Give Health & Purpose to a Neglected Horse

Project "Give Them a Chance" Needs Your Help!

Thanks to continued support from donors like you, we were able to rescue four 8- to 12-year-old Thoroughbreds on January 4, 2018. These horses, two stallions and two mares, had never been taught how to lead. Because they could not be easily caught or handled, they had not received any training or veterinary care, and the stallions had been cooped in dark, dirty stalls for years to prevent breeding.

These horses were in the care of an elderly man in his 80s who has advanced stage cancer. Once a respected breeder, he had planned to get out of horses several years ago, but his son wanted to take over the breeding operation.

After breeding horses for three years, the son changed his mind, so his father was left with the responsibility of their daily care. The father spent years trying to rehome the horses, but no one wanted older, untamed Thoroughbreds. Even after his wife moved to a senior place, he stayed behind to continue looking after the horses as best he could.

When one of our supporters alerted us to his situation, we decided to go see the horses. There were 11 horses on the property. And although they didn't seem horribly undernourished, several needed immediate medical attention. It was also clear the situation was untenable. Although the elderly gentleman was doing the best he could, the cancer had taken its toll, and he deserved to live the rest of his limited time with some peace and comfort.

Although we usually only take in horses coming from law enforcement, we decided to make an exception in this case. We felt that if we didn't start helping a few at a time now, the horses would be in worse shape when we are called in down the line. 

Our plan was to take the horses that were in the worst shape or situation first, and then choose one we thought we could train and adopt quickly to make room for the rest. One of the stallions had a very crooked and painful leg, and one of the mares had a large, open chest wound. A second stallion had been confined to a dark, dank stall for years, and we felt it would be inhumane to leave him in that situation. We had hoped to only take three, but we wound up taking four: Dezi, Lincoln, Amelia and Cleopatra.

Other Horses

We had to leave seven horses behind on the property. We hope to be able to go back and get the others as soon as possible, before their elderly owner is physically unable to feed them anymore, but we cannot take in more horses than we can afford to care for properly. Unless we can raise the funds needed to take the rest, we will not be able to take any more until after the ones we have are trained and adopted. That could be weeks, months or maybe a year.

In addition to helping these horses, we would like to give their elderly owner, who has end-stage cancer, a few months of life without physically having to care for anyone but himself. We can only do that if you help us help the remaining horses. Please consider making a donation today.

This video by Equine Video Productions does a great job of showing the situation and many of the horses that still remain. There are three stallions still in stalls and four mares that need to be adopted. But we can't take in any more horses without your help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxeG7KQi2y0&sns=fb

During last month's Eagle Creek Fire in Oregon, Sound Equine Options worked closely with Multnomah County Animal Services (MCAS) and the Regional Disaster Preparedness Organization Animal Multi-Agency Coordination Group (RDPO Animal MAC-G) to evacuate more than 500 animals in less than 24 hours.

 “In the current wildfire response, SEO has stepped up without hesitation and proven themselves as a strong partner for MCAS and a great example of how the Animal MAC-G was designed to operate,” said Randall B. Covey, supervisor of Washington County Animal Services and active member of the Animal MAC-G.

 Sound Equine Options began evacuating horses from its training facility in Troutdale, Monday, September 4, around 9 p.m., after a shift in winds brought a marked increase in smoke and ash. "I knew it was time to get prepared," said Kim Mosiman, executive director of Sound Equine Options. The training facility was later used as the staging area.

 The fire exploded shortly after Mosiman moved their horses that night. The calls for help soon came pouring in after Multnomah County Sheriff's Office ordered a Level 1 (Get Ready) for the communities of Corbett, Latourell and Bridal Veil; Level 2 (Get Set) for East Corbett; and Level 3 (Go!) evacuations for the communities of Dodson and Warrendale.

 Sound Equine Options volunteers worked all night Monday and all day Tuesday fielding calls for help, finding and dispatching trucks and trailers, and finding safe places to take the animals where they would be properly cared for and fed. Between 9 p.m. Monday and 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sound Equine Options had received more than 600 phone calls, 1000 texts, and 500 Facebook messages.

 "Our volunteers on the ground did the impossible," said Elisabeth Wolff, president of Sound Equine Options. "We had more than 75 people driving large trucks and trailers all night and all day long up and down the steep, winding, narrow roads of the gorge. The heat was exhausting, and the smoke and ash made it difficult to see and breathe in some places."

 Nearly 150 animals were taken to the Clackamas County Fairgrounds and are being cared for by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Posse, a volunteer organization that works with the Sheriff's Office. The rest of the animals were taken to private stables and facilities across the metro area that volunteered to house them. About 35 horses were taken to the Oregon City BRN4D (Barrel Racers National 4D) Arena, which also took in horses evacuated from the 36 Pit Fire near Estacada, Oregon, in September 2014.

 "This is our second fire evacuation experience with the good folks from Sound Equine Options," said Mike Gammelgard, president of BRN4D. "Their dedication and commitment to horses and all animals is unparalleled."

 The horses from Sound Equine Options' training barn, along with several evacuated horses, were taken to Eagle Fern Equine Hospital in Estacada, where they are being cared for by volunteers and hospital staff. Eagle Fern Equine Hospital has been working with Sound Equine Options since 2010, evaluating and treating horses rescued by Sound Equine Options from neglect, abuse and abandonment.

 "If you need to evacuate livestock, don't wait until Level 2 to get going. It might be too late by then to get to you." said Mosiman. "Frightened animals are difficult to handle, much less load into dark, narrow trailers. You never know how long it may take to get loaded and get out of there."

 Video posted to Sound Equine Options' Facebook page shows volunteers rounding up horses, donkeys, goats, sheep, llamas, alpacas, and pigs. Other animals were evacuated included cats, dogs, chickens, ducks, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and even fish and a couple of emus.

 "I was speechless, tears flowing, covered in sweat, dust, and mud from pig wallows while still attempting to coerce seven 500-plus pound sows with five different litters of piglets," said Kyrie Eppley, whose animals were evacuated. "We have a stubborn pig, three smart ewes and two llamas who refused, regardless of the coaxing, to leave. Thank you to everyone who touched my life and the lives of these animals."

 Sound Equine Options also assisted with the return of the animals when the mandatory evacuations were lifted and evacuation levels were downgraded to Level 1 more than a week later.

Links:

• OPB Article
• Eagle Creek Fire Evacuation Video