30 EQUINES second part

The next day we arrived early and we saw that the six colts had been stolen; only the deformed foal was still there. It would probably have to be put down later on. But I will continue with its story later on, so as not to interrupt this account.

One of us stayed with this foal and the others began to follow different paths and visit houses to try to find the other animals.

Stella and Maria saw them four kilometers away, on a farm with some rather unpleasant looking people.

Bucking up all her courage, Stella went in as “Chief Vet” and ordered them to give the animals back and they did so, without us having to call the police.

It was incredible, they were unbroken colts that hadn’t let us even touch them, but these people had been able to shave their manes and tails so that they couldn’t be identified.

Then the lorry arrived and from there we took them to the Refuge.

A group of colts eating.....finally

When we arrived the lorry driver had the bright idea of putting the ramp down right next to the road and to let them go down to the river together. Oh! They went galloping down, breaking the fences and upsetting the horses that live there, until they reached a piece of land where they relaxed and began to graze. As there was nowhere else to put them, we had to quickly look for some netting to improvise a fence where they could stay with some degree of safety. Meanwhile Maria and I stayed, with sticks in hand, to keep the animals there.

The horses were tired and they decided that it was better not to continue being naughty, which is why, when the fence was finished, Leonor gave them food and they stayed there for two or three months until they were adopted.

Ron, Arum, Akeem, Foc and the ponies Sherrif and … were fed and looked after by Leonor until they were adopted.

The Story of CALITJA (Mist)

"Calitja" at de clinic, after just have been operated

When we were all together, waiting for the lorry to take us to the refuge, the air was heavy and nobody dared to say anything, because at that moment we had to take the decision to call a vet to put down the deformed foal. And when we eventually decided to call the vet, Imma, one of the group, who had her head between her hands, as if she was resting…. looked up misty eyed because of tears, because of the sadness she felt that this foal, so young, that we had rescued. However instead of her rescue it was a death sentence and Imma´s exterior strength hid an interior sensitivity.. Stella felt sorry for Imma, she found out it was possible to operate on the foal and suggested that she would pay for the operation, but Imma had to adopt her and look after her.

"CALITJA" at Irma's house, complitely recovered

So, Calitja was saved and even though the operation was very difficult and the recuperation very long, from the photographs we can see that she came through everything very well. In fact so well, that three years later, it has been possible to ride her for a short time now and again.

"FOC" one of the foals, enjoing the snow

Thirty equines have had different paths and even though some have been left behind, others continue to be looked after and loved by those who have been able to offer them a new home.

BRANDY and BLUE playing in de forest