The good, and bad, that has happened behind the scenes this past week!

We share the reality of rescue all the time here, but there's only so many hours in the day and so many times you can post before it becomes overwhelming, so there's often a lot that happens that we don't get time to share. There is always more going on behind the scenes than we can ever share here, and sometimes it's good, sometimes it's not. It's nearly always hard.

This past week has had its share of difficulties, and things that make it hard for us to keep moving forward, and make it so we just want to stay quiet. BUT that is rarely the right move. Our community is so supportive, it helps to share the good and bad. But also, sometimes people offer opinions thinking they know everything that's going on, when they don't, and we don't always respond gracefully. We try, but somedays it's hard.

 

So I'm going to take a moment and share - not highlighting an adoptable horse, not promoting the Spaghetti Dinner or upcoming Dakota Showdown, not giving an update on a fun moment today, not even asking for funds for the final load of hay ... but the reality. The good, and bad, that has happened behind the scenes this past week.

First the good: late last week we were contacted by a family who had suffered a loss in their family and needed to rehome their horse and pony, both 25, as soon as possible. We said yes, and I privately asked on my own wall if anyone would be willing to transport for us, as our stall cleaner was on vacation, we had several medical things to deal with, and adding a 3-hour round trip was going to really affect that. But we were ready and willing to go help out. Amazingly one of my friends' parents lived near the family and had offered to take in these very horses in the past, so we were able to connect them and they've worked it all out so the horses will be safe and the family have the support they need. If anything falls through, we'll be right here for them - but we're glad it worked out that way!

Also last week, but earlier, we had reached out to a couple people about transferring in some horses for the Dakota Showdown Horse Trainer Challenge that is coming up. Pictures were exchanged, info about the horses, and we agreed and started to get excited for them. Literally the next day, one of the partners let me know that one of them had colicked and required euthanasia. Since we had just been introduced to him and only seen a single picture, we were sad for him, but not as devastated as others could be.

 

Like Charlotte.

 

Another horse we had committed to and seen many photos, videos, and talked about was a lovely 4-year-old named Scarlett. When we committed, we asked to change her name to Charlotte because we've had a Scarlett that was in the Showdown, and her fabulous foster home loved it as well, and instantly changed it. Said it suited her better. Everyone involved was excited for the opportunity for this big, young, beautiful girl to get the training and find her perfect home.

But, this weekend while being ponied from another horse, she suffered a significant leg injury - honestly one of the worst we've personally ever seen. Her foster mother had a vet out right away and was meticulously caring for it, and brought her in to Nebraska Equine (from Missouri! Just so she could be closer to her actual owner and come here for rehab if possible) today. Unfortunately, a significant infection had already set in to the tendon sheath, and the vets only gave her a 10% chance of survival even with extreme in patient veterinary care including surgeries, flushing the infection, IV antibiotics, and more - and several months of rehab with the hope that she could eventually be pasture sound.

 

10% is not a very high chance of survival, and that is a lot to ask of a young horse to maybe someday be pasture sound.

So today, beautiful Charlotte was given her freedom and sent to greener pastures ... and we're surprisingly devastated. We know it's everything piling up, but when you identify as a fixer it's hard to know there's something you can't fix.

The upside is that we were able to share the pain and load a bit with the other people who cared about the horse, and hope by sharing some of the behind the scenes you all can send love and support to everyone - the family who lost their loved one and are giving up their horses, the other rescue who said goodbye to their horse last week, and Charlotte's foster mom, who had a long drive home with an empty trailer. There's nothing quite as devastating as being full of hope and hearing the words that there is no hope to be had.

There's a lot of bashing and questioning of rescues, in general, and while we feel somewhat lucky that our community for the most part is kind and willing to be nice about their questions or opinions, even we feel it sometimes. I hope by sharing this that the next time you see a rescue struggling, or doing something you question, that you stop and think of all the things that are happening that you never hear about, and maybe give them a little grace. Because behind it all are real human beings facing more than you could ever know.

If you got this far, thanks for sticking with it, and your support, and go hug something you care about. Picture is because it's beautiful, and not related to anyone in this post.