Horses find a safe place to recover on Hagersville farm
It’s been just over two months, and Big Red doesn’t even look like the same horse.
“He had the worst case of hoof neglect I’ve ever seen,” said Brenda Thompson, who has been running Whispering Hearts Horse Rescue in Hagersville with her husband Dave since 2007.
Big Red couldn’t even stand when he first arrived; his hooves were in such poor shape. He was also severely underweight. Now, the painted stallion is thriving. “He’s receiving specialized farrier care and chiropractic care,” Thompson said, adding that it will probably take a year to get him to full health.
Ultimately, the plan is to get Big Red adopted by a forever family, but that’s not a process that’s rushed at Whispering Hearts.
“We do three interviews with families to make sure it’s the right horse for them, and they’re the right family for the horse,” Thompson said. “These guys need specialized care.”
Chance is another horse who has come to stay at the farm.
“He was saved from the slaughterhouse. He’s an older horse, blind in one eye, partially blind in the other. He has an old wound on one leg,” Thompson said, adding that they’re still trying to determine what all of his health issues are. There’s a considerable cost involved. Thompson said Whispering Hearts is pretty much always at capacity, which is 60 horses. Each year, around $170,000 has to be raised to support the work being done, and about $45,000 of that is just to cover the cost of hay alone.
That’s why the sanctuary, in partnership with local businesses, is holding a feed drive. For every 10 bags purchased until the end of the year, Purina and the business partners will donate a bag.
Those wanting to participate can visit the feed stores, go online at whhrescue.com, or purchase a bag at one of Whispering Hearts’ Christmas open houses, taking place on Dec. 2, Dec. 9 and Dec. 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. All of the open houses will include refreshments, a raffle table, poinsettia sales and a chance to meet some of the rescue horses.
“The open houses are a fundraiser, but more of a way for us to say thank you to the community for their support over the past year,” Thompson said.