Three Pines Farm

I don't have any new pics, but I've been asked for a little more info on Major and how he came to be where he is.  I recieved a call from a lady who explained that she was going through a divorce and couldn't afford to keep her horses anymore; she had 5, but said that the ex would be taking one and a friend would be taking another, so there would only be 3 to sign in.  Still being new to the game, I referred her to IHR Southwest so we could get the procedure correct.  After speaking with Southwest and agreeing to terms & conditions, she decided to sign all 5 into the program.  At the moment we only had a 2-horse trailer on loan and I was having trouble procuring another (I knew we would probably be taking most if not all of them to Southwest and it would have been an all-day trip to have made it two or three times with a single trailer).  I called the owner and asked if I could bring her some hay and feed to last until the following weekend; she didn't think that was necessary but I felt a real sense of urgency, so I still kept calling the 'trailer list'.  We ended up finding a second truck and trailer so we set out for their farm the same day (this past Saturday).  I was a bit shocked at their conditions when we arrived; and even though I really didn't plan on bringing any into my already-overflowing barn, the skinny gray gelding looked at me with his heart in his eyes...and I knew he was coming home with us.  He and his trailer-mate loaded like a dream (Major was so ready to jump in there and get to the feed bucket that he practically ran Angie down and then busted her lip when he tossed the empty bucket, haha! Sorry about that, Ang!!!  He didn't mean it!), and even the three wild ones only took a few minutes to get loaded.  We brought Major home and settled him into the Donkey Run while we took the others to Southwest, then came back and sat with him for several hours before stumbling to bed. 

Tomorrow he will have been with us for a week; he's had two medicated baths for his rainrot and fungal issues and has been started on a parasite-control program suitable to his emaciated condition.  While he's still on feeding restrictions, he tucks into his portions with great gusto and paws for more when he finishes.  He's always the first to nicker when he sees someone--anyone--that might give him a gingersnap (the world's best horse treats!).  He's wearing a blanket at night right now although it's a tad too small for him; if anyone would like to donate a blanket for Major to help keep him from burning much-needed calories to keep warm, please contact me for sizing information.  If you have any more questions about Major or the other horses, please email me at ihrpike@yahoo.com.  Thanks, and have a great day!

First off, I want to give out a huge THANK YOU!! to Tony, Kathryn, and the rest of IHR.  I'm sure they are beginning to dread hearing our truck pull up in the dark; this weekend alone we brought in 7 horses (although only 5 went to IHR Southwest; we kept Major and Angie kept another).  8 horses, if you include the sweet black Arab (Molly) that we took down there to make room for our new guy.  So thank you thank you thank you, guys; these horses owe you their lives.

So now, meet 'Major'.  Major was one of 5 who were signed over by their owner on Saturday.  "Mage" is one hungry guy!  We've started working him up on groceries and have started treatment for his rainrot and parasites; I don't think it'll take this boy long to pack the pounds back on.  And when he does, look out!  He's going to be gorgeous!  Major is very sweet; handles well (although he gets highly irritated when you take him away from his chow, lol), and is said to be broke.  Keep an eye out for updates on this fellows progress as we go along!  More story after the pics:

If any of you are local, I have a huge favor to ask...if you have a trailer, please contact us about signing up for emergency transport.  We as yet do not have a working trailer of our own (we have a trailer but the floor is out, and when we spend every available free moment helping horses out of bad situations, that doesn't leave any time to fix it) and we need help desperately.  In the last two weeks alone, we've brought in about a dozen horses to IHR Southwest.  I don't mind paying all the gas money to do this, but having to call around and beg for a trailer is getting old!  If you could haul a couple or wouldn't mind letting us use your trailer when you're not using it, please contact us to sign up.  Sometimes that extra day that I don't have to spend hunting down a trailer can mean life or death for some of these horses.  Or if you have a trailer you might be selling, keep in mind that donations are tax-deductible for you!  :) 

Keep an eye out for more on this beautiful boy.  Have a great day!