In Memory of Honey
Sadly we received news that the great old mare, Honey, had to be put down. Honey originally came to MHARF from a 2013 case involving an abandoned herd from a failed breeding program. Honey was the herd matriarch. She went into foster care with Lynn Secord and Catherine Master, where Sara Sedgwick met her and adopted her. Honey had made new equine friends in her foster home and she was lucky enough to stay boarded there after Sara adopted her. We want to thank Sara (who also sent us a very generous donation in memory of this sweet mare!), Catherine and Lynn for everything they did for this old broodmare who certainly deserved to live out her last years in peace, health and happiness! We are truly blessed to have people like you involved in our program! The following is a portion of the email we received form Sara: ” I lost Honey last night. Catherine, Lynn and I were with her at Anoka Equine telling her how much we loved her as she passed… Monday morning she went down in her stall when I brought her in to feed her. Catherine dropped her whole day of work and we had the vet out early, tried some pain meds and we sat in the paddock all day. She got worse and we brought her to the hospital. Her symptoms were varied and perplexing as time went on. Blood tests, ultrasounds, multiple vets…they kept trying. Neurologic, skeletal, immune problems, blood clots??? We will never know. They called me last night–she was worse– they were kind enough to let us come and be with her.
Honey brought me so much! She was gentle, kind, funny, snuggly and a joy. How she came to me– I am sure she was a gift from my long term horse Dixon. I wonder if he knew he was giving me a wonderful friend in a horse and bringing me together with Catherine and Lynn and their wonderful horses who I could not possibly love more.
I have so much gratitude to you at MHARF and all you do. I hope you know the extent of the gifts the work you do brings? I hope you do.
I will spend extra time with Zicha (27 year old Saddlebred adopted from MHARF in 2016). Catherine and Lynn will let me continue to do some chores and spend time at their farm a couple times per week. We will spread Honey’s ashes in her favorite pasture and sit in the dirt and sip coffee or a cocktail remembering Honey and celebrating the silly group of girls that will likely be in our back pockets.”
Catherine sent us the picture of Honey under the flowering crab tree along with the message “I will miss this girl–she was the crowd favorite with visitors here. So friendly and gentle. She was very loved.”
Here is an update on Piper we received from her adopter, Wren. We want to say thank you to Wren for sticking with this very nice mare through the first more difficult months! We can never stress enough that horses, whether they are adopted or purchased, are all living, feeling beings with minds of their own. Most of them come with baggage from the past that they can’t tell us about. Responsible owners are those that are willing to give them the time they need to settle in, le
When we first met Violet her coat was bad and bald in places, she was too thin and had a detached expression on her face. She wasn’t what you’d describe as a pretty horse but something more like majestic. We liked her right away and wanted to take her home. Violet is very smart and quickly picked up on and took advantage of our inexperience. For example, she would push past us at gates, refuse to pick up her feet, stand still, and refuse to be led. This behavior earned her the nicknames “Freight Train” and “Violent”. All joking aside, we knew we needed help and we hired a trainer and sought advice from experienced horse people. Once we learned how to communicate and be leaders, it did not take long for Violet to accept us as her “bosses”. She is now the most affectionate, gentle, loving mare of the herd. She loves attention and often seeks it out. She will come close and put her big head on your chest and just breath. Or she will walk up slowly and position her body to be sure you pet just the right spot. And my very favorite thing of all: she will put her chin on your shoulder and gently pull you into her chest while you are scratching her neck. She is also great to ride with a smooth trot and lope. She is calm and confident and very compliant; I always feel safe on her. Also she is patient and gentle when we give “pony rides” to the kids who visit. Violet has blossomed here and is now healthy and content. Long gone is the detached expression. She can frequently be seen playing and frolicking with her herd, Willow, Perdita, and Honey (all MHARF alum!) She is a very special horse, a one in a million, and we love her dearly. Thanks to all who have helped us on our journey: Everyone at MHARF, Cindy Werronen, Aubreanne Dockter, and Scott Boe! –Catherine and Lynn
Here’s Vegas (formerly known as Reba) killing it in halter class (July 2016). She took third out of fifteen! –Andrea