A Very Special Day with The HARPS Eleven

I decided until I'm accepted in a teaching position, I will teach horses in need again. This afternoon I started back on that path and went to HARPS. A few years ago I started working their horses who knew how to be ridden to get them into shape as well as work some fillies that had recently come in to try and get them re-homed.This week HARPS took in 11 new horses out of a bad situation in Crete, IL. (read about it here and here) so I took it as my calling that it's time to get back involved. On my way there I kept repeating myself "I will not fall in love with a horse today. I will not fall in love with a horse today."....LIKE that ever works?!? Well it worked. I didn't fall in love with a horse. I fell in love with eleven. There is not enough financial support to keep these horses through the winter so if they aren't taken into new, loving-forever homes or no donations are given, their future is dim. HARPS is the best organization I know and Donna and Ronda do absolutely everything in their power to support every horse they have. However, without the support of donations and volunteers, the farm cannot continue to take in horses in need.

I got there and Ronda came up to me smiling, welcoming me with a big hug. Donna soon followed suit and we chatted for a few minutes, catching up. Volunteer hours were winding down and people were all starting to roll out of there so just a few of "The Eleven" were still around the barn area - most were already put back in the field.

Ronda asked "You hanging out today? What's the deal, you have a few minutes?" I told her I was there to help out and whatever she had for me to do I was willing. She said "I would like to show you this filly." The said filly is a 2 year old chestnut with all kinds of mental instabilities. Ronda said yesterday they had to rodeo rope her to get her to come near them so they could cut the burs out of her mane. She doesn't trust a single person as far as she can throw them and at any sudden movement she jumps clear out of her skin.

This filly, another chestnut filly with a bad knee (which she's somehow sound on!!!), and a mama with a 3 month old colt were in a holding pen outside the main barn. Some volunteers had been there all morning gentling and handling the filly with the bad knee and the pony mama. The colt and the other filly wouldn't them them come too close - very un-trusting. I walked in and introduced myself to the four as they would allow it. The colt is cute as can be and very curious, so he came over to say hi, then skid outta town as soon as he did. Mama was easy going and pretty trusting, the other filly with the bad knee wasn't very curious or skittish, just calm and fine. "The" filly eyed me, suspiciously. She stepped slowly in my direction and put her nose out. I knew this would be my test, so I didn't move. I want her to touch me first. Reaching for them never works. This, I know.

I took Mama and Colt back to the field and someone took the filly with the bad knee also. "The" filly was left in a stall for me to come back for her.

Someone had turned the lights out in the barn and as I walked down the aisle (she was in the last stall) she called out to her friends and I could see her white face peeking over the stall guard. She's probably about 14.1hh and has good weight on her - not too skinny by any means. In good shape for her age. I creeped down and shrugged my shoulders the closer I got, averted my eyes to the ground, and coo'ed at her trying to keep her calm and give her the "I'm not here to hurt you" feeling. I walked up and let myself in her stall & she stood in the farthest corner from me, continuing to eye me suspiciously. No one was around, it was just me and her. Somehow along the way I started to call her "Pumpkin" so from here on out, I'll refer to her as that.

I squatted in one corner as she stared at me from the other for a good few minutes. I chattered and babbled and talked to her - just saying nonsense so she got used to my voice and understood my nonthreatening body language as well as my tone. Soon enough, she crept over and was in my lap, nuzzling and touching me all over. She ran her nose over my hair and breathed in deep to smell where I came from, she rubbed her sunburned face across my fingers and clothing, she just felt me up all over to check me out. Here she is with her suspicious eyes all over the situation: (isn't she stunning?!?)

I slowly stood up and walked myself over to the outside door of her stall. When I stood up I knew she would scatter, so I did it painfully slowly and literally crept to the door without looking back at her. Soon enough, she was right by my side as I looked out the door as if she was saying "Oh yeah, I like to look out there too. I'll look with you." and just like that, I clipped the lead rope on her halter.

I lead her into the holding pen and rubbed her all over, put my fingers in her mouth, her ears, picked her feet up, scratched her withers (her favorite!!!!!) and asked her to go around me in a circle and follow me in a straight line, turning left and turning right. When I had spent about 25 minutes or so with her I walked her right into a stall, opened the door, and lead her out of the barn. I found a brush in the lawn and started brushing her right there, asking her to pay attention and stand still. She went from scattering every time I got near her hind end to nearly ground tying while I brushed all over her rump and down both of her back legs.

Ronda and Donna watched a little while doing a million other things (typical Saturday!) and both commented about how they couldn't believe it's the same filly.

I finished the "lesson" with leading her all the way up to the field where her friends were, asking her to stop, back, turn, or trot with me at random - all of which only took her one or two "reminders" that I was boss and then she just listened like she's been my buddy since the beginning of time.

That's when I got the first glimpse at the rest of the herd - man are they cute. Every one of them would be just as great of a horse to own as the next. I can't stress enough that if you know anyone looking for a horse to help, please spread the word on these mares and babies. They need help, they need homes. They all need love. Please send a donation to HARPS if you can or make a phone call to go meet this wonderful herd. You definitely won't regret it.

Here are some photos from today: 

This is an approximately 15 year old mare - we think she could be "Pumpkin"s mama. Can you see the resemblance?

Here is the little 3 month old colt and his welsh pony mama. She's a doll and easy "in-your-pocket" type. He's very "baby" mentally but very CUTE physically!!! Can you blame him?! He's young and has been through a heck of a lot.

Here's the colt, his mama, and a one-eyed filly and her mom (chestnuts). The filly is about 3 months old and doesn't know she only has one working eye. She's stunningly beautiful, moves like a dream, and very independent already from her mother. She's comfortable looking right at you and will even take a few steps to come closer to you. Donna affectionately rubbed her and called her "Dolly Dimples"

This colt wasn't from this rescue, but has been at HARPS about 5 weeks. His mama was in a tough situation also and they both are loving and wonderful as can be. He'll follow you around all day long - he loves to be the center of attention. He's a yearling.

And here is the "Dolly Dimples" filly again. Isn't she stunning?!? She doesn't know she only has one working eye, either! She's just as mobile as any of the rest, and keeps up with everyone without a hitch.