Helping each other and the horses who need us

Times are tough and animals are suffering the consequences.  August proved to be a month that saw our local SPCA addressing many issues and one of those was a report from a Redwings volunteer of abandoned horses in the southern reaches of the county - near Redwings.  The SPCA took immediate legal action and Redwings, knowing of the situation, and being aware of the many issues the SPCA happened to be dealing with simultaneously - offered to help.

For most of the month of August, we provided hay to four abandoned horses, saw that they had water, and reported regularly to the SPCA humane officers.  Our volunteer who first discovered and reported them, tended to them daily. These horses - would most certainly have died of starvation or even more likely - lack of water.  Days during August were consistently over 100 degrees.

Fortunately the horses were stabilized and the SPCA was able to come for them and to tend to them humanely - something their owners chose not to do.  As we worked with these horses, we recommitted ourselves once again to educating aspiring horse owners to the responsibility and commitment they are making when they become horse owners.

In the words of Dr. Albert Schweitzer, "Whenever an animal is forced into service of men, every one of us must be concerned for any suffering it bears on that account.  No one of us may permit any preventable pain to be inflicted, even though the responsibility for the pain is not ours.  No one may appease his conscience by thinking that he would be interfering in something that does not concern him.  No one may shut his eyes and think the pain which is therefore not visible to him, is non-existent."

Fort Hunter Liggett BOSS Program Visits

Saturday, September 8, 2012, Redwings held another Level 1 Humane Horse Handling Class for those interested in becoming volunteers.  We were lucky to have the BOSS program (Better Opportunity for Single Soldiers) of Fort Hunter Liggett participate and look forward to their future involvement.  Play the YouTube video to see what they had to say about Redwings!

OPEN HOUSE & BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS

Blessing of the Animals

at Redwings Horse Sanctuary

 

Date: Saturday, October 6, 2012

Time of Blessing: 11 A.M.

Time of Open House: 10:30 A.M.– 2 P.M.

Place: Redwings Horse Sanctuary

47240 Lockwood-Jolon Road

Lockwood, CA 93932

(831)-386-0135

 

*Dogs on leashes allowed.

Please bring photo for Blessing of other animals

Lunch provided for 2-legged creatures

Please bring water & snacks for your 4-legged friends

Music too!

See Redwings website for more info & directions:

www.redwingshorsesanctuary.org

 

September Horses of the Month!!!

Premarin is made from pregnant mare’s urine. Premarin is a drug which is most commonly used as an estrogen replacement therapy for women who suffer the negative symptoms of menopause.

In order to obtain the estrogen-rich urine, the mares spend about 6 months of the year confined to a 5 x 8 foot stall attached to a urine-collection device. During this period, these mares are unable to take more than a step or two in any direction, turn around or even lie down. These conditions often lead to serious health problems for the mare. As if this weren’t enough, these mares are impregnated within days of giving birth so that they can begin the cycle all over again.

The other cost of Premarin production is the foals born to these Premarin mares. The mares are bred so that they will produce pregnant mares’ urine, the necessary ingredient for Premarin. Little, if any, thought is given to the fate of the foals born to these mares. Most foals are separated from their mothers when they are just three to four months old instead of the standard six months old.

After the foals are separated from their mothers, these young foals are sent to the auction where they are sold in groups containing up to as many as 40 foals. The majority of these foals will be sold for slaughter. The horsemeat is then shipped to Europe and Asia for human consumption.

Melissa, Calypso, and Charisma, the three fillies, and Lover Boy (“LB”), the only colt, were rescued from a Premarin slaughter sale in Canada. They are September’s horse(s) of the month because they were brought to Redwings in September of 1996. At only 3 ½ months old, not quite weaned from their mothers, these Percheron crosses were provided with the safety, warmth, and freedom from any abuse, confinement, and slaughter that their mothers and fellow foals endured. The 3 mares are still in a pasture together and still, after 16 years, are very affectionate and playful with each other. LB is unaware of his size or breed as he lives with the “pesky boys”, a strong-willed group of mustangs and geldings who are known to be a little mischievous and slightly rowdy to anyone who goes into their pasture. All four serve as reminders and educational points on the plights horses face for the sake of human commodity.

TOP Left - Calypso, MIDDLE Left - Melissa, MIDDLE right - Charisma, BOTTOM right - Lover Boy

August horse of the month - Indy

Due to a busier than usual month - poor Indy didn't make it to the blog on time.  None-the-less she was represented here at the ranch and we share her story with you now.

Indy came to Redwings from another rescue facility.  She seemed sweet and fine when the rescue picked her up, and tested her for riding.  She did well so they fostered her.  But something unknown happened after her placement that caused Indy to become extremely fearful of being ridden.  Her behavior meant that her foster home and Indy were no longer a good match although she remained sweet when being handled on the ground.  The rescue, upon her return, decided that the best thing they could do to insure Indy's well-being, was to approach Redwings as a potential forever home - and we said yes.

Indy has been a teacher for our volunteers who only handle her from the ground.  She loves her pasture mates and is a horse that is highly social in her herd.  Here at Redwings, she never has to fear being saddled again.