|
|
A couple of weeks ago, our site was the subject of an internet hack and a piece of malicious code was inserted into our site software. A number of fortunate things happened to minimize the damage. First, some alert individuals notified us immediately that our site had been compromised (thanks, Daryl and Jackie!). Also, our web hosting service quickly advised us of the presence of of the malicious code. Third, our fantastic web manager has been on the job to help us repair the damage (thanks so much, Jones!).
But we have some work to do. Most of our photographs have been lost and replacing these will take a little time. We also know that some of our on-line forms are no longer present or working. We are working on these, too. In the meantime, if you need to contact us, please continue to do so through our email address at: whitebirdapps@gmail.com and our telephone number: 434-767-2839. As always, we are happy to answer any questions about our horses, our organization and especially appreciate hearing from potential adopters and volunteers.
Footnote: Jones has now restored our photos and forms, and the site is up and running in all its glory again. Google may continue to show it is compromised for up to another week, but you should not be in danger by surfing the site.
Back in February, through the efforts of several people, not the least of which was the awesome Sam, we received a malnourished pony that we named Berry. Berry went to live with new foster mom Hope because she needed quite a bit of TLC. Berry was determined to be about 22 years old and slightly arthritic, but mostly just in need of some groceries.
 Berry on Arrival
The picture below was taken today. What a difference three months makes! Hope has done a fantastic job in putting weight back on this little pony, and has done it carefully. As a result, she has good tone and her feet remain in great condition. Well done, Hope! What an awesome foster mom you are!
Berry will still need to learn to like people again, as presently she is still not very trusting. This will take time. But she certainly does feel better.
In other news: We finally cut the hay on the rescue farm! We dodged the showers and are holding our collective breath that it will remain dry long enough to cure and bale it. So far, so good. We hope to have it all in the barn by Sunday. Then, we will move along to Amelia, where we have approximately ten acres of donated standing orchard grass waiting for us, due to the kindness of Jay R. This is awesome Jay and we deeply appreciate your support.
Today’s Clearinghouse horse is Ginger, a 15 hand, 1100 pound, 12-15 year old red varnish appaloosa mare. Ginger is blind, but very sweet, and well broke to ride. This is not entirely surprising in that well-trained sighted horses often become well-trained blind horses who remember their training.
As our regular followers know by now, we hear a lot of sad stories from people trying to help horses in need. Ginger’s story is perhaps one of the saddest we have heard to date and we are hoping that someone will step forward to give this deserving girl a home. We also wish to thank Therese for her selflessness and bravery in rescuing this sweet mare. We have included her story as Theresa has submitted it. If there is anyone out there who could use a nice lead-line pony, she sounds just perfect. She is located in Durant, Iowa.
“I happened to be at a sale when I saw this mare unloaded into the slaughter pen. One of the few rules regarding shipping slaughter bound horses is that no blind or maimed horses can be hauled to kill. The cretin who realized she was blind started bludgeoning this poor mare over the head and shoulders with a stock stick, apparently for no reason other than he was mad at the fact she was blind. This poor animal bounced off the metal gates, then stood in one corner, shaking, while she took this abuse. Me being me, I climbed over the gates to confront the man beating her (he was a foot taller and at least 100 pound heavier than I am) and after some heated words he actually considered raising the stock stick to ME. I told him he really should do just that as then he would end up in prison, and he told me that if I was so concerned about the mare, that I should just take her. Snagging a piece of hay twine off the gate, that’s exactly what I did.
So this mare was not mine, I just happened to be in the wrong (or right) place at the wrong time, and could not walk away. I have too many horses of my own before I took in this mare, and I do not have the proper facilities to house a blind horse. Though she has proven to be an absolutely golden animal, and I wish to help find her an amazing forever home, unfortunately that home cannot be with me.
I have brought her current on vaccinations, farrier care, and worming, and she is at least 100 to 150 pounds heavier now than she is in the picture I sent of her. She rides beautifully in either a halter or o-ring snaffle bit, and I have ridden her both bareback and with a western saddle. I rode her in the round pen, an outdoor arena, and then took her down the road and around a bean field, and she did not take a wrong step at any point.
This mare is not in danger, as she will either find her forever home or be humanely euthanized, and I will hold onto her for as long as I possibly can before taking such a drastic step, but the reality is I truly can’t afford to hay another horse over the winter. I have contacted rescues in three states, posted her far and wide over the internet and on Facebook, as well as got her a spot on the local t.v. news station, but the only person who stepped forward with any serious interest wished to get her to breed to their blind stud. (Really!?) Needless to say, that was not an option.
I am not asking an adoption fee, though I am adopting her out with a reference check and signed first right of refusal.”
Theresa can be contacted about Ginger at: thereseiam@yahoo.com
 Okay, the picture isn’t perfect but you can still see that this mare is a cutie patootie. “Sunrise” (Indian Sunrise) is a 14.2 H Appy mare and she is in need of a new home.
Sunrise is a good trail horse and can be ridden either English or Western. She does need an experienced rider. She has been barefoot for the past 8 or 9 years and is ridden with boots if the trails are rocky. Sunrise has had two episodes of choke, so her new owner will need to feed her pelleted food that is placed in a tub on the floor. She has also had sporadic hoof abscesses and is recovering from them at the moment. But she’s a good girl and the owner will be sad to see her go. She is being rehomed due to financial hardship, but she has been given excellent care and is current on hoof care, vaccs and worming. If you like to give her a new home or have further questions about her, please contact the owner directly, as she is not in the care of the rescue. Her owner can be reached at: Barbara Cook at (410) 795-1276 or by email at: cookhiohsilver@aol.com
The White Bird Style Salon was open for business yesterday! The Cushing’s Club horses (Oreo, Wonder, Allison, Mr. Bowersox and Star) were bathed, shed, dried, clipped, rubbed down, comforted and generally provided the total spa experience with some help from the Cumberland Cayuse Riders 4H and White Bird volunteers Allie, Katie and Whitney. Big thanks to all of you who helped our geezers to feel so much better in this warmer weather!
Side note: In the fourth photo, all three of these horses are over 40 years old. We constantly battle the perception that old horses typically look thin. These three, and the other seniors at White Bird are living proof that horses of any age can look great with the right care. They are also evidence that blind horses can live equally good lives, as Allison and Mr. Bowersox are completely blind.
 Carolynn demonstrates the "Cushing's Comfort Clip"
 Wonder with WB volunteers Katie and Whitney  Oreo, Allison and Mr. Bowersox trade stories while drying off  The Cumberland Cayuse Riders (with Volunteers Allie and Anthony on left)
 Tom narrates for the video, while Fancy listens intently!
Yes, that’s kind of a pun, since the big news this week was the fact that the wonderful folks at the Times-Dispatch came out to visit White Bird. Holly and Mark were given the rescue grand tour and met many of our residents up close and personal. We understand that we will be featured in the “Flair” section of the weekend edition on May 20th. We are pleased to have this opportunity to talk about what we do and would like to give a big shout out to the Times-Dispatch, and to Heather for coordinating this interview.
In other news, Mr. Bowersox was kindly nominated by Jeff Hudson for his company’s Best Pet award- which also offered a cash prize to the winner. While Mr. B. didn’t win (and we just don’t understand that), he was awarded a ribbon for his participation in the contest. We still think he’s pretty special and really appreciate Jeff thinking about him. And Mr. B needed some cheering up. He had just suffered his first case of “choke” meaning that he is now being placed on the internationally famous White Bird gourmet soup diet. Despite his advanced age, Mr. B’s teeth are actually in better shape than most of our senior residents and this is the first time we have had this problem with him. But since horses that choke are likely to do so again, we will be making this permanent change to his menu.
This weekend we will hold the annual event known as the Cushing’s Clip-a-thon. The festivities include the yearly ritual of helping the Cushing’s Club (who cannot shed out by themselves) stay cool by giving them the stylish Cushing’s Comfort Clip. This clip is unlike the more traditional Hunter Clip in that it is an artful exercise in studied casual. Nah. I just made that up. It’s actually just flat ugly. But this year, the White Bird Style Salon will be manned by members of our local 4H who may actually have some styling prowress. More to come!
 Gratuitous Spring Picture of Ulysses and Norman
 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
|
|
