Blue Horse Mukwa Equine Retirement and Rescue Center Blog

OUR FRIEND PETE

Posted on April 29th, 2008 by bluehorsemukwa.
Categories: Uncategorized.

pete….was brought to blue horse about 9 months ago by animal control from halifax. his former owner had passed away and pete needed a place to call home. quickly.

pete was old and underweight and had shoes on that had been on him for who knows how long. his feet were in bad shape. his eyes were watery and he was scared. pete had a large scar across his nose where it looked like a chain had been used in an unkind way. chains in my book are always unkind.

pete fit into the blue horse family immediately , he loved zoe ikwe our grey mare. he gained weight and looked as good as he could. he liked to play over the fence with the younger horses.

a few days ago i noticed that pete was not himself, he seemed much quieter and that his eyes looked dull. i watched him and noticed he was having a difficult time urinating. he was still eating well and going out, but he was not urinating the way he should. i looked at his sheath and it did not look right at all, it had ulcers covering it..i called the vet and he was examined….the first vet said she suspected squamish cell carcinoma….and gave me some antibiotics????? to give him….i called another vet and they came out and gave pete a very thorough exam. pete had a tumor in his urinary tract that was huge. he was in pain and was not going to get better only much much worse, in fact he had gotten worse from the day before. to make a long sad story very short, we had to put pete down humanly. it was hard and it was very sad. kathy ,nathan and cheryl were all here to help pete and to help me get through yet another loss. the vet was kind and very helpful.
while pete had only been here a short time, it still hurt to see the old man go ……
pete will be remembered …thank you robert and lonnie for your help as well….

compassion is missing a lot in our world today we need folks like kathy,nathan,cheryl ,robert and lonnie among us.

in memory of pete…
your friends at blue horse
rabiah and the herd

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BENEFIT TRAIL RIDE

Posted on April 16th, 2008 by bluehorsemukwa.
Categories: Uncategorized.

SHALLOW CREEK FARM AND HALIFAX COUNTY SADDLE CLUB ARE DOING A BENEFIT TRAIL RIDE FOR US. MAY 2-MAY 5.

THE RIDE BEGINS AT 10AM ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. THE RIDE SATURDAY WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 6 HOURS LONG AND SUNDAY WILL BE 3-4 HOURS LONG.

NEGATIVE COGGINS TEST IS REQUIRED. PRIMITIVE CAMPING AVAILABLE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS.

POTLUCK SUPPER IS PLANNED FOR SATURDAY NIGHT SO BRING A DISH OR TWO.

NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ALLOWED!

A FARRIER WILL BE ON PREMISES

DONATIONS ARE REQUESTED

CONTACT PERSON FOR DIRECTIONS AND MORE INFO:

KATHY AND HAROLD WOOSLEY

434-376-5017

SHALLOW CREEK FARM

9043 CLARKTON RD

NATHALIE, VA 24577

HOPE YOU WI LL COME OUT AND HELP SUPPORT THE HORSES!!!!!

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SAYING GOODBY TO BALBO..AKA… BUBBA

Posted on February 22nd, 2008 by bluehorsemukwa.
Categories: Uncategorized.

Last night we had to say goodby to Balbo (aka) Bubba..He was a beautiful flea bitten grey arabian. He was majestic and noble. Balbo had the nature of pure gentleness and he was so tolerant of the lavish grooming sessions and attention he received from the mentally challenged group when they visited…he helped Cheryl overcome her fear of riding again after she had been thrown by her horse and breaking her back. He taught Jason and Victor what it feels like to ride a horse for the first time…..Balbo was a much loved and favored horse here at Blue Horse.
He was not ridden often and had not been since the beginning of last summer, but he was always a gentelman. His best buddy SaSa aka Sammy is missing his companion, but it was amazing last night, he stood silently while we were trying to treat Bubbs. It was as if he knew his friend was in real trouble. We all knew.
The other horses gathered at the fence and stayed there the entire time we were working with him.
Last night I covered Bubba with a giant blanket and tarp after he had been put to sleep. SaSa stood by him all night saying good by. This morning after we buried our friend, SaSa turned and started eating his hay. I cannot express how much this horse was loved by all that knew him and how deeply he will be missed we were blessed to have had him in our life and among our herd for the last year and a half.
Thanks Balbo for all you have taught everyone that has ever been in your life. Thank you for teaching me more about love and true friendship..I hope to see you at the end of my journey….
Rabiah and the Herd SASA AND BALBO

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ANGELS AMONG US

Posted on February 1st, 2008 by bluehorsemukwa.
Categories: Uncategorized.

SOMETIMES IN THE EQUINE/ANIMAL RESCUE WORLD WE GET SO MANY PROMISES OF HELP THAT NEVER HAPPEN, WE SEE ANIMALS THAT HAVE SUFFERED BEYOND BELIEF AND WE START TO GET APATHETIC REGARDING HUMAN NATURE.

THEN, AN ANGEL APPEARS AND IT HELPS TO RESTORE YOUR FAITH IN HUMAN KINDNESS. SO I DECIDED TO WRITE ABOUT THOSE ANGELS TODAY.

MRS.HITCHCOCK IS THE REASON THAT SAMA IS ALIVE TODAY. SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT SHE WAS THE MARE THAT HAD HER CANNON BONE DEGLOVED FROM HER HOCK TO HER PASTURN. SHE HAD DEVELOPED A BONE INFECTION BEFORE HER ARRIVAL AT OUR FACILITY. SHE HAD BEGUN TO WALK ON THE CAPSULE OF HER HOOF. IT HAD BEEN SUGGESTED BY SEVERAL VETS TO PUT HER DOWN. I KNEW IN MY HEART THAT IF SHE HAD SURGERY SHE WOULD SURVIVE. MRS.H NOT ONLY SPONSORED SAMAS SURGERY SHE LET HER RECOUP AT HER BEAUTIFUL FACILITY. HER WONDERFUL STAFF TOOK CARE OF SAMA AND SHE IS HOME NOW WALKING LIKE SHE MEANS IT…..KATIE MRS.HITHCOCKS BARN MANAGER TOOK CARE OF HER MOST OF THE TIME. IT WAS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT BY HER ENTIRE STAFF TO SAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL MARE….NOW THEY ARE DONATING HAY WHICH WE SO DESPERATELY NEED AND SHE WANTS TO HELP DONKEEOTIE (THE DONKEY SOMEONE TRIED TO CASTRATE AT HOME BY THEMSELVES) AND DAKINI (THE STARVING 2 YEAR OLD MARE WITH THE INJURED STIFLE LEFT TO WANDER AROUND THE COUNTY FOR OVER A MONTH)…THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMPASSION, THANK YOU FOR CARING ABOUT THE LIVES THAT ARE DEPENDING ON US.

WE DESPERATELY NEED STALLS FOR SOME OF OUR HORSES, KATHY YORE SURPRISED US WITH THE MATERIALS TO BUILD TWO 12X12 STALLS AND THEY ARE VERY NICE STALLS . THE HORSES IN THEM ARE REALLY ENJOYING BEING OUT OF THE WEATHER. WE HAVE RUN INS IN ALL THE PASTURES BUT WE NEED STALLS FOR DAYS THAT ARE WET AND WINDY. THIS HAS BEEN A BLESSING FOR THESE OLD GUYS….THANK YOU KATHY FOR YOUR KINDNESS AND FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP. THANK YOU FOR ALSO FOSTERING ZUNIE AND SAGE!!
PAT STITH, HER MOTHER AND HER DAUGHTER JESS DONATED A KAWASAKI MULE TO HELP ME WITH THE WORK LOAD HERE, IT HAS BEEN A LIFE SAVER AND CUTS DOWN ON THE AMOUNT OF WORK I HAVE BY HOURS…I CAN ACTUALLY LOAD ALL THE FEED AND HAY AND MAKE TWO TRIPS AND BE FINISHED WITH FEEDING…THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU….FOR MY MULE TRAIN…:) IT ALSO SERVES WELL WHEN WE HAVE VISITORS THAT WANT TO GO ON TOUR. IT IS GREAT FOR THE ELDERLY AND THOSE WITH PHYSICAL CHALLENGES.
MICHAEL NEPHEW HAS DONE MORE THAN I CAN LIST…THANK YOU MICHAEL FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE.
DAVID FRAZIER DONATED THE MATERIALS AND LABOR FOR A MUCH NEEDED PADDOCK AREA.

PALLET ONE LUMBER HAS DONATED A TRUCK LOAD OF MULCH FOR US TO USE ON THE FARM. THANK YOU SYLVIA.

AND THANKS TO THE CHASE CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND BONNIE FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

SPAULDINGS FARM SUPPLY FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE AND ARE DOING….THANKS LONNIE

DAVEY LEE GEORGE FOR YOUR WONDERFUL SUPPORT ALL THESE YEARS AND YOUR GREAT COWBOY POETRY

GAYLA KEATING AND PLAZA BAKERY FOR COLLECTING FUNDS FOR US AND FOR YOUR FAITH IN US.

KATHY KEEL FOR HER MANY DONATIONS OF HAY AND THINGS FOR OUR TACK SHOP

CHASE CITY RUITANS FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT

CHASE CITY FORTNIGHLTY FOR THEIR KIND DONATIONS AND SUPPORT

MOLLIE MCCURDY FOR HER SUPPORT

LILLIAN CLANCY FOR HER HARD WORK AND SUPPORT FOR ANIMAL WELFARE EVERYWHERE.

CHRISTINE FALLWELL FOR HER SUPPORT

BARBARA PEDERSEN FOR ALL THE FEED

MARSH PASSMORE FOR OUR BROCHURES AND THANK YOU LETTERS

JEAN THOMPSON

TOM AND LIZ ADAMS  FOR ALL THEIR DONATIONS
VOLUNTEERS:

JASON WEAVER

CHERYL WESTON