Blind Horse Unit Makes History at Local Parade

Horses are AMAZING creatures, and this article proves my point!  ~Declan



Blind horse unit makes history at local parade 

“We wanted to show off the fact that just because the horses are blind doesn't mean they are disposable,” volunteer Dan McCargar said.

By: Amanda Tyler  As Posted WEAU.com

Updated: Sun 11:53 PM, Sep 22, 2013


SPRING VALLEY, Wis. (WEAU) - It was a sight to see in Spring Valley. Sunday the small town held its annual "Dam Day" parade and celebration but one of the units in the parade was turning heads and making history in the process.

“It’s our goal to be the only fully blind parade unit and its our goal to be sitting in Pasadena California one of these new year’s days with our parade unit,” Refuge Farms executive director Sandy Gilbert said.

For Gilbert and the other volunteers at Refuge Farms, Sunday was their chance to show people that blind horses still have a purpose.

“We wanted to show off the fact that just because the horses are blind doesn't mean they are disposable,” volunteer Dan McCargar said.

The riders and horses had a little help in their
 first parade appearance on Sunday. Spotters helped make sure the horses stayed calm and a perimeter unit allowed people to see the horses up close without startling them.

“It's a challenge because we have to have eyes all around us,” Gilbert explained, “we have to anticipate what the public is going to do.”

Through research Gilbert and the rest of the Refuge Farm board of directors believe their horse unit might be the first to make an appearance in a parade.

“It’s exciting, we are making history,” Gilbert said.

Riders say while there were several things they couldn’t anticipate before the parade, one of the biggest might have been the connection they would form with the horses.

“When you have something that's blind and they are able to do something that maybe even the sighted horse wouldn't allow you to do its very heart warming,” McCargar said.

“I firmly believe that somewhere along the line there are going to be horses’ lives saved because we are out there riding blind horses and that's what we are trying to do,” Gilbert said.

A Little Help From A Little Horse

Horses ROCK - they help us SOOO MUCH!!! ~Declan

A little help from a little horse: in pictures

27 Sep 2013

Sophia Heath

As posted on Horse & Hound

 

A small group of American Miniature Horses are bringing smiles to disabled children and the elderly in the North East of England.

After a quick roll around in the field every morning, Mr.P, Wish and Monet set off to work visiting nursing homes and disabled children.

Lean on me: Monet makes a new friend in a care home

Their owner Katy Smith believes that the ponies, which are roughly the same size as a golden retriever, are a great form of therapy.

Chatterbox: Mr P has a conversation with Max

“The horses evoke emotions and help people that are normally very withdrawn and find it difficult to communicate with people,” Katy told H&H.

Kiss me quick: Annie is regularly visited by the ponies

“I have had patients that won’t talk to people either having a silent conversation or talking away to these little horses.”

No one misses out on visits from the ponies as they do bedroom visits and even take the lift see patients.

House trained: Monet helps out in the kitchen

In his spare time Mr.P is also a successful show pony and has qualified for the Horse of the Year Show (9-13 October)

The ponies have also been nominated for the Animal Hero Awards.

(Originally published on horseandhound.co.uk 27th September 2013)  

    

Are Horses Innately Vicious?

Are horses a "vicious species"??  What affect would this ruling have on the horse industry in Connecticut?  What about the horse industry everywhere in the US?  ~Declan

Bite by farm horse kicks off lawsuit before Conn. court on whether horses are innately vicious

By Associated Press, Published: September 23  As posted on The Washington Post

HARTFORD, Conn. — After a horse named Scuppy bit a boy in the face, a Connecticut court came to a conclusion that threw animal lovers: Horses are a naturally vicious species.

Horse owners and farmers are mobilizing as the state Supreme Court hears an appeal in the case Tuesday. Such a classification — the nation’s first, if it stands — would make owning horses uninsurable and jeopardize the state’s sizable horse industry, farmers and horse owners say.

“You could not pair children and horses, the core equestrian business nationwide that it’s all about,” said Doug Dubitsky, a lawyer who represents farmers and horse businesses.

When the boy tried to pet the horse at Glendale Farms in Milford in 2006, according to court papers, the animal stuck his neck out from behind a fence and bit the child on his right cheek, “removing a large chunk of it.”

In February 2012, the mid-level Appellate Court overturned a lower court ruling and said that testimony by Timothy Astriab, whose family owns the farm, demonstrated that Scuppy belongs to “a species naturally inclined to do mischief or be vicious.”

Although he had no knowledge of Scuppy biting anyone before, Astriab testified that Scuppy was no different than other horses that would bite if a finger was put in front of him. “Significantly, Astriab acknowledged his concern that if someone made contact with Scuppy, whether to pet or feed him, they could get bit,” the justices said.

The injury suffered by the boy was foreseeable and the owners of the farm had a duty to use reasonable care to restrain the animal to prevent injury, the Appellate Court ruled.

Astriab did not return a call on Monday seeking comment.

If allowed to stand, Connecticut would be the first state to consider horses as inherently dangerous, said Dubitsky.

Horse farmers and equine enthusiasts, who cite 2005 statistics saying that the horse industry contributes about $221 million a year to the state’s economy in boarding, training, lessons and breeding businesses, are asking the state Supreme Court to overturn the Appellate Court’s decision. The Connecticut Farm Bureau and Connecticut Horse Council filed a friend of the court brief saying that under common law viciousness generally is judged individually according to age, breed and gender, not as an entire species.

Fred Mastele, acting president of the state’s horse council, said it is encouraging horse owners to attend the hearing Tuesday and support the Astriab family.

“In our opinion, horses are not vicious animals,” he said. “They are certainly not attack animals.”

Astriab had won at a lower court in 2010, when a New Haven judge sided with the horse’s owner and ruled that the child’s father, Anthony Vendrella Sr., failed to prove the owner knew of previous incidents of aggression by Scuppy.

The Superior Court judge said Astriab testified that neither he nor anyone else had ever seen Scuppy bite a person before and that in 28 years, none of the horses at the farm bit or injured anyone.

“Cats have a tendency to scratch and horses have a tendency to bite, but the plaintiffs have failed to show, as they must, that the defendants were on notice that Scuppy specifically, and not horses generally, had a tendency to bite people or other horses,” Judge Robin Wilson ruled.

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Deaf Horse Enlisted for Police Duties in Texas

This is really interesting - who knew a deaf horse could be a cop!  GO SMASH!!!!!  ~Declan

Deaf horse enlisted for police duties in Texas

By Horsetalk.co.nz on Sep 19, 2013 

Officer Jeff Harris and Smash at the gelding’s graduation ceremony. © Houston Police Department

A deaf horse named Smash has been enlisted to serve with the Houston Police Department’s mounted patrol.

Smash became the first horse to have a formal graduation ceremony, after completing his training with flying colours.

The 9-year-old paint-horse gelding has a dedicated group of young women supporting him, who raised $US10,000 to support Smash in his Texas role. That money is enough to pay for his care for two years.

Smash’s rider, Officer Jeff Harris, praised the new police rookie.

He told ABC Local that Smash’s deafness may prove to be a strength in the often noisy environment in which he will have to perform his duties.

Team Smash, the young group of women sponsoring the gelding, were on hand for his graduation.
Spokeswoman Christi Roberts said: “Even though Smash is hearing-impaired, he has already proven to be an outstanding patrol horse.

“We, too, have special needs and we know that every goal can be reached.”

Smash is reportedly soaking up all the attention from Team Smash members, but it is now down to the serious business of police work.

Illinois-born Smash was donated to the police department for training in February.

Smash has earned his badge. © Houston Police Department

Retired Racehorses Help Redeem Lost Lives

As my friend RT Fitch says, "It's Feel Good Sunday" and I thought this was perfect  :-)  ~Declan

Racing to Redeem Lost Lives

A program intended to rescue retired racehorses inspires an ex-convict to reach out to those still behind bars.

As posted on Guideposts

Horse Found on Roof, Question is How to Get Him Down?

AMAZING!! That horse is lucky he didn't go crashing through the roof!  ~Declan

When a ‘bored’ horse decides to climb on your roof, the question is: how to get him down?

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Maria Assaf | 20/09/13 | Last Updated: 20/09/13 6:28 PM ET  As posted on National Post

Pat DowneyMust Win on Pat and Stephen Downey's roof just before they coaxed him to the far end to jump back down into the pasture.

Pat and Stephen Downey of Hampton, N.B., have bred racehorses for over 15 years, and thought they knew a thing or two about the beasts. But then, on Monday night, Must Win — a one year-old colt owned by Stephen’s brother — jumped on the roof of their garage. The horse seemed calm enough up there. The Downeys? Not so much. The National Post‘s Maria Assaf spoke to Ms. Downey on Friday:

Q: Do you think Must Win was trying to prove something?

A: Well you know, we had three or four horses who were always with him. They had just been taken to the racetrack to be trained, but he was left alone in the farm. He is going to be sold in the fall and will begin his training later. We think he said, you know, ‘‘You took my friends away from me and I am bored so I am going to get into mischief.’’

Q: How did he get up there?

A: We figure sometime during the night he got up on to the roof.  There is a knoll at the back of the garage, but it’s not really ground level, it’s two or three feet tall, and he jumped it. He is only a year old and hasn’t been handled, hasn’t been broken. They are big animals and they have minds of their own.

Q: So it looks like he had a wild night up there in the roof…

A: Yes, it looks like he had been on the roof most of the night because there was horse manure all over the roof, so you could see where he had walked back and forth. You know, his hooves actually went through the roof at one point; there were holes on it. How he did not fall through completely is just miracle.

Q: How did you bring him down?

A: We tried to go up and walk him off, but you know, he was kind of nervous because he is a baby, so we just chased him off. We got a little branch and just kind of tapped him on his behind and urged him over to the side and just kept tapping him until he jumped over to the grass. It’s just a miracle he didn’t fall from either end of the roof. It’s probably a 10 or 12 feet drop down to the ground. He would not have made it. We were just very lucky.

Q: Had he exhibited any kind of taste for the heights before Tuesday?

A: This was a real shock. He had never gotten into mischief before. He had not climbed anything before this. He was just the typical eat, sleep and drink kind of horse. He likes to just be in the field with his friends, running around, doing the things normal horses his age do. We’ve had horses that got outside the fence because there is a river around there, we’ve had them in neighbours’ backyards, but never Must Win. Never anything like this at all.

Q: Do you think he is showing off some of the tricks he may pull off on the racetracks?

A: We certainly hope so. I mean, his name is Must Win, so I think he must have been thinking about that. Horses just don’t do that. Usually, when you are training to go up on the horse track, they don’t even like to go up on the ramp because it’s at an angle. It takes a long time to train a horse to get on a horse track. You have to, you know, try to get them to step on, so for him to get on the roof it was just a shock.

We still have work to do, but this is good news for horses if even just temporary.  ~Declan

September 21, 2013

Court Temporarily Blocks Missouri Horse Slaughter Plant

Front Range Equine Rescue

"A Reprieve For Horses!"

A U.S. District Court judge in New Mexico issued a temporary restraining order to block federal inspections at a Missouri horse slaughter plant, in response to a motion filed by The Humane Society of the United States and Front Range Equine Rescue, along with other horse protection organizations and several individuals. Earlier, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced imminent plans to provide inspections at the Missouri plant Rains Natural Meats, which would allow the facility to begin slaughtering horses for human consumption.

“This is a temporary but important reprieve for horses," said Jonathan Lovvorn, senior vice president of animal protection litigation for The HSUS. “The horse slaughter industry is a predatory enterprise that buys up young and healthy horses and kills them to sell the meat to Europe and Japan. We will continue to make the case that the U.S. should reject this industry, just as we would reject a slaughter industry for dogs or cats gathered up under false pretenses and killed as a food export commodity.”

This order comes on the heels of a decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico granting a motion filed in July by The HSUS and Front Range to temporarily block similar inspections that USDA had authorized at horse slaughter facilities in New Mexico and Iowa. That temporary injunction remains in place pending the court’s consideration of a lawsuit filed by The HSUS and Front Range alleging that USDA violated the National Environmental Policy Act by authorizing inspections without conducting the necessary environmental review.

Third Horse-Slaughter Business Qualifies for USDA Inspections

This is truly disturbing and sad news for our horses.

We MUST get the SAFE Act passed!  It is the only way we can truly protect horses and burros, both domestic and wild from slaughter.  PLEASE CALL TODAY and ask legislators to cosponsor the SAFE Act and support pro-horse legislation.  ~Declan

Third Horse-Slaughter Business Qualifies for USDA Inspections

BY DAN FLYNN | SEPTEMBER 18, 2013  As posted on Food Safety News

A third business has met all the statutory and regulatory requirements to require USDA to provide inspection services when it begins processing horsemeat for human consumption.

Department of Justice (DOJ) attorneys representing USDA have informed the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico that it may want to expand its temporary restraining order against horse slaughter to include Rains Natural Meats in Gallatin, MO.

That restraining order currently only prevents USDA from providing inspection services to Valley Meat in New Mexico and Responsible Transportation in Iowa, the first two businesses to qualify since a five-year ban on spending federal money on horse slaughter inspections ended in 2012.

“When this court entered its temporary restraining order, Rains Natural Meats had not yet met the requirements for a grant of inspection, and thus the temporary restraining order expressly applies only to FSIS’s (Food Safety and Inspection Service’s) inspection of the Valley Meat and Responsible Transportation facilities,” the DOJ attorneys wrote, adding, “But circumstances have changed, and Rains Natural Meats is now eligible and requesting a grant of inspection.”

The government attorneys said that, while they were not waiving any of their earlier objections to federal Judge M. Christina Armijo’s order, they understood that she may want to amend it in light of the new reality.

Rains Natural Meats is a small meat and poultry slaughter and processing facility with about 5,300 square feet. Built in 1998, it has been a USDA-inspected facility for various meat and poultry processing since it was built, but the business has had difficulties due to the slow economic recovery.

Owner David Rains opted to file for an equine grant of inspection on Jan. 13. While waiting for the application to be approved, he told local media outlets that he’s been driving a school bus to pay his bills.

In its “Decision Memo,” USDA said the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) requires government inspectors to conduct ante-mortem inspection of all amenable species, including cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules and other equines, including a post-mortem inspection of “carcasses and parts of all amenable species.”

“Horses, mules, and other equines have been among the livestock species that are amenable to the FMIA since it was amended by the Wholesome Meat Act in 1967,” wrote Philip S. Derfler, FSIS deputy administrator.

FSIS is required to conduct an examination and inspection of the methods of slaughter to ensure they are in compliance with the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, which calls for prevention of needless livestock suffering.

In the USDA memo, Derfler says the decision to provide inspection services under the FMIA “is purely ministerial because if a commercial horse slaughter plant meets all of the statutory and regulatory requirement for receiving a grant of federal inspection, FSIS has no discretion or authority under the FMIA to deny the grant on other grounds or to consider and choose among alternative ways to achieve the agency’s statutory objectives.”

“Therefore, a grant of federal inspection services under the FMIA is not a major federal action that is subject to NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) requirements,” he added.

Horse rescue and animal-welfare groups have sued in federal court in New Mexico, charging that NEPA requires USDA to conduct environmental reviews before granting inspection services for horse slaughter. Judge Armijo granted a temporary restraining order just ahead of the start dates for Valley Meat and Responsible Transportation.

In a separate proceeding, a federal magistrate has ruled that a plaintiff’s bond of almost $500,000 per month might be required to cover potential losses by the defendants while the case is argued. The bond is intended to compensate the defendants if the plaintiffs lose.

Government attorneys then suggested the case be accelerated and the plaintiffs agreed. Both sides are now preparing briefs that should frame the issues for the judge to decide by about Oct. 10. After she rules, the losing side will likely appeal to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.

About 175,000 horses from the United States are exported for slaughter each year to Canada and Mexico. New USDA-inspected horse-slaughter facilities in the U.S. would export horsemeat for human consumption to areas of the world where there is a demand, mainly Europe and Asia.

Montana Woman Tames Adopted Wild Mustang

Kila resident tames adopted wild mustang

• 
• 
• 

Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake

Elisa Wilson works with Mr. Knightly, the wild mustang she is training to compete in the Mustang Million in a few weeks, on Tuesday, September 3, in Kila. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)

•  By Hillary Matheson The Daily Inter Lake

KILA, Mont. (AP) — Elisa Wilson took a walk on the wild side and adopted a mustang in May.

The Kila resident has spent months taming and training the wild mustang named Mr. Knightly to compete in the Mustang Million later this month in Texas.

"It took 36 days before we could touch him. Now, we have him gentled. He is a big baby, very affectionate," Wilson said.

Rather than tackle taming the mustang aggressively, Wilson works at Mr. Knightly's pace.

After the 3-year-old mustang accepted being touched, she would add a new activity each day such as putting a rope around his muzzle and picking up each hoof.

Picking up a wild mustang's hooves was a frightening notion.

"When you saw him as a wild horse, saw what he was capable of, it was scary," Wilson said. "That was a huge achievement."

Gaining each other's trust has transformed both of their lives. Getting Mr. Knightly to override instinct and be domesticated has been a slow progression.

"Some of these trainers are riding their horses in a week. I was disappointed that in a month I couldn't touch him, but I'm not a professional trainer," Wilson said. "Eventually, you realize how much you're doing with him and it's very rewarding."

Wilson cultivates her horsemanship while Mr. Knightly learns to become comfortable around people yet retain his curious personality.

"His personality is mellow. He's pretty easygoing, takes things in stride. Very curious," Wilson said.

Both have forged a special bond.

Mustangs are known for their social intelligence, having survived the wild in a band of horses.

"I love quarter horses, but they don't bond the same," Wilson said. "They're just like 'where's the food or let's go for a ride,' where he comes out just to see me, just to hang out with me and be with me."

On Tuesday, the mustang calmly munched hay in his corral at the Kila home of Wilson and her husband. Wilson showed some of the groundwork the pair has accomplished. She put a rope around his neck and walked forward, backward and in circles as Mr. Knightly followed her lead and gait.

"They get a connection with you that is different than other horses," Wilson said. "Even though they are extremely wild, once you gain their trust they are extremely loyal."

Mr. Knightly has formed such a close kinship with another four-legged animal — Bandit, an exuberant black-mouth cur puppy — that it's difficult to imagine the horse once fled at a person's approach.

It wasn't long before Bandit bounded into Mr. Knightly's corral. He licked one of the horse's hooves up to the leg. Mr. Knightly leaned his head down to sniff Bandit. Bandit lifted his head up and their muzzles touch in an Eskimo kiss.

"They do this all the time," Wilson said.

Mr. Knightly went back to munching on a pile of hay while Bandit wiggled on his back in front of the mustang as an invitation to play. The dog then got up and squeezed himself between Mr. Knightly's legs.

Wilson pulled Bandit away from such close proximity to the horse's legs. Mr. Knightly has never responded negatively to Bandit's boundless puppy energy or taken a misstep, but Wilson errs on the side of caution. Her caution has also limited the number of times she has ridden Mr. Knightly — about five — and she always wears a helmet.

The novice horse trainer will put her skills to the test when she competes for monetary prizes, totaling $1 million, at the Mustang Million in Fort Worth, Texas Sept. 16-22.

Although she has ridden Mr. Knightly, she plans to compete in nonriding handling categories.

"I think he's ready now, but a month ago it was pushing him. I want to let him get really good at his groundwork," Wilson said.

The Mustang Million — a partnership between the Mustang Heritage Foundation and the Bureau of Land Management's Wild Horse and Burro program — helps wild mustangs held in government holding facilities get adopted through auctions. These adopted mustangs are eligible to compete in the Mustang Million in novice to advanced riding and nonriding categories.

"They want to promote the mustang and show they can be tamed, they're good-looking animals and they can be useable," Wilson said.

Wilson's dream of owning horses was realized at age 45 when her children were grown. Now 50, Wilson has two quarter horses in addition to Mr. Knightly.

The idea of adopting a mustang came to her after watching a documentary last year called "Wild Horse, Wild Ride," about the competition, known then as the Extreme Mustang Makeover Challenge.

"That got me thinking I could actually do this," Wilson said. "My husband was very supportive."

She did research, went through an application process and was approved. She missed the adoption auctions, but a week later received a call that she could still get a mustang.

"I laughed. I thought this was crazy," Wilson said, noting that she had only gentled a horse once before.

At first she thought she would hire a trainer.

"When you see that movie you'll see what 'wild' really is," Wilson said. "I didn't think I'd be capable of doing it. The more I found out about it I thought, 'I could give this a try.'"

She went to Oregon and picked out Mr. Knightly.

"I think I will only get mustangs from now on," Wilson said. "It just takes a lot of patience. When I got him I would just come out here and sit with him for hours. How many people can say 'I tamed a wild mustang?'"

Atlanta Girl Rides Horse to School

I would LOVE to be able to ride a horse to get to school!  ~Declan

Atlanta girl doesn't ride bus to school, she rides her horse by John Garlock Posted: 09.12.2013 at 7:11 PM  As posted on Heartland Connection Makaila and Cindy Teter of Atlanta, Mo., often ride a horse to school. ATLANTA, MO. -- A lot of kids ride the bus to school. Others have parents who drop them off at the front door, but a northeast Missouri girl has a four-legged mode of transportation she rides to class. When it comes to unique ways to get to school, Makaila Teter, 9, of Atlanta, Missouri, gets an "A." She gets to class by saddling up. "I just like riding my horse so I like to ride it to school." Riding a horse to school was the brainstorm of Makaila's mom, Cindy Teter. Cindy gets their horse, named Project, ready for the three- or four-block ride while her daughter is showering and getting ready for school. "Makaila's not one who likes to get up and go to school in the morning,” said Cindy. “She'd just as soon lay in bed. So, I woke her up one morning, and I'm like, 'How about we ride the horse to school today?' She's like, 'YES!' She's never popped up out of bed so fast." Makaila has been interested in horses since she was a little girl. Back then, she had an imaginary horse. “It was black, and I named it Black because I watched these TV shows, and there was this black horse, and it's name was Black,” said Makaila. “We had a trunk, a huge trunk, and I would always pretend it was my imaginary black horse." This third grader doesn't have to pretend any longer. Now she has the real deal. The horseback ride to school only takes about 10 minutes. This mother and daughter have have been trotting there nearly every day since the new school year started. Kids ride big yellow buses to school all the time, but when you ride a horse to school, there is one extra little thing you have to think about. "I said, 'Makaila, we can't pull into the parking lot because if the horse decides to poop, we don't want kids stepping in poop when they get out of school.'" So Cindy just pulls up along the street in front of Atlanta C-3 Schools where Makaila dismounts, changes from her cowboy boots into school shoes and makes her way to class. "We’re a small town,” said Cindy. “You never know what you're going to see in a small town, you know." What you'll see in the small town of Atlanta is this mom and daughter making memories that make going to school fun.

Rescue Pony Delivers Joy to Hospice Patients

Horses are very kind and bring so much healing.  I can't see how people want to brutally kill theses amazing animals. ~Declan

Rescue pony delivers joy to hospice patients

By Horsetalk.co.nz on Sep 07, 2013 

Debbie Hillery, left, and Brook Mortsensen with Lilly. Photo: Jon Kamman

Debbie Hillery rode horses growing up in Minnesota – carefree summer rides through the prairie on a palomino named Sundance.

Now the horses come to her – specifically, a 30-inch tall, 250-pound miniature horse named Lilly.

On a Monday morning in August, Lilly and her owner, Brook Mortensen, arrived at Hillery’s MoonValley home in north Phoenix. They are a volunteer pet team for Hospice of the Valley, which is caring for Hillery.

After nibbling a little Bermuda grass in the front yard, Lilly sauntered into the family room, enticed by apple treats. Over the next hour, Hillery and her family members enjoyed petting and grooming Lilly, placing pink and white flower clips in her mane as they chatted with Mortensen.

The pet therapy visit was arranged by Hillery’s hospice home care team members after they heard how much she likes horses.

“It’s just so fun!” Hillery exclaimed, brushing Lilly’s white mane. Lilly responded with a soulful look and pawed the floor with her hoof (a signal for “more apples, please”).

Hillery, 59, was diagnosed with lung cancer last year. She’s had chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and has opted now for hospice and palliative care. Married and the mother of two grown daughters, Hillery had a career in sales and is a former cheerleader for the Minnesota Vikings.

A decade ago she served as a Hospice of the Valley volunteer.

“There’s something about horses that seems to soothe her,” said Margi Cook, Hillery’s sister. “In the last couple of months, she’s been talking about horses and enjoys being with them.”

Hospice of the Valley has about 200 pet therapy teams – mainly dogs and their “people” – who visit patients and families at their homes or wherever they reside. The visits perk up patients’ days and evoke pleasant memories of pets they have had in the past.

Debbie Hillery enjoys grooming Lilly. Photo: Jon Kamman

Like Hillery, Mortensen grew up with horses, but didn’t have much contact with them as an adult until three years ago. That is when her husband, who owns a pool company, brought home a video of a client’s miniature horses. “I said, oh, I have to have one!” she said. “But I knew miniature horses can’t be glorified pets – they have to have a job.”

Mortensen bought not just one but four miniature horses from a farm in Minnesota, including Lilly, a rescue horse purchased at auction.

Now the ponies’ day job is entertaining children at birthday parties and special events – Story Book Ponies, which can found on Facebook under that name or at storybook-ponies.com – based in the Northwest Valley.

Last spring, Mortensen started searching the internet for a charitable activity she could do with the ponies. She came across Hospice of the Valley’s website  and learned about the Pet Connections program. Within a month, Lilly became a registered pet therapy animal and Mortensen completed the requisite volunteer training.

“I can empathize with these patients,” said Mortensen, a breast cancer survivor. “I’ve been there. I’ve been bald. I haven’t felt well. That was my main motivation. These horses bring me so much joy. I want to bring joy to someone else.”

To view more photos of Lilly’s visit on Facebook, click here.

Horse Saved From Slaughterhouse was a World-Class Polo Mount Belonging to Prince William and Harry's Coach

EVERY horse is at risk until this nightmare of a practice STOPS!!!!!  EVERY horse, no matter who owns them, how famous they are, how much money they have earned, what they can do, etc., is only ONE SALE AWAY from slaughter. ~Declan

£450 horse saved from slaughterhouse was a world-class polo mount which belonged to Prince William and Harry's coach

• Michelle Wrenn wanted to give an old horse a home in rural Devon
• She bought 23-year-old Nata to save her from being slaughtered
• But it later emerged she was ridden by polo star Carlos Gracida
• He was the former coach of Princes Charles, William and Harry

By KIERAN CORCORAN

PUBLISHED: 10:33 EST, 6 September 2013 | UPDATED: 13:58 EST, 6 September 2013  As posted on Mail Online

When Michelle Wrenn bought Nata from her former owner, she thought it was a gesture of compassion for an unremarkable animal.

She had paid £450 for the beautiful 23-year-old chestnut horse, who could have been sent to the slaughterhouse, after her owner realised Nata was much older than previously thought.

Though she thought she had 'seen something special' in the ageing animal, Mrs Wrenn, 54, never thought to look in to her past until her curiosity was stirred by the animal's exceptional grace when being ridden by a friend.

Michelle bought Nata, a beautiful 23-year-old chestnut to save her from the slaughterhouse. But she had no idea of her polo-star past.

But in fact Nata was still competing very recently - and is pictured here here being ridden by Royston Prisk at the O2 Arena in May this year

But after investigating Nata's pedigree, Mrs Wrenn was stunned to discover that Nata was one of the world's greatest polo horses, who moved in the same circles as the Royal Family.

Calls to a vet who had formerly cared for Nata revealed that the chestnut mare was once the mount of polo legend Carlos Gracida, a man who was once considered the greatest player in the world.

Mr Gracida is also a friend of Prince Charles, and his former coach, who also trained Prince William and Prince Harry.

Mrs Wrenn, a mother of two, had been looking for a horse to care for in her rural Devon home, and fell in love with Nata as soon as she saw her.

Her former owner had bought Nata under the false impression that she was just 13, and resolved to sell her quickly or - if that wasn't possible - send her to slaughter.

Mrs Wrenn said: ‘As soon as a friend told me about Nata I went to see her and I was struck by just how beautiful she was.

Nata was also formerly owned by Carlos Gracida (centre) who coached Prince Charles (right), here wearing the number 4 polo shirt

‘She was facing a very uncertain fate and I didn’t want to see her suffer. I saw something special in her and bought her.

‘Nata had been passed between dealers and didn’t have a proper home. The last owner hadn’t done their maths properly and thought she was only 13.

‘When they worked out her true age they simply didn’t want her.’

Mrs Wrenn decided to research Nata’s history when she saw her being ridden by a family friend and suspected the graceful animal was a thoroughbred.

She said: ‘I had her passport and there was one stamp from an English vet. When I called him and said Nata’s name, he said he would call me back in 10 minutes.

‘He then phoned and confirmed it was the well-known polo horse.'

The association with Prince Charles, left, and Carlos Gracida, right, proves Nata's place on the polo scene

She also discovered that Nata had more recently been owned by socialite Royston Prisk, who had ridden her competitively as recently as this year.

She managed to contact Mr Prisk, who was shocked to hear how close the 'extremely special' horse had come to death.

Mrs Wrenn also contacted Mr Prisk who was shocked to hear his former mare had come so close to being destroyed.

Mr Prisk, from Windsor, Berkshire, said: ‘She is an extremely special horse. We had a great connection and were very much in tune with one another.

‘I had her for around six years and she’s one of the best horses I ever rode. I rode her at the O2 arena this year in the Gaucho International polo event. She was such a reliable horse.

‘She recently suffered from an injury and because of her age, I thought it was best that she retired as I thought it was unfair to keep playing her.

‘It’s great to know that she is being loved and well looked-after by Michelle. It would be great to visit Nata, to meet Michelle and visit her in her new home.’

Rescue Horse That Forged Military Career To Retire

I'm so glad Penny's rescuers gave her the chance at a better life!!  ~Declan

Rescue horse that forged military career to retire

By Horsetalk.co.nz on Sep 05, 2013 in Focus

Penny, once a starving rescue horse, is now retiring after a 12-year military career. Photo: World Horse Weflare

Penny came from humble beginnings, but her rags-to-riches story has made those who rescued her proud.

She arrived at a British rescue centre in 2001 as a starving and unhandled five-year-old horse.

She was rehabilitated and went on to serve with the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery for 12 years.

This weekend, Penny, an Irish Draught Horse, is returning to World Horse Welfare’s Penny Farm, in Blackpool, to begin her retirement.

She will officially be returned to the charity on Saturday, during its annual open day at the farm.

World Horse Welfare Penny, as she is officially known, performed her military duties as a member of a gun team with distinction.

“Penny – or Hallmark as she is known in the Troop – has been a real asset to the regiment,” said Captain Owen Beynon-Brown.

“However, it is now time for her to enjoy life at a more sedate pace.

“Penny does everything which is asked of her. She’s always right in there doing the work, but she can now enjoy a very well-earned retirement.”

During her years of service, Penny has been involved in Royal Salutes at major ceremonial events, including the funeral of the Queen Mother, state visits, Trooping the Colour, and even taken part in preparations for the Royal Wedding.

Penny also played a key role in the world famous Musical Drive at venues across the country, which involves a six-horse gun team demonstrating complicated and extraordinary skills of horsemanship, often at a flat out gallop.

World Horse Welfare’s Penny Farm manager, Fran Williamson, recounted Penny’s background.
“It’s an amazing achievement that a rescued horse who arrived at Penny Farm back in 2001 as an emaciated and unhandled five-year-old has gone on to enjoy such a successful career. She is the ultimate example of the work of the charity.

“Penny’s success shows how, even after such a poor start, horses can be rehabilitated and go on to do astonishing things – it highlights just how important it is to give neglected horses a second chance.

“She will spend a few months at our Rescue and Rehoming Centre adjusting back to civilian life and, of course, meeting our visitors. Then she will be assessed with a view to finding a new home in our rehoming scheme in the future.”

The charity said it had a full programme of entertainment in store throughout the open day, including a performance by stunt rider Ben Atkinson, an amazing falconry display from Cuerden Birds of Prey, and a distinctive demonstration from the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.

There will be a chance to learn archery, join in with the fun on fairground rides, view timelessly classic cars, shop at craft stalls, and experience a bit of culture at the art exhibition.

The second Penny Farm Farriers Competition will also be running throughout the day, with farriers from across the British North West competing at several levels as they demonstrate the skills involved in their craft.

The day will start at 10am.

All the King’s Horses: Penny served the military with distinction. Photo: World Horse Welfare