“SuperMom” Mare: Our Emergency Situation & Our “Far from Normal” Vet Day

WARNING:  This post contains detailed descriptions of our vet visit on Wednesday and photographs that some may find disturbing.

“Normal” takes on a different meaning when you run a horse rescue.

Dr. Alexis from Allegheny Equine was scheduled to visit on Wednesday afternoon to examine our momma and baby, and to check Mynah’s Boy’s progress to determine our best course of action for his continued rehabilitation.

However, Wednesday morning, one of the barn staff, Nikki, noticed a thick discharge from the mare’s vagina when she was coming in from the field, and when Angie arrived at the barn minutes later, the mare appeared to be in labor.  By the time Sarah arrived, the mare had given birth to a stillborn, early-term fetus, and was fretting and anxious about where her “baby” was.

Our mare’s 100ish day old foal. As you can see, hooves are formed, eyes, and although you can’t really see, it’s tail bone was formed. It is literally a developed foal.

Rewind one month:  The woman who runs the barn in Kentucky where the mare was held wondered if the mare was pregnant – her stomach was disproportionately large.  At our request, she was examined by a veterinarian there, and we were told she was not pregnant.  Her large belly was written off to a likely combination of finally receiving regular, nutritious food, and possible parasites.

Relieved at the not-pregnant news, we were anxious to have Allegheny Equine examine Momma and let us know our next steps.

Needless to say, the miscarriage was a shock to all.  We called the vet immediately, and after lots of questioning, it was determined that unless we saw signs of another fetus or any sort of distress, the vet would be out that afternoon as planned.

Momma, bless her, settled down fairly quickly.  Despite all she had been through, she was nothing but the best mother to the filly, and while we’re sure she was sore and scared and confused, she let the baby nurse and was her usual selfless self with her daughter, but was very wary of us humans, pinning her ears when we opened her stall door and avoiding contact.  By lunchtime, Momma seemed calmer, and as we cleaned her stall, she actually allowed us to pet her gently and nickered for fresh hay.

When Dr. Alexis and her assistant Kim arrived, we focused first on mom and baby.  A rectal exam, vaginal ultrasound, and an examination of the fetus and placenta (that Nikki thoughtfully gathered for us and put in the fridge) confirmed that there was only one fetus and that Momma had expelled all that she should have.  Dr. Alexis flushed her uterus with a saline solution, and we’ll be taking her temperature for the next few days to watch for infection.

Momma was a trooper all day.  She let us poke and prod her, despite a stressful morning that has followed a stressful few weeks.  We took her temperature, gave shots and took blood, and she stood patiently through it all, with just an occasional grunt or white of her eye.  “Normal” physical exam-wise, Dr. Alexis noticed a faint heart murmur which she thought could have to do with her poor physical condition, and she said she wouldn’t be surprised if it goes away once she’s healthy.

Listening to the mama’s heart and lungs.

Testing her lungs as they sounded “heavy.”

However, our mare who was rescued as a “7 year old” is, according to Dr. Alexis, likely between 15-20, another reason she may have miscarried, in addition to her poor physical condition.We will run fecal samples on mom and baby and bloodwork on mom just to be safe.  Baby got a big-girl physical, complete with temperature (normal) and heart and lungs (in there and sounding good!)  We’re just keeping an eye on her, as always, but Kim was the best baby wrangler and Baby was a champ, considering the situation!

Mynah’s Boy made a new friend in Dr. Alexis, and was giving her kisses by the end of the visit – typical ham.  Dr. Alexis said that the handwalking and stall rest that we’ve been doing is the best for his recovery, and showed us some stretches that will hopefully help with the double bow in his right front leg.  She said that the “bow” itself may never disappear, but that he’s healing well, and that she’s happy with the fact that there was no heat, and that he was relatively sound.  MB was ECSTATIC when Dr. Alexis asked to see him trot, and I had my hands full – he’d never been allowed to trot on a lead before, and he thought maybe we wanted to see how fast he could REALLY go!

Maddie, apparently hearing that the vet was coming, didn’t want to be left out, and came inside this morning with a puffy left eyeball.  A quick once-over by Dr. Alexis confirmed no major damage, and the culprit is probably a bug bite or tiny scratch, all fixable with some eye cream and Banamine.  But the best part of Maddie’s unfortunate eye situation was just watching her interact with Dr. Alexis – Maddie, who a year ago had to be sedated for nearly any procedure, allowed Dr. Alexis to put in eye stain, examine her eye, and put her finger INSIDE Maddie’s eyelid to check for injuries.  No sedation.  No twitch.  Just kind words and a gentle touch.  Angie and I were near tears watching her act like such a lady.

So while today was far from “normal,” we feel lucky.  Momma and Baby are healthy, and mom’s miscarriage was likely a blessing in disguise, as her body clearly told her that she just didn’t have any more to give.  We can focus now on getting her healthy, and continuing to care for Baby.  Mynah’s Boy is on the mend, and we’re doing what’s best for him.  And Maddie, sweet Maddie, is turning into the amazing, patient, trusting horse we knew she had the potential to be.

Sarah

(From Angie) While our horses are well-cared for by our amazing vet (which we are so thankful and appreciative of), the unfortunate and “bummer” part of our day was the vet bill. It was $697.50. We need help. As we have been notably aware of our financials and making the decisions that best represent our means as of now, we desperately need help. If you can sponsor a horse – even $5 a month – would help us tremendously. Sarah and I are constantly thinking of fundraising to do – so buying Maddie notecards can help, we will also be listing tack soon that has been graciously donated to us, we will be holding events soon (calendar for the next couple months to be posted soon!); but truthfully, Sarah and I have been supporting a lot of the food, and part of the board from our own pockets. We desperately need help. Donations are greatly appreciated. Sponsorships are cheered for. And volunteer hours help us out ALOT. Please, if you can, and you want us to continue with helping horses, share our facebook statuses, donate if you can, sponsor for a couple bucks a month, or buy some Maddie notecards! We don’t mean to sound desperate, but we are definitely trying our best! Thank you for supporting us!!

Our Newest In-Take, Mynah’s Boy

Mynah Boy’s retirement story starts three years ago at a Kentucky racetrack where Joan Dunlap and her partner, Paul, were watching some afternoon races.  Reading through that day’s races, they came across a name that peaked their interest:  Mynah’s Boy.  Joan’s mare – Mynah – a big bay Thoroughbred, was a broodmare for years, and Joan and Paul knew they needed to find out if the name was a real connection or merely a coincidence.  A quick search showed that in fact, this colt was Joan’s mare’s son. After asking around and making some phone calls, Joan and Paul were welcomed to visit Mynah’s Boy’s barn, where they met the bay colt who was a smaller, finer version of his mother but who shared her outgoing personality and curious nature.

Joan followed Mynah’s Boy’s racing career over the next few years where he raced dozens of times, mainly in Kentucky and Florida, and she paid careful attention when he was sold to an owner in Puerto Rico after racing 38 times in the States but earning just under $15,000.  He only raced four times in Puerto Rico when his career starts caught up with him, and after bowing both front tendons, his owner decided that retirement was the best option for the six year old.  Joan knew that she wanted to get Mynah’s Boy back to the States and into a rehabilitation program to transition him off of the track, and with the help of the RACE fund and dedicated volunteers, he traveled from Peurto Rico to a farm in Florida that facilitated his let down from the track.  In June, an anonymous donor and a generous horse transportation company brought Mynah’s Boy to Flying Changes’ farm in Butler.

Mynah’s Boy, May 2015 – in Puerto Rico

Mynah’s Boy, May 2015, Puerto Rico

“MB” has been at Flying Changes now for just about a month, and is making slow but steady progress in his recovery.  It is unclear whether he will ever be able to be ridden due to the severity of the bows in his front legs, and he is currently on stall rest with several hand walks a day (usually followed by some hand grazing!).  With the vet’s permission, we started turning him out – supervised – in the covered round pen for 10-20 minutes a few times a week.  He has been handling his stall rest amazingly well for a young TB just off the track, and also handles his round pen “freedom” like a champ as well, contentedly walking around and checking things out, but not over-exerting himself.  (We were afraid that he might try to run, in which case he would have to return to only hand walking, but he’s been so good!)

MB’s other challenge, in addition to his bowed tendons, is that he is almost completely blind in his left eye due to a track injury in his two-year-old year (possibly being hit by a jockey’s whip).  He is extremely well adjusted and not bothered at all by his lack of vision; when we started leading him on his good side rather than his blind side, he became so much more aware of where his human is.  His ground manners are improving by leaps and bounds (racehorses often times don’t come with the best behavior, and MB was a little pushy) and he now walks beside volunteers and stops immediately when asked.

As most Thoroughbreds when they come off the track, MB came to us on the skinny side, so we’ve been working with Saxonburg Agway to get him on a feeding program that will put on weight without adding energy since he’s on stall rest.  His topline is beginning to fill out, and he’s not as ribby as he was when he came to us, so we’re pleased with that progress as well!

Upon in-take with Flying Changes, June 2015

Upon in-take with Flying Changes, June 2015

For the next few months, MB will be with us, continuing to rest and heal while we see what his future will be able to handle.  We’ll keep you posted and hope you enjoy watching him begin the next phase of his journey!

MB’s major expenses are his stall fee, feed, hay, farrier costs, and eventual veterinary visits to evaluate his progress – as always, donations to our cause are greatly appreciated and allow us to help more horses like Mynah’s Boy!

For way to donate to MB’s care, please go to our website for more information by clicking here.

Please enjoy a few more images of MB; he’s quite the character!

He LOVES attention…especially attention that requires a good scratching!

Check out that smile! Cheese it up, MB!

To stay up to date on Flying Changes, please “like” our facebook page by clicking here. And also visit us at http://www.flyingchangesequinerescue.com, too!!

Coyote’s Trip Home

“It was weird. I found myself going down the driveway to Hidden Oaks. I wanted to meet Coyote,” Diane told me. And that is how Coyote found his way to his new home.

Diane had just recently lost her 33 year old paint (I believe it was 33 or maybe 30 years old) and her 37 year old draft – and yes, you read that correctly, 37. Years. Old. When Diane loves a horse, that horse has a forever home. And a great home it is! Diane also had lost a very important person in her life as well and she just needed a good friend to help her through…enter Coyote and his special personality of just knowing what you need when you need it.

Coyote is an extraordinary horse. He has the kindest eyes and the biggest heart. He could fall asleep with his head over the stall door or over someone’s shoulder. He is a calm in the storm, per se.

Diane, much like Coyote, has a very large heart and is a caregiver. You can just tell by the way she talks of her family – both two- and four-legged alike. When I dropped Coyote off to her barn, the smile she had on her face while she watched her grandchildren interact with Coyote was something I will forever remember. Her smile was one of love and happiness. You could just tell that she felt that her family was “whole” again with Coyote being in his stall. And it was a smile of knowing that her best friend was finally home and that she could lean on him for what she needed! Coyote and Diane both have that “special something” and will be each other’s foundation when needed. And to us, at Flying Changes, that is what we live for. To see our horses be matched with their humans in a beautiful relationship.

Coyote came to the rescue from owners that could no longer care for him. His sesamoid bone had been broken and the time in healing wasn’t at what they were willing to take for him; so, he came to the rescue in January. After some time off, and x-rays, he had been cleared for light riding…walk, trot, and some trail riding. When Sarah climbed aboard him last month, Coyote rode off like he has been riding for years. Not like he has been off for months and in a stall for a few weeks (because of short hooves). He was a champ.

Diane, knowing of Coyote’s ailments of his healing sesamoid bone and short hooves, began to do research on supplements and nutrition programs to get the big guy on. This was such a relief to us. And truly, a joy. You could just tell that Diane had what Coyote just needed. An understanding heart. How perfect.

And even better for Coyote – he has children to take care of! Diane’s grandchildren were waiting for him while I pulled up the driveway. Their smiles and excitement were enough to know that Coyote was home. And after some negotiation, Coyote and I (Angie) came to the conclusion that he would rather turn around in my trailer and walk out than back off. (It was a little bit of an exhausting negotiation, too! Ha!) Once he was led into his stall, he did a quick roll, checked out the corners of the stall, and then promptly lowered that large head of his into his hay pile and started munching on hay.

He would put his head over the stall and play with the grandchildren like he’s been there for years. Coyote just fit. He did.

When I left, Coyote was still munching on hay and the children were brushing his tail and mane and grooming him. He is loved and is doing awesome! Our big ol’ teddy bear of a Thoroughbred found himself the absolute perfect home – full of love, laughter, and mounds of hay! We couldn’t think of a more perfect ending to his chapter of rescue horse and the beginning of his life as a four-legged family member!

And the following day, I received this picture from Diane. He sure does have the life now! Munch on, big guy, you’re home!

And congratulations Diane and family! Many wonderful blessings to you!

Doesn’t Coyote look happy? We think so!

If you’d like more information on Flying Changes Equine Rescue, stop by our website and check us out!

Angie

Sarah, Coyote, & Angie

Tilly, Our Rags to Riches Pony, Goes Home!

We were just weeks into the rescue when we heard about Tilly from Carrie, a friend who came across her in a field, days away from a trip to the auction.  We were overwhelmed with the five horses we had inherited and were racking our brains figuring out how we would pay for them and what our next step should be.  Taking on another horse, we agreed, was not a logical next step.

But Carrie’s description of Tilly’s empty field, tattered blanket over protruding bones, bot-egg infested fur, and kind, kind eye stuck with us all, and when Carrie offered to pay the family for the pony, arrange transport, and help with her care, we all caved rather quickly.

Tilly upon intake…no topline, hips protuding, wind-braids, severely underweight and ribby, with a very dull coat…but beautiful, kind eyes that shone bright.

And when that sweet little girl stepped off of the trailer, we knew that taking her in was the right step – not just for her, but for all of us as well.  At a time when we were stressed, worried, frustrated, and unsure of our abilities and future, Tilly was a bright spot during a difficult time at the rescue from the minute she arrived.

When she first came to us, she had a runny nose and goopy eyes, and so Mike Bitely, Hidden Oaks Farms’ owner, set up a pony-sized quarantine for her, up the hill from the barn, with a tiny shed for shelter and a temporary fence.  That sweet little girl would nicker softly anytime a human came up to visit.  We won’t deny that she’s a little food motivated (the understatement of the century!) but she also thrived on the company of humans.  She stood quietly to have her temperature taken, she let us fuss over her bot eggs and boney spots, and she often times just stood next to her visitors with her head softly resting on whatever body part was closest.  She seemed to know that she was safe with us, and in her own way, was saying thanks.

Human contact wasn’t the only kind of contact that Tilly craved.  She spent a lot of her quarantine time looking longingly down the hill at the barn, ears perked, and nickering at the horses in the barn.  Horses are herd animals and thrive on equine company, but Tilly had been living alone in her pasture for years, and we didn’t know how she would do with other horses.  She definitely seemed interested in making new friends.

When the day came that Tilly could be moved into the barn, she walked down the hill like a lady, ears forward, and with a spring to her step that we hadn’t seen since she arrived.  She stepped into the barn, looked around at the other horses, and then walked over to Mike and leaned her head against his stomach, just asking to be held and loved for a little while.  Despite years of neglect, she held no grudges, and was simply thankful to be surrounded by horse and human companions.

Tilly, never having any type of shelter, finally has her own stall – fully equipped with a trap door that rained hay!

And when the hay rained down from the sky (or, the trap door in the hayloft), Tilly thought she was in heaven.  Our sweet girl loves her groceries, and chomps up whatever we put in front of her.  As she started to grow stronger, we began turning her out alone in our front paddock and she would canter 3-4 strides to the round bale… and then not move for two hours!

Once she put on more weight, we began turning her out with Boo, and the two just clicked.  We turned them out together in the arena first, and Tilly’s shy little glances were heartbreakingly sweet as she timidly reached out to Boo as her first friend.  (See the video on Facebook!)

You, her Facebook fans, gifted her with her name.  And at our open house, donning some seriously pink hair bows and a pink halter, she met the family that would gift her with her new life.

She was the belle of the ball at the Flying Changes’ Open House!

Josh & his son feeding Tilly and getting to know her.

Tilly loved that they kept feeding her. With her being so food-driven, she would happily munch out of anyone’s hand!

Cleanest foot this side of the Mississippi. Miss Jadyn cleaned that right front hoof so it was sparkling!

Ashley and Josh Sherman and their son spent nearly an hour that day getting to know Tilly, petting and talking to her and feeding her treats, and were impressed by her gentleness with their children and her calmness despite the bustling surroundings.  They filled out an application that afternoon, and made plans to visit with their three year old daughter to make sure, as Ashley put it, that Tilly could handle Jayden’s “in your face” personality!  On their next visit, Jayden in tow, their decision was an easy one as Tilly let Jayden brush her forelock and pick out her hooves – over and over again!  As Josh and Ashley watched Tilly munching hay in her paddock, Josh turned to Ashley and said, “Should I just give her a check now?”  And that was that.

On Saturday morning, Angie and I drove Tilly to her new home.  Ashley and her mom were there to meet us, and Tilly, relieved to know that her new home ALSO had grass and hay, stepped off the trailer and settled right in.  The barn’s owners, Cortney and Jim Shipley, were in the process of shortening Tilly’s stall door as they wanted her to be able to put her head over, and Ashley walked Tilly all over the grounds, checking things out.  Tilly wasn’t bothered by the weedwhacker, or Jim sawing away at her stall door, but calmly wandered through the barn saying hello to her new friends, and flirting sweetly with her neighbor.

Great little traveler!

Ashley was so excited!

Ashley, Ashley’s mom, and Tilly

While it’s been a dream of Ashley’s to have a horse of her own, she told us that she’s most excited watching her children grow up and bond with Tilly over the years.  The Sherman’s goal is to have a backyard barn and eventually have Tilly at home with them, but for now, daily visits to the barn and lots of loving on Tilly will be the norm.  Tilly has brought so much sweet joy to us at the rescue over the last few months with her loving, kind, forgiving personality, and we will dearly miss her gentle nickers and perky little ears sticking out over her stall door.  But we can’t be more thrilled about the new lease on life that she’s getting with her wonderful new family.  Thank you, Shermans, and enjoy your sweet little girl!

And some other images from the day:

Tilly and her main beau, Shetan, an older Arabian gelding (and gentleman, might we add!)

Tilly has this amazing flirting streak that we found out about that Saturday!

Thank you again for reading about our first intake as Flying Changes…our little Tilly girl! If you are interested in adopting, fostering, or volunteering, please visit our website by clicking here.

Sarah

Before & After: Tilly’s Hip

Before & After: Tilly’s Topline

Before & After: Tilly

Zip’s Trip Home

Early on in my involvement with the rescue, I spent an afternoon walking from stall to stall, familiarizing myself with the horses…learning names, personalities, mannerisms, and quirks.  I realized quickly that Zip was special. He had a twinkle in his eye…you know, like that little brother that messes up your hair and you want to roll your eyes at him but can’t because he’s just that cute and awesome? Yeah, that’s how I felt about Zip.

Gangly, stilts for legs, and a twinkle in his eye: Zip! (captured in March, during mud season!)

After filming him and watching Sarah ride him, I began to really appreciate the “baby” in him. But with that “baby” comes a lot of work. It takes time to teach and mold your partner. But something with Zip really spoke out…he was willing. Not only was he willing, but he was able. He was able to follow directions. He was willing to be your partner.  He was outwardly pleased when he figured out what you wanted him to do, and was praised for his success.

Saying goodbye to the rescue and his caretakers.

When I am thinking about how to market these horses and make them come alive in videos and in images, I also think about probable and possible two-legged partners for our horses. Zip would need a rider/owner with patience, experience and the ability to laugh. And I had someone in mind…

Meet Carissa. I met her a year and a half ago when I was capturing a rite of passage for her: her senior portraits. (Yes, I’m a photographer.) She had five horses and she spoke of them like most people would speak to their family members (the human kind). She has a calming presence with horses and they just mesh beautifully with her. In seeing her relationships with her horses, I saw patience, experience and definitely the ability to laugh.

See??!! She definitely has the ability to laugh! (pictured with Baby CJ, copyrighted, 2014, Sun Rae Creative)

Another thing about Carissa is that she is selfless. She’s actually one of the most selfless people I’ve met. A couple months ago, her Thoroughbred, Tabi, who I’ve captured in one of the most epic images I’ve ever shot, was in a tragic accident. Carissa, with her extremely large heart, chose to end his suffering and give him a pain-free journey across the Rainbow Bridge. It was evident to me that Tabi had left a rather large void in her heart; one that I never want to replace, but one that I thought could be soothed by another.

Carissa with her beautiful Tabi, summer of 2014 (copyrighted, 2014, Sun Rae Creative)

So, after thinking of Zip and then thinking of Carissa…my mind started rolling! I planted a seed…just an introduction of who Zip was, his personality, and quite point blankly – his age and the fact that he would need the training and guidance every young horse would need. It wasn’t long before Carissa and her family came to the rescue to meet everyone and to spend some time with Zip. It was amazing to see Zip open up to someone. I knew that there was a connection. Carissa’s smile was big and she enjoyed her time with Zip…she figured out his cues and worked with him in the arena. It was amazing to see such youngsters (both Zip and Carissa) just connect on another level.

Carissa & Zip’s first ride

Carissa was enarmored with him. Zip was his lovable self with her and just drank up the attention. After discussing Zip’s registered name, Carissa went home and started researching. She soon found out that he was related – get this – to her Tabi. They are cousins and now our story is coming full circle. (Yeah, grab those Kleenexes!!!)

Zip loved the attention from Carissa!

The second visit to the rescue had her father and boyfriend in the saddle and big smiles on everyone’s faces. It was such an awesome experience in just putting two and two together and seeing everything unfold.

Carissa leading her dad around on Zip.

And with Matt!

Carissa, Don, & Zip…all smiles! And that’s what we love seeing!

Fast forward to the other night. Zip went home. We knew he got along with the two-leggeds. That was the easy part. Carissa still had to introduce him to her four-legged family…and although Zip is a cool dude in every way, we were secretly praying that Simon, CJ, Red, and BJ (Carissa’s equine family) would see him as a cool dude, too.

After a fairly humorous and exhausting (well, for me anyways, ha ha) couple minutes in the trailer (where Zip apparently could not imagine that there was actually ground behind him!), Zip finally backed out. He walked around on those long stilts of his and just checked everything out with his calm, cool, and a little dorky personality. Carissa introduced him to his new brothers and the introductions. just. went. fabulously.

Carissa & Matt with Zip…we couldn’t tell who’s happier…the humans or the equine!

Meeting Baby CJ & Simon for the first time. Carissa had everyone set up for introductions.

Folks, I can’t say this enough…having a part in a rescue is not for the faint of heart. I won’t lie, it’s stressful, it’s hard, and it’s downright exhilarating. (Ha – gotcha…I bet you thought I was gonna say exhausting, huh?! It’s that, too!) All the stresses of money and how to make ends meet were forgotten for a few moments. The thoughts of fundraisers were put on hold. Figuring out how to pay for hay — all just ceased. We enjoyed the moment, Sarah and I. We laughed. We smiled. We loved on Zip. We were happy, we were feeling good. The type of feeling good you get when everything just aligns.

After some hugs to Carissa and her family, we left with smiles. Zip was happily munching on hay and could have cared less that Sarah and I were pulling away with the trailer. We went to the end of their driveway and turned onto the road…it was a surreal moment. It was our very first delivery of a rescue horse…

…and that’s when it happened. That is when I realized: “This is why we are doing this. This is why we put up with the stress.” …and then I wiped a tear (of happiness) away. And then I sighed. It was the perfect ending to that day. Absolutely perfect.

Someone once said, “Every horse deserves once in its life to be loved by a little girl.”

Congratulations!

And Zip got just that. Congratulations, Carissa. Zip, best of luck and love to you, our beautiful, dorky, gangly off-the-track Thoroughbred. Be the best you can be, dude.

Angie

For more information on our horses up for adoption, please click here.

Mr. Wonderful: Adoptable Horse, Coyote

Meet Coyote. Sweet horse extraordinaire.

Isn’t he handsome? Yup, we know…he is. And those eyes!! Look at how kind those eyes are. What a hunk. The best part about Coyote? He’s available for adoption from Flying Changes! So, we wanted to give you a glimpse into his personality and do a little match-making with you two-leggeds reading this. Cause he may just be what you’ve been looking for in an equine best friend.

We have to tell you, without a doubt, Coyote is a favorite of the barn. Many times, you will find Sarah in high-heels and a dress standing in his stall, giving him a hug. I (Angie) have also used his stall and he as a place of solace and to go to regain composure, to get a clear head, and to just simply leave some stress at his stall door. Even Ali, our barn staff, has been known to get hugs from Coyote. (picture below)

Ali & our boy, Coyote

Coyote’s background is that he came to us as needing some time off…a little rest and relaxation. He was surrendered in January 2015 by owners who were unable/unwilling to provide him with needed care for a leg injury. Coyote was diagnosed with a fractured sesamoid bone and after the vet recommending 4-6 months off, he was just recently x-rayed (on May 20, 2015) and has approved for walking/trotting, and light trail riding. He is still mending; which is why he cannot jump, and really run at this point.

This was more than exciting to us to hear he was cleared for light-riding. We wanted to see how this big puppy-dog Thoroughbred would do undersaddle. We have watched him closely in the last week or so with his feet…he has been sound since he’s been with us, except for the few days after getting his feet trimmed. His feet were extremely short when he arrived and we’re working on growing healthy hooves. After a short evaluation on walk/trot on the ground, Sarah climbed aboard our tall (16.2 hands!) boy and he rode off like he has been doing it his entire life and haven’t been off for five months. We also have to let you in on this: because of his feet lately, we have had him stalled. And everyone knows what stalled horses are like when they get out! Not Coyote. He’s sane, responsive to the bit, and extremely good-minded. He WANTS to be with his people. He relishes in attention. And he loves his job as the resident “equine pyschologist” on staff!

Coyote’s ideal adopter would be someone that just wants a trail horse that plods along and takes life easy. An advanced beginner with confidence or an intermediate rider would pair nicely with him. He could probably do walk/trot classes in shows but he does need some training in getting his headset. His adopter would also be a person that just loves to have an in-your-pocket horse that will fall asleep on your shoulder after a day of grazing.

He’s amazing. I refer to him as that “one-in-a-million” horse…the kind that “just gets you” and knows exactly what you need when you need it. He’s great at giving hugs and loving on his two-legged friends.

Coyote is great for the farrier. Picks his feet up willingly. Loves being groomed and being doted on. He doesn’t move when being tacked up and takes a bit/bridle willingly. He will happily follow anyone leading him around without hesitation. He’s a class act!

He will the first to greet you and loves hanging his large head over his stall for attention. We can’t say enough about him. We – all at the barn – have fallen even more in love with him since he just rode off like he’s never been on stall rest from his feet and off for months from his leg injury. And to boot – a gorgeous, tall bay Thoroughbred! And wait…there’s more. He has age on his side. He’s seven years old. He has many miles and years left in him!

Here is his video if you’d like to see him in action:

Here is his adoption information:

If you would like to come and meet Coyote and see if he’s the horse for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us! You can call Sarah at 412.302.5181 or Angie at 724.496.6933.

And if you would like to adopt, please fill out an adoption application online by clicking here.

If you want to help out any of our horses here at the rescue, and wish to send in a donation, you can do so by clicking here.

Thank you again for all your support!

Angie

I’m available for adoption! Come visit me!

Dedication, Dishes, & Donations

So, I absolutely despise unloading the dishwasher.  I have no problem rinsing off dinner plates and loading the suckers in their slots.  Rarely do dishes pile up in our sink.  But there is just nothing satisfying to me about a bunch of clean ceramic-ware demanding to be returned to its rightful place in the cupboard.  And those wretched little forks and spoons staring at me, needing sorted, just tick me off.  I’d rather scrub a toilet.  I’d rather clean out the attic.  I’d rather pick up dog turds in the backyard with those crappy plastic bags that sometimes have holes that you don’t find until… well, you know.  It’s irrational, I know, but I hate holey poop bags less than I hate a full, clean dishwasher.

I’m learning that the rescue, like my household, comes with a variety of tasks, some more enjoyable than others.  I love the time that I spend with our horses: quiet afternoons with brushes and currycombs, soggy wash-stall baths, and ride after ride where our horses heal, and learn to trust a rider in their new environment.  I love feeding them in the evenings, hearing their impatient stomps and nickers when I just-can’t-throw-hay-fast-enough!  I love writing about them, so that our supporters from all over can get a real sense of each of our horses’ personalities and the work that we are doing here at the rescue.  I don’t mind other tasks:  setting up vet and farrier appointments, unloading hay, and researching unfamiliar illness and injuries to make the best decisions for our horses.

But I have found that the rescue has its own metaphorical dishwasher.

I hate asking for donations.  Hate it.  I hate feeling like I can’t do something myself, and I don’t like asking for handouts.  I will avoid asking for help vehemently in my personal life, and it’s so, so hard for me to ask for help for the rescue.  I want us to be self-sustaining, and like I mentioned in a previous post, our new board has some solid plans for the future that will enable us to build a solid financial footing.  We have some fundraising ideas that we’re excited to implement, and a boarding program that we are building up that will help cover regular monthly costs.

But right now, we need your help, and so I have to unload the dishwasher, and ask you to consider becoming a regular supporter of the rescue.

Coyote says, “Sponsor Me!! Ohhh, pick me!!!”

Your support of the rescue with as little as a $5 or $10 per month recurring donation is actually just as helpful to us than a one-time larger check, as we have a better idea of how much in donations we receive in a month and can budget and plan accordingly.

You can become a sponsor most easily by signing up for recurring monthly payments on PayPal, using our e-mail address flyingchangesrescue@gmail.com.  Checks can also be sent to 254 Glasgow Road, Gibsonia, Pa 15044, made payable to Flying Changes Equine Rescue. (You can also find out more information by going to our website and to our sponsorship page by clicking here.)

Sponsorship at various levels comes with some mad perks, listed below, including things like photos and updates of our horses, visits to the barn (likely with big hugs from all of us!), and invitations to sponsor-only events.

Boo, also, is patiently awaiting a sponsor!

Sponsorships also make great gifts for horse lovers of all ages – if you’d like to give a gift of sponsorship to a loved one, please contact us and we will put together an information packet that you can give to show how the gift will benefit our rescued horses.

Supporting a rescue horse through sponsorship is also a great team-building activity for 4-H clubs, pony clubs, and equestrian teams!

We would like to extend a huge thank you to our current monthly sponsors:  Gordon and Kay Mandell, Kelly Reed, and Marinda Stretavsky.

If you’d like to add your name to the list of amazing, generous people helping to support the regular care of our rescue horses, please take a look at our sponsorship opportunities below and let us know if you have any questions.

Thank you for your support – both emotional and monetary – it means more than you can imagine.  And thank you to my husband, Brad, who laughs at my dishwasher-loathing, but puts away those pesky dishes without complaint.

-Sarah

Sponsorship Opportunities

All Flying Changes Equine Rescue Sponsors receive:

•  A photo and description of your horse.
•  Acknowledgement/advertising on our Facebook page and website.
•  Monthly updates on your horse’s condition and adoption status.
•  Invitations to sponsor-only events.

Contributing Sponsor

A monthly donation in an amount of your choice can be

designated specifically to the care of your favorite Flying Changes rescue!

Contributing Sponsors also receive:

• A barn visit and tour to meet the horses and learn more about the rescue.

Mani-Pedi Pampering

$25 per month or $300 for a full year

This sponsorship level helps to provide hoof care for our rescue horses.

Mani-Pedi Pampering Sponsors also receive:

• A barn visit and tour to meet the horses and learn more about the rescue.  

Sweet Treats

$50 per month or $600 for a full year

This sponsorship level provides one month of grain to a rescue horse.

Sweet Treats Sponsors also receive:

• A barn visit and tour to meet the horses and learn more about the rescue.

Blue Ribbon Sponsorship

$100 per month or $1200 for a full year

This sponsorship level provides premium hay for a rescue horse.

Blue Ribbon Sponsors also receive:

• Visits and tours of the rescue (arranged through our barn management).

 

Reserve Champion Sponsorship

$200 per month or $2400 for a full year

This sponsorship level provides stall boarding for a rescue horse.

Reserve Champion Sponsors also receive:

•  A framed photo and description of your horse for display.
• Unlimited visits and tours of the rescue (arranged through our barn management).

Grand Champion Sponsorship

$400 per month or $4800 for a full year

This sponsorship level provides board, hay, grain, supplements, routine vet and hoof care.

Grand Champion Sponsors also receive:

•  A framed photo and description of your horse for display.
• An engraved stall nameplate with horse and sponsor names.
• Unlimited visits to the rescue (arranged through our barn management).

Looking Back and Moving Forward

I didn’t start a horse rescue on purpose.  Rather, it happened – spontaneously and haphazardly – because five needy horses landed in my lap.  To say that the first weeks were “a little” stressful is like saying that a wildfire is “a little” hot or that the ocean is “a little” deep.

In my bedroom one afternoon in late March, as I folded laundry still warm from the dryer, I collapsed onto my bed, whispering “I can’t do this by myself” and “How am I going to pay for all of this?” as I sobbed into a bath towel.  Let me just say I’ve had stronger moments in my life.

Though we’re still working on answering the “How am I going to pay for all of this?” question, thankfully, the “I can’t do this by myself” concern from early on was rectified shortly after the bedroom breakdown, as various individuals stepped forward offering organizational, emotional, and financial support, reminding me that I wouldn’t be going this alone.

Four people in particular demonstrated a passion for our mission that is nothing short of inspiring:  Angie Bastian-Dannelley, Annamaria Carrington, Kendra Bohn Mikoloski, and Jack Klingler.  And since “I can’t do this by myself,” I would like to introduce you to these individuals, the newly assembled Board of Directors of Flying Changes Equine Rescue.

Angie Bastian-Dannelley, who will be serving as secretary of Flying Changes, earned her B.F.A. in Graphic Design from Edinboro University and her M.S. in Organizational Leadership from Geneva College.  She owns Sun Rae Creative, a photography, marketing, and design business near Butler, Pa, and is also the proud wife of Abel, mom of Hunter, and equine-mom of five beautiful four-leggeds that she loves like family.  From the day I contacted Angie for help, she has been a whirlwind of ideas and a freight-train of forward motion for the rescue, with an incredibly sharp wit and gut-busting sense of humor.  Angie is the reason we have a website, and a blog, and beautiful pictures and videos of our rescue horses.  Angie is also the reason that I have whatever is left of my sanity!

Angie and her family, from l-r: Ella, Abel, Hunter, Penelope, Angie, and Romeo (missing are Blu & Rose)

Jack Klingler, Flying Changes’ treasurer, is … since we’re big on transparency at the rescue … also my dad.  But when I needed financial advice, I couldn’t think of a more honest, trustworthy, and straightforward person to have on our team.  Jack has his B.A. in accounting from Arizona State University (the BEST SCHOOL EVER, in case you were wondering) and his M.B.A. from Duquesne, and also is a C.P.A. and C.F.A. in addition to his D.A.D.  After 20+ years working in various finance positions at Alcoa, he and my mom, Michele, moved to Atherton, California, where he taught accounting at Menlo College for the past four years.  Jack and Michele moved back to Pennsylvania this May and Jack will be teaching several accounting courses in the undergraduate and graduate accounting programs at Pitt this fall.  Jack’s horse experience is a bit more limited than the other board members, but he has trail ridden with me on a few family vacations and does know that my horse’s name is Elmo, that he is “brown and white.”  As we work on securing a financial foundation for the rescue and building a base of local supporters, I can’t think of a better person to operate our finances and share the information with all of you.

Jack, Sarah’s dad and Accounting Extraordinaire

Annamaria Carrington, member at large, is a pharmaceutical sales rep for Purdue Pharmaceuticals with a B.A. in International Affairs and Business from Xavier University.  She is also the most experienced board member in the area of equine rescue as a former volunteer with the organization from which our original five horses came.  Annamaria is knowledgeable in many areas of horse care, including equine nutrition and the treatment and maintenance of numerous equine medical issues, and is our go-to person regarding our rescues’ individual needs.  AM also has an incredibly enormous heart – when our rescue stalls have been full, she has personally helped to find homes for horses whose owners have reached out for help, and she genuinely has the best interest of every horse in mind, regardless of its breed, age, temperament, or potential challenges.  The two gentlemen closest to her heart are (in no particular order) her husband Eric, and her handsome warmblood, River, whose purchase actually benefitted another rescue organization – a tribute to AM’s generous, compassionate nature.

Annamaria with Tilly, the pony that she saved with her friend, Carrie, Flying Changes’ very first intake

Kendra Bohn Mikoloski, member at large, is a veterinary neurologist and neurosurgeon at Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center, having completed vet school at the Ohio State University after attending Hiram College.  You read that right – we have a BRAIN SURGEON on our board!  Kendra boards her beautiful mare, Scarlett, at Hidden Oaks Farm where Flying Changes is housed, and has been an avid supporter of the rescue since it began in March.  Asking Kendra to the board was a no-brainer (bad pun, English teacher), and I was beyond thrilled when Kendra agreed to serve.  Not only is Kendra a vet, but she is an avid and experienced horsewoman – in addition to riding and training her own horse, Kendra regularly rides and competes Hidden Oaks’ horses, and she is always looking for a new experience or feedback from her trainer to continue learning and growing as an equestrian.  Additionally, Kendra’s rational, logical, and straightforward way of thinking is a stabilizing force for the rescue, and many a time Kendra has aided the decision making process with her intellectual and rational perspective.  We thank Kendra’s husband David for sharing her with us, and appreciate her taking the time out of her busy schedule to help our horses in need!

Kendra

That tear-filled day in March seems so far away as I write this today. I never imagined that such an amazing team of talented, unique individuals would so generously give of themselves to do the right thing for our local equines.  We met officially as a board last night for the first time, and I’m so excited to share with you in upcoming posts some of our plans for the future that will ensure that the rescue can self-sustain and continue helping horses in need.

Until then, thank you for your support.

~Sarah

Sarah Susa, founder & President of Flying Changes Equine Rescue, and our very first intake, Tilly, the morgan-type pony

For more information on Flying Changes and all the horse rescue’s happenings, please go to the website, by clicking here.

Communicating with Maddie: Evon Montogomery

Earlier this week, local equine trainer and behavioral expert, Evon Montgomery, came to Flying Changes to work with Maddie, a horse surrendered to Flying Changes when an area rescue closed its doors. Evon speaks at Horse Expo’s throughout the country on topics such as: Horse ownership basics, Horse body language, Traveling and camping with horses, Teaching communication skills for horse and human, Keys to the Gait for gaited breeds, Obstacle course and development of confidence on the Trail, Confidence building for the Event and Dressage riders and Western Dressage. Evon works with all breeds of horses, both gaited and non-gaited alike and believes that having an understanding relationship with your horse makes the horse ENJOYABLE and rewarding.  Evon takes time to teach both horse and rider how to remain calm and collected to make the journey worthwhile. (excerpt taken from http://www.horseloversguide.com) Please click HERE to visit Evon’s website, Horseloverguide, LLC.

Many of you have followed Maddie since her initial rescue, but for others who aren’t familiar with her background, I’ll tell you what we know:  About two years ago, Maddie was found lying in a muddy round pen with no food or water, voluntarily surrendered by her owners.  She was horribly neglected, hundreds of pounds underweight, and covered with “bedsores” from spending so much time lying down.  Her hooves were so overgrown that they had curled up and split, resembling elf shoes.  It took rescuers nearly an hour to get Maddie on her feet, and another hour to get her loaded onto the trailer, because she was so weak that she could hardly stand.  Many times over the course of Maddie’s first few post-rescue days, volunteers wondered if she would survive.  However, due to the round-the-clock care of devoted volunteers, survive she did, and was taken to renowned veterinarian Dr. Ronald Genovece at Cleveland Equine, who performed reconstructive surgeries on her front hooves, believing that Maddie would have the ability to stand on her own four feet once again.  Slowly, Maddie’s feet began to heal and she began to gain weight, her hips and ribs disappearing.

Fast forward.  Today, Maddie is happy and healthy, and its hard to believe that she’s the same horse in the pictures hanging by her stall.  Her coat is shiny, her eyes are bright, and her hooves are growing stronger with each farrier visit.

However, as Maddie recovered, it became clear that she actually had quite the personality!  She’s a “red-headed mare” and has the spunk to go with the label – she’s the boss in the field, and likes to be the leader of horses and humans alike.  Because of Maddie’s difficult health history, she was often doted on by volunteers, fed lots of treats, and handled gently, because people felt bad for her difficult past.  She began to display some negative habits; she is headstrong and pushy when lead, and though she is no longer in any hoof pain, is extremely touchy when her hooves are picked, kicking out or pulling her hooves from a volunteer’s hands.

One of Flying Changes’ board members, Angie, has known Evon for years, and at Equine Affaire this spring, was telling Evon about Maddie.  Evon, drawn towards challenging equines (brave woman!), was intrigued, and agreed to come to the rescue to work with Maddie and offer some advice on breaking Maddie’s bad habits and making her more adoptable, as finding forever homes for our horses is the mission of our rescue.

Evon says, “You can’t change a horse’s personality, but you can moderate specific behaviors.”

We had incorrectly believed that Maddie’s difficulty leading was due to separation anxiety, and that her hoof sensitivity was due to bad memories or fear of pain.  Evon watched me interact with Maddie; she saw Maddie lower her head for the halter and stand quietly in cross ties to be groomed, relishing in the attention.  However, when I took Maddie into the arena (where she was alone), in typical fashion, she began whinnying and circling around me, attempting to pull me toward the door and her friends.  I talked to her and tried to settle her down, asking her to turn in smaller circles as a distraction, but she remained upset.  Evon had me take her back to the barn and put her back in the crossties.

Maddie wasn’t suffering from separation anxiety, Evon explained, or at least not in a way that was making her fearful.  Rather, she simply wanted to be the boss, and needed to see a human working with her as a leader rather than someone to be pushed around.  Because of Maddie’s sensitive history, Evon explained, she was babied, and people were afraid to correct any bad behaviors, linking them to things like pain or fear.  While certainly, these were reasons for the behaviors in the beginning (especially the fear of pain in her hooves, or the comfort of being in her stall), Evon explained that instead, Maddie has gotten used to being in charge and isn’t pleased when someone else – two or four legged – tries to take control.

In the crossties, Evon demonstrated how a rope leadline could be wound across and through the noseband of Maddie’s halter to create more pressure; she suggested avoiding a chain lead or rope halter due to Maddie’s sensitivity.  She explained that our goal was not to intimidate or hurt Maddie, but rather change the pecking order in Maddie’s horse/human world so that Maddie would begin to see and to trust humans to take a leadership position.  Evon led Maddie to the arena and Maddie began whinnying and turning again, attempting to push Evon out of the way to get to where she wanted to go.  Evon remained calm and steady as Maddie danced around her, encouraging Maddie to keep her head next to or behind Evon’s body, pushing her back when Maddie attempted to invade space that wasn’t hers.  Maddie, stubborn girl, continued to want to be in charge, and pulled a few moves that would have made the Lone Ranger’s Silver proud, and was covered in sweat despite the fact that all Evon was asking her to do was walk beside her. Eventually, though, Maddie submitted, dropping her head, chewing, and eventually walking complacently next to Evon’s side, even touching Evon with her muzzle to make a connection.  At the end of the session, I took over the leadrope and Evon demonstrated some “half-halt” techniques to keep Maddie in check, and showed a different way to hold the lead that utilizes the strength in the whole arm.  Before we put Maddie away, Evon worked on picking up Maddie’s feet, ignoring her negative behavior (pulling her foot out of your hand) and holding it up for longer and longer periods of time and setting it down at Evon’s discretion instead of her own.

One of the things that Maddie has going for her, Evon said, is that she genuinely likes people.  She wants to be touched and loved on; she just needs to have a healthy respect for humans as leaders instead of her servants, and we learned so much about her and how we can help her to get where she needs to be!

An enormous thank you to Evon Montgomery for her time and her teachings – it’s humbling to meet someone who can so clearly read and understand a horse she has just met!  We look forward to updating you on Maddie’s progress!

~Sarah

PS: Be sure to watch for another blog post – but with a video of Evon and Maddie!

(Below are a few images from the day. Evon brought along a cameraman for a show she is currently working on. We gave Evon a tour of the rescue, and introduced her to our horses.)

Boo was highly interested in what was going on. She took some time from her eating to say hello to the cameraman.

In this image, Evon is teaching Sarah and Angie about Maddie’s behaviors and how she wants to be the leader.

From left to right: Sarah Susa, founder of Flying Changes Equine Rescue, Evon Montogomery, owner of Horseloversguide, LLC, and Angie Dannelley, board member of Flying Changes Equine Rescue.

For more information on Flying Changes Equine Rescue, please visit our website by clicking HERE.

Our First Blog Post – Welcome!!!

Welcome to the official blog of Flying Changes Equine Rescue!

My name is Sarah Klingler Susa; I am a Pittsburgh area native and 25+ year equestrian. My childhood was spent competing in local shows, participating in 4-H, working at a nearby tack shop and riding summer camps, and volunteering with two Pittsburgh-area therapeutic horseback riding programs.  My own horse, Elmo, was my 15^th birthday present, and in April of 2015 we celebrated his 26^th birthday and our 18 years together.  In college, I founded and competed with an IHSA hunt seat team.  After graduate school, I returned to the Pittsburgh area to teach English at Upper St. Clair High School. I started an IEA hunt seat team at USC, which I coached for several years, while also teaching riding lessons and running summer camps near Seven Springs. I have been committed to the horses and equestrians of the Pittsburgh area for the majority of my life.

When a failing local equine rescue (where I had been volunteering for just a few months) announced that it would be closing its doors, I knew that I had to help.

At first, my only responsibility was finding permanent homes for the five horses belonging to the failing rescue.  But when two amazing women – Angie Dannelley and Annamaria Carrington – stepped up to help, we decided that we believed too much in the mission – aiding local horses in need – to watch it end.

After seeking advice from legal and financial advisors, we have cut all ties with the old rescue and are in the process of forming a new nonprofit organization.  We have chosen the name Flying Changes Equine Rescue, and hope that you can appreciate its significance.

We look forward to making this blog a space to share with our supporters the happenings at the rescue, such as horse updates and success stories, information about fundraising and financials, and other relevant topics related to the equine and rescue industries.  Subscribe to our blog and rescue updates will be delivered right to your inbox!

Thank you for reading!

Sarah Susa, founder & president of Flying Changes Equine Rescue

Sarah Susa, founder & President of Flying Changes Equine Rescue, and our very first intake, Tilly, the morgan-type pony