Equamore Foundation

Musings on Herds

Ruth — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:18:51 +0000

A lot of visitors to the barn ask about the horse play and whether horses ever get hurt out with their herds. I realize it looks like we get a little wild when we are all turned out, and most people only want to be near us when we are in a stall, or in a halter. What these people don’t understand is that being with a herd, running mostly free, actually calms us down! We need the company and touch of other horses, we feel more confident in a group and we feel safer with horse leaders than with humans. We are horses!

A new gelding arrived last week named Casper . It seems like we have a lot of new horses lately (sadly, mostly mares). The poor guy – he is quite handsome, grey like Magic and Bo – is afraid of everything. Finn told me that he was afraid of his stall, of his water, of his halter, you name it. But as soon as he got into the big field with the other geldings, he was a different horse – happy and confident. It’s amazing to watch this guy in the middle of the action, having fun and just being one of the guys.

It has been more than a year and a half since I arrived at the Sanctuary fearful of everything. I can relate to Casper! While no doubt the people think their attention has helped (it might have a little), what has settled me in is my herd. Of course I am the leader! Magic and I are always together, and I lead him, Chance and a band of mares. While the mares drive me nuts (especially Sara), keeping them all safe and in order makes me strong and confident, and frankly makes it easier to deal with the people. I love being a horse!

I am Thor and I am an Equamore horse.

See What Wishes and Eddie Found!

Ruth — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:24:36 +0000

After two weeks in their new custom field, our two beautiful blind horses are right at home. See what Wishes and Eddie found! Amazing.

Shelter

Water

Toni and the Treat Cart

Each Other!

Grazing Alone

Ruth — Tue, 07 May 2013 02:41:24 +0000

Why am I grazing alone? You are not going to believe this. My best friend Magic is courting Hazel. Seriously. Aside from the fact that Hazel is a horrible mare – nearly as bad as Sara and Jewel – Magic is an old, quite lame gelding, and wears a ridiculous red plaid (yes, plaid) fly mask. He is still quite handsome, and of course a wonderful horse, but what is he thinking? Well, either Hazel will stop being in season, or will be returned to her normal field, which is being re-fenced soon, and all of this silliness will be over. Until then I will try to remember how Magic only teased me slightly about my crush on Bo. (At least I wasn’t wearing plaid).

I am Thor and I am an Equamore Horse.

Sara and Jewel Must Go

Ruth — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:16:10 +0000

As you know, I am not fond of most mares. Sara has driven me to distraction since Hoover and I arrived at the Sanctuary. Beautiful, but an obnoxious little princess. Now a new mare, Jewel, is just as bad. Aside from being so possessive of Kizzy, she chases the lovely Bo. Bo has some problems with her feet, like Magic and Hoover. She also is friendly to all the other horses – even the sometimes testy little Sassy seems to like her. Jewel chasing her is just wrong. Of course Jewel runs like crazy when I get after her. I am Thor. But I can’t be on guard every moment. There is grazing to be done, Magic to be attended to… I am busy and frankly sick of spending my time on these tiresome mares.

I have hatched a plan to set Sara and Jewel “free” (my code word for gone). I always thought I would use the plan to leave myself. But I am not ready to leave. Here’s the plan. When they lead me out of the field first, Magic will lag behind instead of following, pretending to be a gentleman waiting for the mares. As I walk through the gate, I’ll bolt hard, swinging the gate wide open, and buck and kick like crazy sending the humans running for cover. Ha! Magic will then chase Jewel and Sara out of the gate, where I will take over, driving them all the way down the drive, over the bridge and out. What could possibly go wrong?

All I have to do is convince Magic to play his part. He thinks this is ridiculous and as always we should go directly into the barn for dinner. He reminds me that with Sara gone, there will be no more treats in her stall to steal on the way inside each day. He has a point there. He also does not believe the mares will think he is being a gentleman letting them go first. He is normally quite cranky with them and while he agrees they are irksome, he reminds me that they are not stupid. His last bit of advice is for me to be sure I want to set a precedent of sending horses away who sometimes behave badly. Hmmm. Thank goodness for Magic. I’m working on plan B ….

I am Thor and I am an Equamore Horse.

Wishes and Eddie – Home at Last

Ruth — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 02:52:57 +0000

Eddie and Wishes are finally in their custom made field. While both are blind, they both seem to see some light. This field is flat, with sound cues – driveways, the creek, etc. – on all four sides, along with bells along the fence line. Solar lights also rim the perimeter in the hopes that if they do see light, they will see these at night or see the sun shimmer on them in the daytime. So far these two lovely horses seem to have settled in easily. They are relaxed and enjoying free grazing together.

There are many challenges at the Sanctuary, but none greater than finding solutions for horses like Wishes and Eddie that cannot be with other horses. They simply cannot see the communication signals that horses normally use, and thus miss warning signs. Fortunately, Wishes and Eddie have become fast friends since Wishes’ friend Shane passed away and together they have the companionship that they need.

Equamore staff and volunteers are inspired by these two wonderful horses and their sweet natures. We hope this field provides the long term answer for both of them. At the very least, they have the opportunity now, no matter their blindness, to live together, grazing freely and acting like horses!

Dusty’s Miracle

Ruth — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 04:01:54 +0000

Dusty was rescued from a property in Central Point Oregon with Royal Crown. Royal Crown (“RC”) came to the Sanctuary because law enforcement instructed the owner to give him up or put him down. Dusty was the alpha horse in the herd of 17 horses, and the owner did not like him (the feeling was mutual!) and wanted him to leave. Even though Dusty was in good health and did not qualify as an Equamore horse (we believed he had other alternatives), Equamore volunteers removed him from a bad situation in the hopes of finding him a forever home and giving the remaining horses on the property, which we were unable to remove, a better chance at the limited feed. So the starvation victim, RC, and the alpha horse, Dusty, both came to the Sanctuary.

After staying at the Sanctuary and receiving training while we looked for a good home, one of our volunteers who had been getting to know Dusty adopted him! Dusty is a sweet and steady guy and is a cheerful student under saddle. He is now a privately boarded horse at the Sanctuary stalled next to Mister, his owner’s other rescue horse. Not only did Dusty find the best home possible, his owner helps support the other horses with Dusty’s monthly board payments. We will be interested to see if he and RC get together after RC is fully integrated into the gelding herd. Talking about happy if unlikely endings!

Good Bye to Henry

Ruth — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 14:59:27 +0000

Henry lived at the Sanctuary for five and a half years, after having been abandoned, neglected, and alone for over eight years in a field by himself. During his time with us, Henry and his incredibly kind spirit became a well-loved horse. He became quite frail early last winter and could no longer go into the gelding field. In a separate field safe from the rough house of the gelding field, he spent all of his time with his best friend Buckley, of whom Henry was almost comically possessive. Oddly but sweetly, the two geldings admitted a recently rescued mare named Dancer into their herd of two and Henry permitted Buckley a new friend. We often wonder what horses know. This morning, Henry passed quietly to his final sanctuary at the age of 30, leaving his best friend Buckley with the company of Dancer. This incredibly lovely horse will be sorely missed.

I’ve Been Thinking

Ruth — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 17:03:16 +0000

I think a lot lately. Hoover would call that a danger sign! Magic just thinks it’s silly. Magic says horses just live in the moment and planning and worrying is a human defect. But I am not your average horse – I am Thor! I have had some setbacks, or so the people say. A little bolting here, a refusal to be caught there. I need to figure this out.

After all this time, I believe that the Sanctuary is a safe place, even if my nature is to be wild. My little person tells me not to worry, it is all on my own timetable and I can be any way I want to be and the people will never hurt me. But I am trying to become someone new – a trusting horse instead of a fearful one, a calm horse instead of a wild and crazy guy, a true leader instead of the in-house entertainer! Being Thor is hard! I am so good at all of those old roles, but maybe it’s time to move forward. There must be a middle point somewhere where I still have my dignity and my sense of humor, but I don’t have to work so hard! I am thinking…..

Have you heard that joke about an Arab, a Mustang and a Quarter horse in a bar? Ha!

I am Thor and I am an Equamore Horse.

Wishes and Eddie

Ruth — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:57:34 +0000

Our two remarkable blind horses spend their days in the outside arena while the finishing touches are put on their new field. Wishes has been blind for a long time, but her guide horse Shane passed away soon after they came to the Sanctuary. Eddie has recently lost his sight and is adjusting with the lovely Wishes as his tutor. These horses cannot be in the larger herds, as they do not recognize normal communication and warning signs from other horses. Their new field is flat with new fencing and multiple sound cues on all sides. They will continue to spend their nights in the barn until they are completely comfortable in their new field and shelter. We have high hopes for Eddie and Wishes!

SPRING 2013 NEWSLETTER

Nancy — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 06:01:31 +0000

EVENTS

EQUAMORE BARN TOURS
4 PM
1st Saturday of the Month
and every Monday
May through September

SANCTUARY BIRTHDAY PARTY
Saturday, May 4, 2013
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Equamore Sanctuary Barn
and Lounge

SCHOOLING SHOWS
AND BARN TOURS
Saturday, May 25
Saturday, July 13
Saturday, September 21

NeighSaver published by

EQUAMORE FOUNDATION
4723 Hwy 66
Ashland. OR 97520
(541) 482-5550

Lighting a Candle in the Dark . . .
This issue of the NeighSaver is dedicated to those who feed the horses, keep the lights burning, the water flowing, the manure spread, and the computers connected. Read the dedication.

A Year of Gain and a Year of Loss . . . Looking back is both sweet and bitter as we celebrate our accomplishments and mourn the loss of horses we could not save. See what we’ve accomplished and who we’ve lost.

Say, “Hello” to Our Partners. . . Our business partners give us discounts and provide special services. See how our partners help us realize our motto: “Hungry, Neglected, Abused… Never Again!”

Sampson’s Almost There . . . Only $6,500 and less than a month for Sampson to reach the summit. Help our brave pony reach his milestone.

Psst. . . They’re having a party. Let the others know, but keep it quiet, They think it’s a secret.

Equamore Foundation

Musings on Herds

See What Wishes and Eddie Found!

Grazing Alone

Sara and Jewel Must Go

Wishes and Eddie – Home at Last

Dusty’s Miracle

Good Bye to Henry

I’ve Been Thinking

Wishes and Eddie

SPRING 2013 NEWSLETTER

EVENTS

CONTENTS