HORSE Needs Help Saving Horses

WASHINGTON — The Humane Organization Representing Suffering Equines (HORSE) of Connecticut announced this week that it is in need of donations after rescuing three severely abused stallions that are in need of medical care.

“With 25 horses to care for, we have more than we can handle during these tough economic times but I could not walk away from the suffering I saw,” said Patty Wahlers, president of HORSE of Connecticut. Wahlers, who has rescued more than 650 horses over the last 30 years, said that she is hoping people will help fund the medical care the horses will need.

The three stallions, named Star, Justice, and Victory are approximately 4 and 8 years old and have not been gelded. Because she has several mares on the property, Wahlers is hesitant about introducing horses that have not been fixed.

“It’s springtime and even those horses that are gelded react to being near the mares. Stallions are especially aggressive during this time of the year,” said Wahlers whose organization relies solely on donations and private grants for funding. “The first thing I plan to do is to have them gelded, but they may not be strong enough to survive the surgery. It will be up to the vet to decide that.”

In addition to the surgery, each horse will need to have his hooves trimmed, his teeth floated, a process in which the teeth are filed down to make it easier for the horses to eat, yearly shots, and a complete medical workup to test for diseases. Though these things are a part of a yearly health care program for horses, at least one of the stallions has never received any hoof care during his lifetime.

“All three have a condition called rain rot, a skin infection sometimes caused by not grooming them, no shelter, or neglect, that will eventually mean they will lose their hair,” Wahlers said. “It’s important that we begin to treat them so that they don’t infect any of the other horses.”

According to Ann Lynch, who is treasurer of the organization, HORSE of Connecticut has had to cut back on the number of horses it rescues due to a decline in donations.

“At one point, we had almost 40 horses that we were caring for but maintaining their care was too expensive,” Lynch said. “For the past year, we haven’t taken in any new horses because we need to make sure we have enough money to care for those we have. Even with the same number of horses we still spent $10,000 more last year for the same care.”

Wahlers points out that caring for three stallions that have been severely neglected will be challenging.

“We are very lucky that we have dedicated volunteers who will work with me to rehabilitate and train these horses,” Wahlers said. “I know that I can make these horses healthy again, but I need assistance with the funds to do it. I’m hoping that people will come together to help these poor horses who have been through so much.”

If you can help, send a check to HORSE of Connecticut, 43 Wilbur Road, Washington, CT 06777 or online to donate at the organization’s site, www.horseofct.org.

The Humane Organization Representing Suffering Equines of Connecticut, Inc, is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of abused and neglected horses. Over the past 30 years, HORSE has saved more than 650 lives. In addition to direct intervention, HORSE also maintains an on-going commitment to educating the public regarding horse care. For more information visit the website or call 860-868-1960.