Missing Maple

On March 24, 2012, Blue Skies Riding Academy rescued six horses from a slaughter holding pen. This is Maple, a Thoroughbred mare who made it onto our trailer at the last minute. As you can see by the photo, she was a mess. Her tattoo was faded, illegible in fact, so we named her Maple. With her expressive and deep brown eyes it was a a good fit.

Maple's best buddy was Sparky, the worst of our Super Six rescues.

These two spent hours enjoying the green grass and healing love we offer at BSRA. Unfortunately, Sparky's health was very fragile given the extreme malnutrition he experienced. He passed away in June of 2012. Maple was heart broken, but soon found friends with others in the BSRA herd. She grew stronger, more playful, and a little pushy when she wanted attention.

Unfortunately, the abscesses in her front right hoof Maple brought with her from her days in the slaughter pipeline didn't heal as well as her body, and a trip to Auburn University Large Animal Clinic resulted in surgery. It also meant months of confinement until the hoof healed. Through it all Maple was an impatient patient. When she wanted our attention, her favorite trick was to bang the pasture gate.

Eventually the accident prone mare cut her heel, resulting in more stall time. By the time it was agreed - our big girl was a klutz. But through it all she was a model patient, always letting AJ work on her without any ear pinning or sullen attitude. Maple just wanted to be involved.

Of course, Maple found a girl to bond with. Olivia found a kindred spirit in Maple and even though the mare was un-rideable for quite some time, Olivia didn't care. She simply wanted to be with the loving bay. Having that connection made the rehab time seem shorter. Then durn it if she didn't go and knock the dang heel again! Not as bad as the first time, but enough to keep her in the stall for a little longer. We all decided if she hurt one more thing we were wrapping her stall in padding!

Time heals all wounds, visible and unseen, and soon Maple was road worthy again. She and Olivia began their long awaited rides. Her movement was graceful, and it was obvious these two were going to make a great addition to our show ponies. She was even learning how to jump, just starting to work on crossrails when the unexpected happened.

They were in their lesson when Maple took a misstep transitioning into a canter. She fell onto her left shoulder. Though our vet wanted to put her down then, BSRA elected to send her to Auburn to see if it were a treatable injury.

It wasn't. According to AULAC, her shoulder was shattered, more than likely weakened by osteoporosis from malnutrition during her life prior to arriving at Blue Skies. There was nothing to be done. Maple was cremated, and will be buried next to her Sparky.

This is how I want to remember Maple. My heart bleeds for Olivia, because I know the pain she is going through and there is no shortcut to lessen it. Other horses will come and go, but Maple will always be Olivia's first loss. It is a pain unlike any other. She has lost a partner, a confidant, a willing listener and a warm heart. 

Farewell Maple, the unknown Thoroughbred. Perhaps it's better she was only our Maple because it was as Maple she found the happy ending she deserved. The world is a little less bright today because of our loss. Run free, and run fast; I know we will meet again on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.

Updates - A New Rescue

Prized Fashion (shown above in 2011) was pulled from the slaughter pen at New Holland Sales this week. A 2008 Kentucky bred mare, she was last raced in 2012. How she ended up at New Holland is a mystery but her fate is well documented - she would been shoved onto an overcrowded transporter and sent to either Canada or Mexico to a slaughterhouse.

Every day, Thoroughbreds in this country are being thrown to the butcher when their breeding doesn't live up to the expectations of the owners. For no crime other than being ordinary, they are sold for a per pound price and forgotten about. But not by everyone.

This is Prized Fashion as she was discovered earlier this week at the New Holland Sale yard, a known dumping ground for Off Track Thoroughbred (or OTTB) horses. Lucky for her and many others, there are tireless volunteers who brave these grim, heartbreaking locations for animals such as Prized Fashion and network across the country to find rescuers. That is how Blue Skies Riding Academy came to hear about this sweet mare.

For the next 30 days, "PF" will be in quarantine here at Blue Skies Riding Academy to gain weight and learn to trust again. A happy ending is looking possible for this tall mare: we have been in touch with her breeders. They are appalled at where she ended up; New Holland's reputation as a den of kill buyers filled with ruthless characters is nation wide. But more important - the breeders want her back.

Unfortunately, that happy ending doesn't always come around. Of the 8 OTTB horses that we have retraining at BSRA, this is the first time a breeder has volunteered to assist. But that's okay. With few exceptions these glorious creatures have found a person to love and trust, and that is what we strive to do. We take broken spirits, both human and equine, and assist in healing and transformation for both.

What we do isn't cheap. It takes money for the grain and hay for our herd. The costs of running a rescue are huge and the bills seem to come every day. But none of us would have it any other way. How can any human stand by and do nothing while the innocent are left adrift? By helping a horse regain their spirit we help heal the damage done by neglect and abuse.

BSRA is a 501(c)3 rescue and retraining facility in NW Georgia. Currently we possess several OTTB's and  other breeds in various stages of rehabilitation. We are supported by our public programs and donations from generous souls. If you would like to make a donation so we can continuing our mission, please visit our website at www.blueskiesridingacademy.com for more information. And be sure to check us out on Facebook for further information on  Prized Fashion as well as other BSRA horses in need of adoption and/or sponsorship.

UPDATE - Sterling's Second Start

Sterling and Kim placed 2nd in the GHJA Show this weekend. Here are a few pictures of his big weekend.

Sterling and his rider, Kim Payne, at this past weekends GHJA finals.

Sterling and Kim, along with their trainer, Sami Malik, and Sterling's mom - Tiffany Brown

Sterling and mom Tiffany having a moment at the GHJA finals this past weekend.

We are all proud of Kim and Sterling. Just wait until next year!

Sterling's Second Start

Once upon a time way back in 2007, in a land far removed from Georgia, a little Thoroughbred colt was born. With wide brown eyes and a taste for wood, "Dixie Jammin'" wasn't your typical colt. We don't know everything, but we do know he learned enough about racing to earn his gate card and Jockey Club tattoo. But from that point until September 2010 the story gets muddy. Why September 2010? Because that is when Blue Skies Riding Academy heard about the West Virginia seizure of 52 horses from Hidden Meadows Equine Rescue for starvation and neglect.

This is what our instructors Heather and Sami found when they first saw "Dixie". Scoring only a 1.5 on the Henneke Body Scale, the poor gelding was deemed fit by the on site vets to travel; and so with two other survivors Connor and Ella Grace began the journey to a new life. When I arrived the next morning and took their liquid breakfast out to the West Virginia babies my heart broke at the lack of spark in their eyes. Even food didn't perk their interest. At the so called rescue they were freed from, the animals were eating acorns and rocks just to fill their bellies.

It was agreed by one and all Dixie did not fit this gelding! He was shy, introverted, a cribber of unparalleled determination, and afraid of his own shadow. I don't remember who first came up with "STERLING", but it stuck. As the weight slowly came back and his rehabilitation progressed, it was time to find Sterling a person. Many of us took time with Sterling, working with his wood addiction, teaching him ground manners, and giving him more love than he could handle. Due to starvation, his growth was stunted. As he gained strength, he popped out abscesses, strained muscles in his rump and was butt high more months than we could count. Now, at 5 years of age he is over 17 hands and all horse. But he still needed a person. Enter Tiffany -

Tiffany works at the barn part time, as an instructor and volunteer. While her background is in dressage, Tiff couldn't help but fall for our little "Ster-Fry". His movement, when correct, was beautiful; his legs long and delicate, and keeping him at a trot for more than 10 paces a joke. And so, the long-legged dressage rider became the person for a green hunter prospect.

Sterling is technically grown up now. At 5 his size might not change, and his cribbing obsession is just as strong as day one, and he is still afraid of his own shadow, but what a magnificent horse he has become. Tiffany is finishing up her art degree, and Sterling has become the model for many of her school projects.

With Tiffany at school, another person has stepped up to love on our "Chicken of the Barn", Kim. Kim has been riding ponies at BSRA for many years, and when it was decided Sterling needed another rider to help train him, Kim happily volunteered. The pairing is awesome, and they have already made quite an impression together in the local shows. Sterling is still green, and sometimes it shows, but he is all heart!

This weekend, Kim and Sterling will be competing at the GHJA finals, and Tiffany will be there ringside cheering him on. Our little Thoroughbred has come a long way from the dull, ragged, neurotic baby I first met sucking on the top rail, but I know his future will be brighter still with the love of two good women, a barn full of friends, a round bale to dive into and a piece of wood to suck on!

If you would like more information on Blue Skies Riding Academy, our rescue and retraining program, or our riding lessons, please visit our website at www.blueskiesridingacademy.com.