Just wanted to send an updated photo of Aiko (Unbridled Bob) He is doing very well, and is a very happy boy, he is also by far the best horse in the world (not that I am biased or anything!)
– Stacey
https://mnhoovedanimalrescue.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/mainlogo_blue02.png00MHARFhttps://mnhoovedanimalrescue.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/mainlogo_blue02.pngMHARF2010-09-02 17:43:302016-06-11 20:44:36Update on Aiko – FKA Unbridled Bob
When Sherman came to the Hooved Animal Rescue, the poor fellow was miserable. With ribs clearly showing through his dingy hair, you could almost feel his hunger. His head hung low, his eyelids sagged – as you can see in the “before” picture, he was clearly not a happy horse.
Now look at him! He’s alert, full of vim and vigor, and his coat is absolutely gorgeous! You’d almost think we had switched horses on you. (Well, we didn’t.)
It always delights us how, with the proper care and attention, a horse can turn around and look as magnificent as Sherman does today!
Hello to all the MHARF people. So last spring, after I lost my event horse (who was also a Rescue) to severe colic, Drew pointed me in the direction of a horse named Guy. I took him in, not expecting much, and by this fall we were leading the pack in our last Beginner Novice horse trial (although a knockdown in Stadium put us in third place overall).
I have been so amazed by the progress this horse has made, and by the complete turnaround in his personality, that I wanted to be able to share with the world what a difference we can make in the lives of these animals, if we are only willing to try. The thing that has truly touched me about Guy is the absolute turnaround in his outlook on life – where he came to me dull, disinterested, and aloof, he now looks for treats and rubs and scratches, and gets the ‘I’m so proud’ look on his face when we put in a clear jumping round, and looks for me over the fenceline when I walk by. You all know this about Rescues – you’ve worked with one or many. To the right is a picture from yesterday’s schooling session on the cross country course with Guy. He LOVED it!!! (And so did I!) .
Here is the link to the video I’ve created about this special horse – please pass it along to anybody you think would like to see this message, or anybody who wants to make a difference in the life of a horse (and have that horse make a difference in your life, too!). Thanks to all of you!
– Rachel Walker, Walker Farms
https://mnhoovedanimalrescue.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/mainlogo_blue02.png00MHARFhttps://mnhoovedanimalrescue.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/mainlogo_blue02.pngMHARF2010-05-02 17:41:432016-06-11 20:44:54GUY’S STORY
Hello MHARF! I thought you’d like an update on Gemini (now Buddy). He has been a great horse.
My family adopted Buddy in December 2008 as a companion (or “buddy”) horse for my other horse. I never thought that I would enjoy riding him so much! I was unable to start working with him in the summer of 2009 due to a wrist surgery, but this April, I was determined to get him ready to show in the Isanti County Fair. I had a lady help me by coming to my house for lessons, and we progressed great. I found out that Buddy has great turns and stops.
The fair was his first show with me (and the first time in a trailer and off our property since getting him). We weren’t quite ready; we did games but mostly trotted, and he was quite stubborn about bringing his head down, opening his mouth from the bit, and other small things. However, for his first time away from home, it was a lot of fun. My friend rode my other horse at the fair, and they were stalled by each other (Buddy also has “separation issues”..but getting better!) He was not scared from anything, and if you remember, he is blind in his right eye, but it hasn’t bothered him at all. I also showed him in the Sunday WSCA open show of the fair in the 17 & Under walk/trot games—we got reserve high point! I also put a poster on his stall at the fair about MHARF and many people stopped to read it and comment. They were very interested in his story and his blind eye.
I have taken it quite slow, but I want to make sure I get things right. I am a freshman in college now, so I don’t get to ride as much, but when I come home I ride him and he keeps progressing. I attached some pictures from the fair, and as you can see, he is wearing a tie-down and a cavesson, but doesn’t need either now. He gives his head nicely when I ask and doesn’t open his mouth much. I always have ridden him in a simple eggbutt snaffle with a copper middle piece, which he goes great in.
When I come home from college, I know I can just go and get on him without really any problems. He has never bucked or reared. We are still working on the separation—he always needs to know where my other horse is, so that is the “problem” now (not a bad one). I hope to ride even more next summer, and perhaps try some new riding styles with him for fun (maybe dressage!). I also enjoy riding him bareback. He and my other horse are in a wonderful pasture (about 2 ½ acres?) and they get it all to themselves, along with hay and a bit of grain. He is a lot of fun, and I always get comments on how “cute” he is! Thanks again for a great horse.
– Anna Smegal
https://mnhoovedanimalrescue.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/mainlogo_blue02.png00MHARFhttps://mnhoovedanimalrescue.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/mainlogo_blue02.pngMHARF2010-05-02 17:41:012016-06-11 20:51:05Update on Buddy – FKA Gemini
Hi, I am Maggie (aka Buttons), and while I may not be a horse, I believe I’m just as important and should share my story. When people think of MHARF they don’t often think of anything other than horses, well maybe a donkey or mule too. I was a rescue too, and I’m definitely not a horse – although I enjoy treats and hay just as much!
I’m an American Fuzzy Lop bunny and I am very grateful that Drew doesn’t think of MHARF as just about horses! Drew found me at a Critter Exchange in an extremely small cage that was very dirty – more than you’d even expect a bachelor pad to be. When she got me home she found out that I had maggots eating away at the tissue on my little bottom, most likely because of my living conditions. Drew got the maggots off and cleaned me up. My foster family, who had three rabbits of their own, agreed to take me in as a foster – and I managed to hop my way into their heart and they adopted me. While my name is officially Maggie, Buttons is my nickname since I am cute as a button! Just see my photo – wouldn’t you agree?
When I first came to my new home and started to hop around, very slowly, I would run into things – I never had any room to hop you see, so didn’t know how to judge distances. It didn’t take me long to learn though and I began doing “Bunny 500” laps around my enclosure (which was a circular dog exercise pen) with my ears flopping in the breeze. Since I was so malnourished, I had to eat lots of hay, veggies, and timothy pellets before I could be spayed.
Unfortunately the vet reported that I had uterine cancer, which is very common in female bunnies that are not spayed. They also determined that due to my living conditions I had scarred tear ducts so would need my face washed on a regular basis, and after a few very basic tests it was agreed that I was also deaf. My eyesight was good, however, and my hopping ability was tremendous!
I didn’t let my medical issues stop me from enjoying my new life. I attend Rabbit Hoppy Hour (a photo of a hoppy hour is to the right) where I can socialize with other bunnies, and I have even taught my family all about rabbit agility. I am proud to say that I was top of my class at the Golden Valley Humane Society’s bunny agility classes. I am a Yellow Band bunny and I do walk nicely on a leash with a harness, and will be moving on to the next level of agility soon.
Just think of me as a tiny, floppy eared horse flying over tiny stadium jumps! I just love it! So even us non-horse rescues can go on to accomplish great things! While I may not be a champion of a breed registry – I am definitely a champion in the eyes of my family.
– Maggie Buttons (typed by her humans Todd & Tammie, as they have opposable thumbs)
https://mnhoovedanimalrescue.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/mainlogo_blue02.png00MHARFhttps://mnhoovedanimalrescue.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/mainlogo_blue02.pngMHARF2010-05-02 17:39:002016-06-11 20:51:19Maggie the Bunny
Horses have always been the central passion in my life, from the time I could crawl (the neighbors made my parent buy the rocking horse that I was always crawling over to ride on their porch at age two) until now at age 50 – pursuing a PhD in Veterinary Medicine on muscle diseases in horses. After a 10 year hiatus from Three-day eventing, I had found my “perfect” horse, a half-starved racehorse named Tricky. At seven, he was ready to take on Training level when an unfortunate accident ended his life. I was devastated. Thanks to Dr. Julie Wilson, I learned about the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue, Drew Fitzpatrick, and ultimately, Fred.
Fred is also a racetrack washout, and was brought to MHARF at two as a severely underweight cryptorchid stallion with three other Thoroughbreds. I had been watching the racehorses coming into the rescue for over a year when I spotted Fred on the website. Drew prepared me for what to expect, but it was still shocking how truly neglected these horses were. Fred is not a “garden variety” racehorse – he has impeccable breeding, and is a half-brother to Bellamy Road, a Derby winner. The other horses in his group were equally well-bred. On my first visit, Fred was standing only by leaning against the stall wall for support. I was afraid to lead him out of the stall or even pick up his feet, but I could see the fire in his eyes and the fighting spirit that was still in him, even in this horribly abused condition. I told Drew I was interested in adopting him when he was out of rehabilitative care.
Fred came to me in a few months, when he was strong enough to undergo the relatively complicated surgery needed to geld cryptorchid stallions. He spend a leisurely summer recovering and then settling into his current kingdom at Savehaven Stable, where he is the uncontested leader of the herd. In 2007, Fred started on his career as an event horse by attending a few clinics at places like Pine Meadow and Freedom Farms, training with hometown Olympic hopeful Becky Holder and Eric Dierks, for example.
Fred is now competing at Beginner Novice levels, and scored a respectable 37.4 on his first dressage test and went clean cross country at the formidable Otter Creek course in May of 2008.
This photograph was taken June 21, 2009 at the Fargo Alpha Equus English Riders Eventing Show, where they have a special competition for retired racehorses. Fred won the Novice division, finishing on his dressage score of 23 points. Last year, Fred won the Beginner Novice Horse division at Trott Brook Horse Trials, and finished third in the Area IV Beginner Novice Championship.
I am so thankful to Drew and MHARF for helping Fred and all the other horses in their darkest hours. I hope that everyone who reads this feels the same and helps in whatever way they can to give these horses a second chance.
– Lisa Borgia
https://mnhoovedanimalrescue.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/mainlogo_blue02.png00MHARFhttps://mnhoovedanimalrescue.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/mainlogo_blue02.pngMHARF2009-07-02 18:26:482016-06-11 20:57:41Chief Concerto – AKA Frederick – AKA Frodo – but really just plain Fred
In July of 2005, my family and I decided that we wanted to foster a pony from MHARF. I had one horse at home, but she was alone. I called Drew and she told me about a little pony named Riley that she would be glad to bring over. Riley was black and white and super cute. When Drew came later on that week, I saw two fuzzy brown ears sticking out of the trailer. I looked at Drew with my fourteen-year-old confused face and asked which pony she’d brought me. It turned out that Riley had just been adopted, so she had brought Daisy, a tri-colored tobiano, instead.
I was so excited! I had been helping out at MHARF a couple of weeks earlier and I had fallen in love with Daisy. She was such a little spitfire! She was even more of a little spitfire at my house! My big mare, Pip, had never seen a pony before, so at the sight of little Daisy, she took off to the far corner of the pasture. Daisy, who was so excited to be with another horse, took off after her! They ran around getting to know each other for awhile before they became best friends. They are now inseparable. These girls love each other with every fiber of their beings!
Not only is Daisy Pip’s best friend, but I love her to death as well. In the past five and a half years we have had so much fun together. I do Parelli with my horses and I have been having the time of my life teaching Daisy the Parelli Seven Games, and progressing into the 4th Level On Line. This past winter I taught Daisy to drive and plan to continue that further. Daisy is still a little spitfire and is always willing to give me her opinion! We never planned on keeping Daisy, we just planned on keeping her until somebody else adopted her. Well, that turned out to be us! I think it took us three hours to decide that we had to have this pony forever. She is an amazing little thing that will never be without a family again. Play on!
Just wanted to send an letter regarding Ali Bayzar (Ali B. as he is called now) He is now pretty well adjusted to his new home. I still wake up everymorning and can’t believe how lucky I am to have this special guy. I’m so thankful everyday the persistance and interest my mother took in this horse.
I had an Arabian gelding growing up as a child and he was my everything. A very sad accident took him away from me and even though I shared other horses with my mother over the years I felt no horse could take the place of my Taz. I would ride my sisters and mother’s horses but it was hard to create a bond with a horse who you already knew had bonded with another. I remember the day my mom and I were looking at videos of Arabian horses on the internet and I just broke down and started crying. I needed to have my own we decided that day.
She said she thought she found one who needed me too. We drove to meet Ali and I was so nervous to meet him I barely slept the night before. When I finally saw him it was all I could do to refrain from throwing my arms around him and just holding him tight. I was shaking in my boots when I rode him for the first time but it was like he knew exactly what to do to ease my nervousness. We went to see a few other horses but my mom knew my mind was made up.
As we drove home to make our decision, I remember feeling sad leaving him behind and that he needed to be with me. We called to confirm we would be back to get him before we even got home. I read a story one time that said it is not us that rescues an animal but them who rescue us and bring us love and happiness beyond no other. I believe that because he has filled an empty hole in my heart that only my mother and Ali knew how to fill. Thank you so much for your rescue center.
Ali is cared for daily and (spoiled) at my mothers farm along with five other horses that are now his family too. When we go for walks together or I brush him sometimes he’ll turn and look me right in the eyes. At first I thought he was aggitated with me, but my mom says if you look closely its a look of happiness and content. He has his forever home now. In the spring when the cold weather subsides he will have some more training spent on him and together we will hit the trails. I couldn’t be more excited!! This photo is Ali with his new mom, dad, and step brothers (lol!) for our Christmas pictures.
Again thanks for providing care and rescue for horses like Ali B.
– Teresa D.
https://mnhoovedanimalrescue.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/mainlogo_blue02.png00MHARFhttps://mnhoovedanimalrescue.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/mainlogo_blue02.pngMHARF2008-08-02 17:42:382016-06-14 03:03:47Ali Bayzar and the Duchscherer Family
Update on Aiko – FKA Unbridled Bob
Just wanted to send an updated photo of Aiko (Unbridled Bob) He is doing very well, and is a very happy boy, he is also by far the best horse in the world (not that I am biased or anything!)
– Stacey
Sherman’s Transformation
When Sherman came to the Hooved Animal Rescue, the poor fellow was miserable. With ribs clearly showing through his dingy hair, you could almost feel his hunger. His head hung low, his eyelids sagged – as you can see in the “before” picture, he was clearly not a happy horse.
It always delights us how, with the proper care and attention, a horse can turn around and look as magnificent as Sherman does today!
GUY’S STORY
Hello to all the MHARF people. So last spring, after I lost my event horse (who was also a Rescue) to severe colic, Drew pointed me in the direction of a horse named Guy. I took him in, not expecting much, and by this fall we were leading the pack in our last Beginner Novice horse trial (although a knockdown in Stadium put us in third place overall).
Here is the link to the video I’ve created about this special horse – please pass it along to anybody you think would like to see this message, or anybody who wants to make a difference in the life of a horse (and have that horse make a difference in your life, too!). Thanks to all of you!
– Rachel Walker, Walker Farms
Update on Buddy – FKA Gemini
Hello MHARF! I thought you’d like an update on Gemini (now Buddy). He has been a great horse.
The fair was his first show with me (and the first time in a trailer and off our property since getting him). We weren’t quite ready; we did games but mostly trotted, and he was quite stubborn about bringing his head down, opening his mouth from the bit, and other small things. However, for his first time away from home, it was a lot of fun. My friend rode my other horse at the fair, and they were stalled by each other (Buddy also has “separation issues”..but getting better!) He was not scared from anything, and if you remember, he is blind in his right eye, but it hasn’t bothered him at all. I also showed him in the Sunday WSCA open show of the fair in the 17 & Under walk/trot games—we got reserve high point! I also put a poster on his stall at the fair about MHARF and many people stopped to read it and comment. They were very interested in his story and his blind eye.
When I come home from college, I know I can just go and get on him without really any problems. He has never bucked or reared. We are still working on the separation—he always needs to know where my other horse is, so that is the “problem” now (not a bad one). I hope to ride even more next summer, and perhaps try some new riding styles with him for fun (maybe dressage!). I also enjoy riding him bareback. He and my other horse are in a wonderful pasture (about 2 ½ acres?) and they get it all to themselves, along with hay and a bit of grain. He is a lot of fun, and I always get comments on how “cute” he is! Thanks again for a great horse.
– Anna Smegal
Maggie the Bunny
Hi, I am Maggie (aka Buttons), and while I may not be a horse, I believe I’m just as important and should share my story. When people think of MHARF they don’t often think of anything other than horses, well maybe a donkey or mule too. I was a rescue too, and I’m definitely not a horse – although I enjoy treats and hay just as much!
When I first came to my new home and started to hop around, very slowly, I would run into things – I never had any room to hop you see, so didn’t know how to judge distances. It didn’t take me long to learn though and I began doing “Bunny 500” laps around my enclosure (which was a circular dog exercise pen) with my ears flopping in the breeze. Since I was so malnourished, I had to eat lots of hay, veggies, and timothy pellets before I could be spayed.
I didn’t let my medical issues stop me from enjoying my new life. I attend Rabbit Hoppy Hour (a photo of a hoppy hour is to the right) where I can socialize with other bunnies, and I have even taught my family all about rabbit agility. I am proud to say that I was top of my class at the Golden Valley Humane Society’s bunny agility classes. I am a Yellow Band bunny and I do walk nicely on a leash with a harness, and will be moving on to the next level of agility soon.
Just think of me as a tiny, floppy eared horse flying over tiny stadium jumps! I just love it! So even us non-horse rescues can go on to accomplish great things! While I may not be a champion of a breed registry – I am definitely a champion in the eyes of my family.
– Maggie Buttons (typed by her humans Todd & Tammie, as they have opposable thumbs)
Chief Concerto – AKA Frederick – AKA Frodo – but really just plain Fred
Horses have always been the central passion in my life, from the time I could crawl (the neighbors made my parent buy the rocking horse that I was always crawling over to ride on their porch at age two) until now at age 50 – pursuing a PhD in Veterinary Medicine on muscle diseases in horses. After a 10 year hiatus from Three-day eventing, I had found my “perfect” horse, a half-starved racehorse named Tricky. At seven, he was ready to take on Training level when an unfortunate accident ended his life. I was devastated. Thanks to Dr. Julie Wilson, I learned about the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue, Drew Fitzpatrick, and ultimately, Fred.
Fred is also a racetrack washout, and was brought to MHARF at two as a severely underweight cryptorchid stallion with three other Thoroughbreds. I had been watching the racehorses coming into the rescue for over a year when I spotted Fred on the website. Drew prepared me for what to expect, but it was still shocking how truly neglected these horses were. Fred is not a “garden variety” racehorse – he has impeccable breeding, and is a half-brother to Bellamy Road, a Derby winner. The other horses in his group were equally well-bred. On my first visit, Fred was standing only by leaning against the stall wall for support. I was afraid to lead him out of the stall or even pick up his feet, but I could see the fire in his eyes and the fighting spirit that was still in him, even in this horribly abused condition. I told Drew I was interested in adopting him when he was out of rehabilitative care.
Fred is now competing at Beginner Novice levels, and scored a respectable 37.4 on his first dressage test and went clean cross country at the formidable Otter Creek course in May of 2008.
This photograph was taken June 21, 2009 at the Fargo Alpha Equus English Riders Eventing Show, where they have a special competition for retired racehorses. Fred won the Novice division, finishing on his dressage score of 23 points. Last year, Fred won the Beginner Novice Horse division at Trott Brook Horse Trials, and finished third in the Area IV Beginner Novice Championship.
I am so thankful to Drew and MHARF for helping Fred and all the other horses in their darkest hours. I hope that everyone who reads this feels the same and helps in whatever way they can to give these horses a second chance.
– Lisa Borgia
Daisy’s Update
In July of 2005, my family and I decided that we wanted to foster a pony from MHARF. I had one horse at home, but she was alone. I called Drew and she told me about a little pony named Riley that she would be glad to bring over. Riley was black and white and super cute. When Drew came later on that week, I saw two fuzzy brown ears sticking out of the trailer. I looked at Drew with my fourteen-year-old confused face and asked which pony she’d brought me. It turned out that Riley had just been adopted, so she had brought Daisy, a tri-colored tobiano, instead.
I was so excited! I had been helping out at MHARF a couple of weeks earlier and I had fallen in love with Daisy. She was such a little spitfire! She was even more of a little spitfire at my house! My big mare, Pip, had never seen a pony before, so at the sight of little Daisy, she took off to the far corner of the pasture. Daisy, who was so excited to be with another horse, took off after her! They ran around getting to know each other for awhile before they became best friends. They are now inseparable. These girls love each other with every fiber of their beings!
Not only is Daisy Pip’s best friend, but I love her to death as well. In the past five and a half years we have had so much fun together. I do Parelli with my horses and I have been having the time of my life teaching Daisy the Parelli Seven Games, and progressing into the 4th Level On Line. This past winter I taught Daisy to drive and plan to continue that further. Daisy is still a little spitfire and is always willing to give me her opinion! We never planned on keeping Daisy, we just planned on keeping her until somebody else adopted her. Well, that turned out to be us! I think it took us three hours to decide that we had to have this pony forever. She is an amazing little thing that will never be without a family again. Play on!
– Anna Hill
Ali Bayzar and the Duchscherer Family
Just wanted to send an letter regarding Ali Bayzar (Ali B. as he is called now) He is now pretty well adjusted to his new home. I still wake up everymorning and can’t believe how lucky I am to have this special guy. I’m so thankful everyday the persistance and interest my mother took in this horse.
She said she thought she found one who needed me too. We drove to meet Ali and I was so nervous to meet him I barely slept the night before. When I finally saw him it was all I could do to refrain from throwing my arms around him and just holding him tight. I was shaking in my boots when I rode him for the first time but it was like he knew exactly what to do to ease my nervousness. We went to see a few other horses but my mom knew my mind was made up.
As we drove home to make our decision, I remember feeling sad leaving him behind and that he needed to be with me. We called to confirm we would be back to get him before we even got home. I read a story one time that said it is not us that rescues an animal but them who rescue us and bring us love and happiness beyond no other. I believe that because he has filled an empty hole in my heart that only my mother and Ali knew how to fill. Thank you so much for your rescue center.
Ali is cared for daily and (spoiled) at my mothers farm along with five other horses that are now his family too. When we go for walks together or I brush him sometimes he’ll turn and look me right in the eyes. At first I thought he was aggitated with me, but my mom says if you look closely its a look of happiness and content. He has his forever home now. In the spring when the cold weather subsides he will have some more training spent on him and together we will hit the trails. I couldn’t be more excited!! This photo is Ali with his new mom, dad, and step brothers (lol!) for our Christmas pictures.
Again thanks for providing care and rescue for horses like Ali B.
– Teresa D.