a home for this horse. She needs medical help, she is blind. We have done what we can but are not equipped for a blind horse and have no room.I have already spent $200 on her for treatment. . We had an Appy Mare,11yr old show up at our house the other day. We found the owner 4 miles away and the really old man was going to attempt to walk home with this mare.We offered to give her shelter until he could provide transportation for her(her feet are bad). He said he did not want her. We then offered to help him find a home for this girl and promised no meat buyers and they replied “You can eat em, horse is good” My husband then opted to take her to save her from what may happen. We knew at that moment she had eye problems and he said she came down with an eye cold this winter and has been having trouble seeing.I called my vet and she confirmed she is blind in one eye and has partial sight in the other.We are treating her eyes as they are infected. She said moonblindness, and that is common in older Appy’s, not usually so young. She believes she had an eye injury in her blind eye that was left untreated. I do not want her as I have 5 of my own and no room, I however do not want her destroyed because of her blindness, she is very sweet and other than her eyes and feet appears to be very healthy, Vet says feet will be fine after a few visits with the Farrier. Can you take home??She is not UTD on anything.She is timid and afraid but once assured she is ok.Hard for me to catch w/o seeing eye horse she has come attached to or carrots husband has np.Let’s us enter her stall no problem,picks up feet, a little reluctant but will give them,I can treat her eyes myself and am only 5’2″. Vet says sweet mare. She has come along way in a week and trusts us now. Was not broke to ride, does lead well. Infection is clearing with meds but needs further care and treatment. A GOOD HORSE AND NEEDS A GOOD HOME!!!570-727-2769 ask for Lisa or Bobby We have had an issue since first posting, with farrier She raised up and hoofed my Husband. Out of fear I believe.To much to soon,strange person..After hoofing my husband she was put in stall so we could examine him and she came over the wall of her stall and was afraid. Can not be in with the others out!!!..SHE NEEDS TO GO, I HAVE DONE ALL I CAN AND SHE WILL BE EUTHANIZED IF NOT PICKED UP BY 4/25!!!!!! I DO NOT HAVE THE $$$ OR RESOURCES TO GIVE HER WHAT SHE NEEDS. I RAISED ONLY $140 TO CARE FOR HER.I AM AT 2 WEEKS OF HAVING HER.WITH FOOD,VET CARE, MEDS, AND DAMAGES I AM IN DEBT $286+, AND MY HUSBAND INJURED.FIRST TRUCK THAT PULLS IN TAKES HER AWAY”
 Peanut and Muffin their temporary digs This past year, we have noticed a sudden increase in our resident mouse population. We’re not sure why. It could be the recent drought, availability of feed in the farm’s chicken coops (though mice don’t always survive this experience- our chickens are fierce), or a host of other things. Regardless of the reason, we decided upon the perfect organic solution: cats.
As we are a rescue organization, it was only natural that we asked ourselves which cats needed homes so badly that a barn would be their perfect solution. The answer, we concluded, would be cats that had nowhere else to go and who possibly preferred each others’ company to humans. In short, feral cats. A trip through the Internet landed us on the Best Friends web site and to their article about feral cats. That’s how we found Courthouse Feral Cats Rescue in Dinwiddie, VA, and their contact Jackie Waymack.
In an imperfect world, our timing, if not perfect, was at least helpful. The Courthouse folks and their foster home were running out of time in which to rescue 9 cats that absolutely, positively must find homes. Peanut, Muffin and Kippers have now found their homes with us. If you are visiting or volunteering, please take a moment to meet these kitties and make them feel welcome.
The experience of adopting these cats has been educational. Jackie brought out her feral cat set up, in order to help acclimate the new guys to their new surroundings- a process that will take about 2 weeks. During that time, they will be crated and handled in such a way as to minimize the possibility of escapes. They are spayed, neutered and up to date on all their shots. All they need is food, water, cat litter and some patience and TLC. What we have discovered is that, while Peanut and Muffin are still fairly timid, Kippers really just wants to be loved. Many of these cats are not actually feral- some are lost and have never found their way home. And some possibly never will.
That is because the remaining cats are in terrible trouble. A kindhearted caretaker has been feeding and caring for a group that has become the target of cruelty and abuse on the part of apartment dwellers who shoot at them and try to run them over with their bikes and cars. For her kindness, she has been evicted. She must leave by May 1st (though she has requested an extension) and the cats must find homes immediately. The remaining cats are friendly, house trained, accustomed to dogs, vaccinated and neutered. The cats needing homes are:
One black/white 8mo old (Mittens-female)
One orange/white 8mo old, (Marmalade-male)
One orange/white 1 yr old (Scratch-female)
One male Tabby approx 3 yrs old (Little One)
One tabby male with white markings (Big Kitty- approx 4 yrs old)
And one female pale orange/white (Pumpkin, approx 4 yrs old).
Many of our supporters have barns and outbuildings that might benefit from having some resident rodent control and these little guys and gals are desperate. Times are tough for everyone, and while we have committed ourselves to rescuing equines in urgent need, it isn’t just the horses who need help. If you can extend a lifeline to just one of these urgent need felines, please contact Jackie at:
Courthouse Cats Feral Rescue
P. O. Box 131
Prince George, VA 23875
804-898-2076 (cell)
White Bird gets a lot of requests to take in horses that need to be rehomed. In many cases, the owner is just looking to rehome the horse and it doesn’t really need to go to a rescue organization. It just needs a new owner. Our priority is, and always has been, to take in only horses whose situation has put them at risk. This risk comes in many forms. The owner may have lost their farm or job and have no takers for the horse. Sometimes the owner has a health issue, or the horse has one that the owner can’t handle. Some horses are seized by animal control due to severe negligence or abuse. We have taken in two abandoned horses and one whose owner was deliberately starving him to death.
All of these horses were not only unlucky, they were in danger. We accept these horses in order of urgency whenever we have the resources to take them. Some animals meet our criteria for urgent need, but we are too full to accept them so we try to get exposure for them on this site. Today’s horse is one of these. I am going to quote the owner directly, as I believe she has conveyed the urgency of this situation better than I can. She has tried in good faith to place this horse for some time, but has run out of options and now needs help.
For those needing to place urgent need horses, we request that you contact us directly and describe your situation. For the reasons noted above, we do not post unscreened horses on this web site or allow them to be posted to our Facebook wall. We insist on giving priority to those horses who need help the most urgently. This horse certainly qualifies. He has had a hard life and deserves a dignified retirement.
“This is ReRock’s story.
He is currently at a farm in NJ where I have been paying board since I was forced to sell my own farm 2 years ago. He was sent there to try to find him a home. He has Cancer in his eye and Glaucoma. He has a steroid ointment that is put in his eye 2 times a day. His Front legs face east and west so he is lame as well. I have been out of work for 2 years. I have been trying to save his life for the last 6 years and I can’t afford to do it anymore. This poor guy is an ex show horse. He was shown from the time he was a year old. His Head used to be tied up all night so he would be so tired in the morning that he would drop it to the ground. His tail was nerved and not done correctly so now it hangs to the side from the base. When I bought him in 2006 he twisted a shoe the day he got to my farm, and ended up lame. After 6 weeks on stall rest, I turned him out in a round pen to stretch his legs and he put his leg through the wooden fence. I had a Vet come out and look at him and take xrays. I was told then he would never be sound again. So I pulled his shoes and retired him. Something that was well deserved for a horse that had the life he had prior to coming into my life. So after 6 years and 2 of those I have not been working I can not afford this anymore. If I wanted to send him to the auction 1) I would have done it when I found out that he would be lame for the rest of his life. 2) I would not be reaching out to rescues outside of my state. I have already tried the rescues that are local,I have offered him free to 4- hers and horse owners that are local( Most of which know this horse). So I am now out of options. I have 2 weeks to find him a home since I can’t afford his board due on May 1st.”
For more information about this horse, the owner can be reached at: majiklady_33@yahoo.com
*White Bird note for potential adopters: We have successfully treated an ocular squamous cell cancer in one of our horses and know that this treatment is often successful.
And especially LOUD cheers for those football team members who chose to spend their Saturday helping us muscle our way through some badly needed projects. They spent a beautiful day building paddocks and scraping and primering the horse trailer, when they could have been..oh…wait…enjoying a beautiful day on the farm with some grateful rescued horses and their equally grateful rescue operators. You guys rock!
We are, in fact, so grateful that we invite everyone within driving distance to go cheer these great folks on to victory during the upcoming football season.
 Members of the Hampden-Sydney Tigers
Saturday’s Equine Conference, sponsored by the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council, was held Saturday in Blackstone, VA. Not wanting to miss this opportunity to tune up our knowledge of equine health, nutrition and pasture- or miss a chance to help educate equine owners and friends about rescued horses, we were there to meet and greet. We had a great time seeing old friends and meeting new ones.
The conference included talks and exhibitions by Chris Teutsch, Associate Professor and Forage Specialist at Virginia Tech, Scott Purdum of Advantage Horsemanship, Marty Adams of Southern States, Theresa McManus of Keymon Farms, Deborah Crane of Equine Sports Therapies and local Veterinarian, Brandy Phelps of Hoofbeats Equine Services.
The presentations were very informative and we enjoyed the good company and beautiful weather, as well as the great lunch supplied by the Buffalo Creek Pony Club. Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth to say “hello”, offer donations, or sign up as volunteers. Also, special “thanks” to the ever-awesome Julia for helping to keep things running at the rescue while we were gone and to “booth babes” Allison, Travis and Littlest Volunteer Anthony!
…they bathed, they groomed and they built fences- despite rain, mud and adversity. Yesterday, we were pleased to welcome the Fort Lee Army Leadership University graduating class, who kindly chose White Bird as their community service project.
The horses just loved all the attention! Several of them dozed off while they were being groomed. After the rain stopped, the group moved on to the next project: setting fence posts for the blind pony paddock and quarantine paddock.
It was a fun day for us and a great day for the horses. Thanks so much for your service to your country- and your service to a group of homeless horses. Hooah!
Oreo Enjoys his “Day at the Spa”
Setting posts for the blind pony paddock
 "Wonder" and his new friend
This long awaited project is finally nearing completion. Thanks to a generous donation from the ASPCA, we were provided a bigger shelter for the blind ponies and this allowed the previous run-in shed to be moved to the new quarantine paddock. Big “thank you!” also to Wilcke’s Lake Sheds, for reducing their price to fit the granted amount. The lot was cleared through the generosity of the GFAS and Petsmart Charities. Once the lot was cleared, we installed a hydrant for water, so the only remaining item is the fencing. But getting there was a challenge! First we had to move the existing shed through a 14 foot opening between the L-barn and pole barn.
It was a tiiiiiiight squeeeeeeze!!!!
The next step was to bring in the new shed to the blind pony paddock. Thanks so much to all of you who are helping us to make this new quarantine area a reality!
 The new shed for the blind ponies
“The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.”~ Maya Angelou
There is nothing quite so satisfying to us as finding a really excellent home for one of our horses. We had many expressions of interest in “Chance” (and we thank you all so much for considering a rescued horse!). But we try hard to find that perfect home that will best fit what the horse likes and wants to do. In Chance’s case, he (a) loves people and (b) loves to jump. We were certain that his ideal home would involve a lot of human contact with someone who shared Chance’s enjoyment of jumping. So we were thrilled when we heard from Jennie and Mackenzie. This was a match made in Heaven and we look forward to following Chance’s show career. Congratulations to Jenni and Mackenzie on the newest addition to their family!
Chance and his new family
Also this past week, we welcomed back our friends at Charlotte Crossing, who enjoyed a day visiting the horses.
 Charlotte Crossing spends a day at White Bird
 What a beautiful day! You can now just see the buds on the trees and the daffodils are in full bloom. Our horses are basking in these balmy temperatures. At least they are when they are not trying to get rid of their scratchy winter coats. They began shedding those out about 3 weeks ago, and right now, they are at the peak of their itchiness. Every item of clothing we have now prominently features horse hair.
Below, Tillie has wisely opted for a trip to the White Bird style salon for some grooming and hair removal assistance. She is hoping that her spruced up look will convince someone that she is just the kind of horse they need. Tillie is in her mid to late teens. She is a gentle Quarter horse with just enough of an opinion to make her interesting. In some groups, she can be dominant, but most of the time, she is content to remain somewhere in the middle. She is a pleasant, good-natured girl whose only issue is that she can be a little pushy. For this reason, we’ve decided that she is suitable for a confident beginner, but not one who will allow her to be the boss. Tillie dislikes being stalled, so we prefer that she go to a home that has adequate shelter and continuous turnout. We think her best job is that of a companion pony, for someone who just wants to take their friend out trail riding once in awhile. She is a low energy horse who’d be perfectly happy letting someone else come in first. If she sounds like your kind of girl, will you give us a call?
 A scene from the Rescue this morning. Four inches- wheee!!! Our northern friends are permitted to roll their eyes at our excitement.
Below, Dandelion and her friends would like to know where all the grass went.
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