Beardstown

Starving Mares in Beardstown

Before
On December 18, 2007 the Illinois Department of Agriculture called to see if we could help with 4 horses in Beardstown, IL (Cass County). he owner could neither find nor afford hay for two 13 year-old paint mares, a chestnut stud pony and a blind 17 year-old black and white paint stallion. The  horses had not had hay for about 2 months. The mares, with a body score of 2 were the worst. Some cracked corn, sweet feed and a few hay cubes was the extend of food on site. The water buckets were frozen and filled with manure. The horses were penned in a small enclosure consisting of cattle panels and unbraced timbers. They were standing in ankle deep urine and manure without shelter or a dry place to stand.
Arrangements were made with the Department of Agriculture to remove these horses the next day. Baby and Thunder, the two mares and Knott Head the pony were hauled to HAHS the very next day. Tour, the 17 year-old blind stallion, with necessary castration and a slim to zero chance for adoption, was humanely euthanized on site.

After
At HAHS just one short  month, de-wormed and vaccinated, with proper hoofcare and dental care, Baby and Thunder (left to right) the 2 mares are eating better than ever, and have adjusted well to their new surroundings and friends. Knott Head has been castrated since being brought to HAHS and is happy with his new gelding friends. All 3 are available for adoption.