Cisco

Cisco needs your help!

This beautiful and playful 3-year-old horse – in the care of Shadarobah Horse Rescue just south of Churubusco on U.S. 33 – has a hernia that is creating serious intestinal problems. This health problem causes the horse’s intestines to drop down into the pocket of the hernia, which in turn causes severe colic and pain. This could result in Cisco having to be euthanized.

He needs surgery that will cost at least $600, according to volunteers at the rescue shelter. “Without the surgery, it is not a matter of if he will die, it’s a matter of when,” said volunteer Carma MacPherson.

To find out how you can help, call MacPherson at 260-750-6617.

Joey needs a kind and gentle touch

Joey is a gray and white 7-year-old gelding. He was rescued from severe abuse and neglect at the hands of his previous owner. He needs a female owner with a lot of patience and love. Joey needs to learn to trust and to be taught that the human touch doesn’t have to hurt. For more information on adopting Joey, call Michelle at Shadarobah Horse Rescue, 260-410-1999.

The horse farm, located just south of Churubusco on U.S. 33, also is in need of donations of feed, straw, hay, wormer, halters, leads, saddles, bridles, blankets, brushes and other equipment. If you have items to donate, call Carma MacPherson at 260-750-6617.

For more information on the horse rescue farm click here.

If you or your business would like to sponsor a monthly news article profiling the 13-15 horses that are up for adoption at Shadarobah Horse Rescue Farm, call Buscovoice.com representatives,  Chris at 260-312-0126 or Viv at 260-241-7737 or email chris@buscovoice.com or viv@buscovoice.com.

Joey

By Viv Sade for Buscovoice.com

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — When Michelle Heitz was trying to come up with a name for her new horse rescue farm, her husband, who is part Native American, suggested Shadarobah, which means may the future be better than the past.

And during the first year of existence for Shadarobah,life has indeed, become much better for the 55 horses that have been nursed back to healthy lives by Heitz and a staff of loving volunteers at the horse farm.

The Shadarobah farm, located at 10113 U.S. 33, Fort Wayne, is hosting a fall benefit Saturday, Oct. 17, from 11-4 p.m. Heitz and Shadarobah volunteers invite the public to bring their families and have a great time while helping a great cause.

There will be a live auction, 50/50 drawing, carnival games, cake walk, bake sale, and horse and pony rides.

Shadarobah – May the future be better than the past

Since opening in September 2008, the equine rescue center has managed to adopt out 55 rescued horses.

Currently the farm has ten horses up for adoption while housing 28, according to volunteer Michelle Frey.

Shadarobah is dedicated to rescuing abused starved neglected or unwanted horses. At the farm, located just a few miles south of Churubusco on U.S. 33, the horses are provided with a safe, nourishing and loving environment – and for many of them, it’s a first.

According to another volunteer, Carma McPherson, the recession also has affected the plight of many horses. Many are being underfed or not fed at all, or have been abandoned.

While the United States has banned the slaughter of horses, this country still allows the horses to be exported to Mexico or Canada where they are inhumanely killed, with some reports stating that the horses have been slaughtered while still conscious.The meat is then sent to other countries for human consumption, according to MacPherson. In France, horse meat is considered to be a delicacy.

Azland after

Azland before

The horse farm has many success stories and Charlie and Azland are just two of those stories. Pictured in before and after photos at right, Charlie was three years old and starving to death before being nurtured back to health on the farm. He was recently adopted.

Azland’s bones jutted out and his entire rib cage was clearly visible. The telltale signs of Azland’s neglect and malnourishment was a sad picture to document. Fortunately, the caring staff at Shadarobah was able to nurse Azland back to health. He is currently 11 months old – beautiful, strong and healthy – and awaiting adoption.

Trick or Treat with the horses

If you can’t make it to the fundraiser Saturday, mark your calendars for Shadarobah’s Halloween at the Barn, Friday, Oct. 30, from 6-9 p.m. Visitors are invited to attend in costume and trick or treat at each horses’ stall. The horses also will be decked out in their finest Halloween attire. Then, have some fun winding your way through a spooky straw maze.

Charlie after

Charlie before

Refreshments will be available. A $4 donation for the trick or treat and spooky maze and a $1 donation for a repeat trip through the maze will go to support the care of the horses.

Everyone can help

Everyone may not be able to adopt a horse, according to Heitz, but anyone can help. Some of those ways to help include:

• Write letters to your state representatives in the Congress and the Senate and stand up against inhumane treatment of horses.
• Become a volunteer. Shadarobah uses a staff of volunteers to care for the more than two dozen horses housed on the farm at any given time.
  

  Michelle Frey is a volunteer at Shadarobah.
• Foster a horse. Not everyone has the means or accommodations to adopt a horse, but did you know you can become a foster parent to a horse?
• Donate time and/or money. A donation as little as $5 will buy a bale of hay. A donation of $8 will buy a bag of feed.
• Donate supplies. the rescue farm is in need of hay, straw, feed, wood shavings, nutritional supplies and used horse equipment such as halters, saddled, leads, blankets, brushes, etc.
• Sponsor a horse by pledging a monthly financial commitment. Sponsors are invited to stop by the farm anytime and watch as their sponsored horse blossoms into the beautiful, strong and healthy animal it was intended to be.

For more information on Shadarobah or how you can help, call 260-410-1999 or go to www.Shadarobah.com.