Luke and others – before picture. Neglected, sick and at-risk of being sent to slaughter. 

Checking the slaughter pipeline sites had become a daily routine, and on this day the gut-wrenching reality of neglect, combined with the end-of-life brutality came flashing in like a lightning strike. There they were, three emaciated minis, on a site that was going to “run” them through their online auction. They were skin and bones, their eyes were glazed over with disbelief and fear. Their pictures told the story of starvation, lack of compassion and disregard for life. They were three young, beautiful minis who had been neglected and displaced into an auction, finding themselves even more traumatized, afraid, and hungry.

On my phone, their pictures etched in my head, the thread of comments was mounting from “oh my goodness they are so adorable”, to “holy sh** someone SAVE them”, to my comment…” ‘Name of Dealer’ – You know better, you know you can’t run these emaciated and suffering minis through your sale. You must call on the rescue organizations to step in. Please pull them off your site. Do not run them through!”  The backlash from his girlfriend was immediate, telling me to “mind my own business and shut up”. But shutting up was not in my vocabulary, they were suffering and needed immediate veterinary care.

I reached out to him through text and a phone call to and said the same, “You know you shouldn’t run them through the sale, you have to let the rescue organizations help!”. I let him know Peaceful Acres Horses would purchase them and come get them to bring to the sanctuary and get them veterinary care before they were dead on their barn floor. (yes, that is exactly what happens!  The horses in need of veterinary care do not receive it – period).

I asked him the “bail” they wanted for each one of the minis, he told me $500 each and I had to use our credit card immediately or the “deal was off the table”. I scrambled and called a dedicated contributor who was always willing to pay bail on the situations of illness or starvation, the desperate cases where death would be imminent if left in the pen.  Within minutes, $1500 was in Peaceful Acres Horses’ PayPal account! Thank you, Lindsay! (Love and Hugs)

I called the dealer and paid for their freedom!

Picking them up that next day took my breath away. They were huddled together in fear; they were so emaciated that every bone showed through their dull and dirty coat. I knew restoring them to optimal health was going to be risky and very time-consuming. Re-feeding an emaciated horse takes time, hope, compassion, consistency, and veterinary guidance. They were filled with parasites, their skin had bites from mites, and they were losing hope.

After a few days at PAH, they munched on their hay together with a glimmer of hope. They began to nicker to me in their stall, they loved their warm mash at breakfast time. They began to have trust, and strength. Their nickers grew louder, their heads began to rise higher, their lifelessness was replaced with playing together and wanting attention from their caregivers. Love, Care, and Compassion were winning!

Luke, Lindsay, and Ella grew strong and confident at Peaceful Acres Horses. They found courage to trust people and learned that they would live a life of care and compassion. After three years at PAH, Ella and Lindsay were chosen by a wonderful couple who adopted them.  They became family members along with a few goats, chickens and rescued dogs in Saratoga County. They are Loved – They were Chosen!

Luke has stayed with us at Peaceful Acres Horses as a wonderful equine-guided, emotionally supportive mini in our programs for youth, families, and adults. Luke is kind, gentle and guides the people he meets to feel joy, courage, happiness, and friendship. Luke is a very special boy at Peaceful Acres Horses’ Stable Place. We are grateful for him; we are thankful that we were able to save his life and the lives of his daughters. Ella and Lyndsay.

If Luke’s story has touched your heart and you would like to help support his feed and care at PAH, please consider becoming a Feed Partner, Care Sponsor or Luke’s Champion Contributor. Through your support of Luke, PAH can keep our promises to him and his lifetime care.

Please consider becoming a supporter at Peaceful Acres Horses, your generosity helps PAH to keep our promises to all our rescues.

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