By Pam Mozier
By Pam Mozier
WASHINGTON â It was 25 years ago that Patty Wahlers brought two starving ex-race horses for $1 and walked them three miles to her barn ⦠where she worked to rehabilitate them. At the time, she didnâ know what she had started.
Fast forward to October of 2006 â when H.O.R.S.E (Humane Organization Representing Suffering Equines) of Connecticut, Inc., celebrated its 25th anniversary. Since Wahlers first took in those horses, the volunteer organization she founded has saved more than 500 horses and ponies.
As a volunteer at the rescue for only five years, I havenât met every horse that has come through the gates of H.O.R.S.E, but I have met many remarkable animals that have been helped out of horrible, sometimes life-threatening situations and gone on to happy, adoptive homes.
H.O.R.S.E. has taken in Premarin© babies who would otherwise have gone to slaughter; pregnant Premarin© mares who gave birth at H.O.R.S.E.; retired police horses; ex-race and ex-show horses; and numerous starvation cases along with just plain unwanted or neglected horses.
One of my favorite horses is Velvet, who came to H.O.R.S.E. because her owner couldnât afford to keep her and leased her out and somehow Velvet, despite being a petite but slow Thoroughbred, became a Premarin© mare. Velvet had six foals in six years and came to H.O.R.S.E. skinny, dirty and tired. But with a lot of TLC, good food, grooming and general attention she has started to look like a horse again.
In spite of her time at the Premarin© factories, Velvet is very kind to humans and loves attention and she is a wonderful ride for a lightweight rider. Velvet is waiting for the right person to find her and take her home, but in the meantime she enjoys the pets and treats she gets from the H.O.R.S.E. volunteers, riding on trails, and meeting and greeting the visitors who come through on tours.
Another favorite is Misty, who came to H.O.R.S.E. as a starvation case. With her present-day robust figure, one would never guess she was a victim of neglect. Misty was one of six sickly horses seized and brought to H.O.R.S.E. for rehabilitation. Though in far better shape, Misty cannot be ridden because she has HYPP, a genetic disorder that is largely the result of careless breeding. But until someone adopts her as a companion horses, she enjoys long walks and visits from her sponsor families and H.O.R.S.E. volunteers.
One horse I will always remember is Toby, who had flunked out of a police horse program and, at sometime during his pre-H.O.R.S.E. life had been so badly treated he was terrified of people. One freezing ay it took me over an hour to groom him because I had to corner and catch him about four or five times. Yet, with months of egular, careful and gentle â but firm â handling, Toby slowly began to trust people again.
Soon enough, it was easy to fall in love with the new Toby and Robert and Maria did just that, bringing him home to their three boys and four other horses and all are living happily ever after. Maria coos and sings to her horses and whenever I think of her cooing to Toby while sheâs gently petting him, I canât help but smile.
Every horse has a story. Thanks to Patty Wahlers and the organization she founded 25 years ago, many horses who hit a rough patch have found their happy endings. Even though I can only give H.O.R.S.E. one day a week â and I donât do anything particularly important, mostly just groom and walk horses, clean stalls and pass out treats â Iâm proud to be part of an organization that does so much, every single day, to help our beautiful horse friends.
Open House
H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut will hold a Christmas Open House on Saturday, December 9, from 10 am to 3 pm.
There will be a silent auction, bake sale table, boutique sale, pony rides (from 12 noon to 2 pm) and a tour to meet the horses. Santa Claus will also be stopping by from 1 to 3 pm, so stop on down to the barns at 43 Wilbur Road in Washington.
For further information, call 860-868-1960.
Visit www.horseofct.org