This isn’t truly a blog, just a place where I share photos of my home for those who would like to see, but consider this post “bloggy”, and please do read if you have the time.
When I first began this Tumblr it was to share photos of Appalachia, but slowly it became about the horses of Appalachia that I dearly love. Yet they are as Appalachian as anything else I post, maybe even more so, because these horses are now as a part of our land as the mountains themselves. They make their homes in the hills the same way we do. They are hardy and resilient, just as any Appalachian woodsman must be to survive here. And survive they do, for as long as they can.
But this post isn’t totally about them, though I hope you guys enjoy seeing them. This is about two rescues who are fighting tooth and nail to save the horses of Appalachia, be them feral or not. These are two organizations that have beyond proved themselves worthy of your love and support, and I hope that any who can will donate their time, money, or goods to help them fight this onslaught of poverty in our area that doesn’t just affect people.
First up is the Kentucky Equine Humane Center (KyEHC) located in Nicholasville Kentucky just outside of Lexington. This is a beautiful piece of property spread over 70 acres that is currently home to 49 rescue horses, many of which were pulled straight from our mountains. (Their capacity is 50 horses, by the way.) This is also the home of Millie, formerly Kiah. Now, if you don’t know who Kiah is, she is the first baby born on the mountain last year. She was foaled around April 1’st, 2016. She is the youngest living daughter of the oldest stallion on the mountain who was over 25 years old when he sired her. He is now presumed passed and a new stallion has taken over his herd.
I watched Millie grow from the time she was a few days old over the course of a year. To me, she was special, being my first foal encounter and belonging to such an old stallion. Then, a couple weeks shy of her first birthday, I found her alone, down, and unable to stand. For an hour I carted her water up and down the mountain until finally I said “Please, show me you want to live, and I swear I will find a way to get you off this mountain.” She wanted so badly to live. She made it very clear. And it was done.
After much calling and crying and running around, we were able to make a ridiculous rescue, and the next morning Almost Home Shelter Pet Rescue (Almost Home) from Hazard Kentucky sent a trailer (the driver of whom did all this only for gas money) and sent her to KyEHC who had her sent directly to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. She spent a solid two weeks at the hospital receiving ‘round the clock IVs, hay, feed, and hand walking. And, true to her incredible nature, Kiah, who became Millie, led. She allowed herself to be handled. She was kind and accepting. And now… you guys just wouldn’t believe it. But luckily I have photos.
I was able to go back and see Millie and speak with her rescuers about her in more detail. The yearling I met wasn’t the fearful filly I walked up on on the mountain. She didn’t balk at my touch. There was no fear in her eyes. Instead that panic held curiosity and joy and kindness. She was playful and oh so happy. For the first time in her life I got to see her play and let loose without worry, and she may have a future as a therapy horse, all because of what Almost Home and KyEHC have done for her.
The next rescue is another special one, whose own motto is “Saving the horses of Appalachia”. They are incredible have saved some very incredible horses. They have many of our feral horses in their custody, improving their lives dramatically.
Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue INC. (HOP) is based in Shoals West Virginia. They are dedicated to saving horses in need in West Virginia, Eastern Kentucky and Southern Ohio. Recently HOP has begun a program called the Appalachian Trainer Face-Off, a competition in which local trainers are paired with an untrained/unhandled rescue horse and are given 100 days to gentle, train, and exhibit the horse for adoption through HOP rescue.
This rescue takes in some of the most abused, neglected, emaciated horses I have ever seen in my life, supporting them all through donations. Anytime I have asked them for help they have responded and stepped in to at least try.
Horses built America. They built most of the world, in fact. They toil for us, love us, are loyal to us, and in times of hardship they feed and clothe us. If there is anyone or anything in this world we owe ourselves to, it is them.
Both of these wonderful rescues accept donations of money, goods, and time. If you are interested in somehow donating or just following their horses please check out the links in their information above and below. If you cannot donate, please share!
Also below are links to a couple previous posts about Millie (which include previous posts about Millie). **The third and fifth images belong to KyEHC’s Facebook page.
Links to Millie’s original story:
Appalachian Trainer Faceoff (pssst, I’m on #HOPTeamDune)
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