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White Bird gets a lot of requests to take in horses that need to be rehomed. In many cases, the owner is just looking to rehome the horse and it doesn’t really need to go to a rescue organization. It just needs a new owner. Our priority is, and always has been, to take in only horses whose situation has put them at risk. This risk comes in many forms. The owner may have lost their farm or job and have no takers for the horse. Sometimes the owner has a health issue, or the horse has one that the owner can’t handle. Some horses are seized by animal control due to severe negligence or abuse. We have taken in two abandoned horses and one whose owner was deliberately starving him to death.
All of these horses were not only unlucky, they were in danger. We accept these horses in order of urgency whenever we have the resources to take them. Some animals meet our criteria for urgent need, but we are too full to accept them so we try to get exposure for them on this site. Today’s horse is one of these. I am going to quote the owner directly, as I believe she has conveyed the urgency of this situation better than I can. She has tried in good faith to place this horse for some time, but has run out of options and now needs help.
For those needing to place urgent need horses, we request that you contact us directly and describe your situation. For the reasons noted above, we do not post unscreened horses on this web site or allow them to be posted to our Facebook wall. We insist on giving priority to those horses who need help the most urgently. This horse certainly qualifies. He has had a hard life and deserves a dignified retirement.
“This is ReRock’s story.
He is currently at a farm in NJ where I have been paying board since I was forced to sell my own farm 2 years ago. He was sent there to try to find him a home. He has Cancer in his eye and Glaucoma. He has a steroid ointment that is put in his eye 2 times a day. His Front legs face east and west so he is lame as well. I have been out of work for 2 years. I have been trying to save his life for the last 6 years and I can’t afford to do it anymore. This poor guy is an ex show horse. He was shown from the time he was a year old. His Head used to be tied up all night so he would be so tired in the morning that he would drop it to the ground. His tail was nerved and not done correctly so now it hangs to the side from the base. When I bought him in 2006 he twisted a shoe the day he got to my farm, and ended up lame. After 6 weeks on stall rest, I turned him out in a round pen to stretch his legs and he put his leg through the wooden fence. I had a Vet come out and look at him and take xrays. I was told then he would never be sound again. So I pulled his shoes and retired him. Something that was well deserved for a horse that had the life he had prior to coming into my life. So after 6 years and 2 of those I have not been working I can not afford this anymore. If I wanted to send him to the auction 1) I would have done it when I found out that he would be lame for the rest of his life. 2) I would not be reaching out to rescues outside of my state. I have already tried the rescues that are local,I have offered him free to 4- hers and horse owners that are local( Most of which know this horse). So I am now out of options. I have 2 weeks to find him a home since I can’t afford his board due on May 1st.”
For more information about this horse, the owner can be reached at: majiklady_33@yahoo.com
*White Bird note for potential adopters: We have successfully treated an ocular squamous cell cancer in one of our horses and know that this treatment is often successful.
And especially LOUD cheers for those football team members who chose to spend their Saturday helping us muscle our way through some badly needed projects. They spent a beautiful day building paddocks and scraping and primering the horse trailer, when they could have been..oh…wait…enjoying a beautiful day on the farm with some grateful rescued horses and their equally grateful rescue operators. You guys rock!
We are, in fact, so grateful that we invite everyone within driving distance to go cheer these great folks on to victory during the upcoming football season.
 Members of the Hampden-Sydney Tigers
Saturday’s Equine Conference, sponsored by the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council, was held Saturday in Blackstone, VA. Not wanting to miss this opportunity to tune up our knowledge of equine health, nutrition and pasture- or miss a chance to help educate equine owners and friends about rescued horses, we were there to meet and greet. We had a great time seeing old friends and meeting new ones.
The conference included talks and exhibitions by Chris Teutsch, Associate Professor and Forage Specialist at Virginia Tech, Scott Purdum of Advantage Horsemanship, Marty Adams of Southern States, Theresa McManus of Keymon Farms, Deborah Crane of Equine Sports Therapies and local Veterinarian, Brandy Phelps of Hoofbeats Equine Services.
The presentations were very informative and we enjoyed the good company and beautiful weather, as well as the great lunch supplied by the Buffalo Creek Pony Club. Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth to say “hello”, offer donations, or sign up as volunteers. Also, special “thanks” to the ever-awesome Julia for helping to keep things running at the rescue while we were gone and to “booth babes” Allison, Travis and Littlest Volunteer Anthony!
…they bathed, they groomed and they built fences- despite rain, mud and adversity. Yesterday, we were pleased to welcome the Fort Lee Army Leadership University graduating class, who kindly chose White Bird as their community service project.
The horses just loved all the attention! Several of them dozed off while they were being groomed. After the rain stopped, the group moved on to the next project: setting fence posts for the blind pony paddock and quarantine paddock.
It was a fun day for us and a great day for the horses. Thanks so much for your service to your country- and your service to a group of homeless horses. Hooah!
Oreo Enjoys his “Day at the Spa”
Setting posts for the blind pony paddock
 "Wonder" and his new friend
This long awaited project is finally nearing completion. Thanks to a generous donation from the ASPCA, we were provided a bigger shelter for the blind ponies and this allowed the previous run-in shed to be moved to the new quarantine paddock. Big “thank you!” also to Wilcke’s Lake Sheds, for reducing their price to fit the granted amount. The lot was cleared through the generosity of the GFAS and Petsmart Charities. Once the lot was cleared, we installed a hydrant for water, so the only remaining item is the fencing. But getting there was a challenge! First we had to move the existing shed through a 14 foot opening between the L-barn and pole barn.
It was a tiiiiiiight squeeeeeeze!!!!
The next step was to bring in the new shed to the blind pony paddock. Thanks so much to all of you who are helping us to make this new quarantine area a reality!
 The new shed for the blind ponies
“The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.”~ Maya Angelou
There is nothing quite so satisfying to us as finding a really excellent home for one of our horses. We had many expressions of interest in “Chance” (and we thank you all so much for considering a rescued horse!). But we try hard to find that perfect home that will best fit what the horse likes and wants to do. In Chance’s case, he (a) loves people and (b) loves to jump. We were certain that his ideal home would involve a lot of human contact with someone who shared Chance’s enjoyment of jumping. So we were thrilled when we heard from Jennie and Mackenzie. This was a match made in Heaven and we look forward to following Chance’s show career. Congratulations to Jenni and Mackenzie on the newest addition to their family!
Chance and his new family
Also this past week, we welcomed back our friends at Charlotte Crossing, who enjoyed a day visiting the horses.
 Charlotte Crossing spends a day at White Bird
 What a beautiful day! You can now just see the buds on the trees and the daffodils are in full bloom. Our horses are basking in these balmy temperatures. At least they are when they are not trying to get rid of their scratchy winter coats. They began shedding those out about 3 weeks ago, and right now, they are at the peak of their itchiness. Every item of clothing we have now prominently features horse hair.
Below, Tillie has wisely opted for a trip to the White Bird style salon for some grooming and hair removal assistance. She is hoping that her spruced up look will convince someone that she is just the kind of horse they need. Tillie is in her mid to late teens. She is a gentle Quarter horse with just enough of an opinion to make her interesting. In some groups, she can be dominant, but most of the time, she is content to remain somewhere in the middle. She is a pleasant, good-natured girl whose only issue is that she can be a little pushy. For this reason, we’ve decided that she is suitable for a confident beginner, but not one who will allow her to be the boss. Tillie dislikes being stalled, so we prefer that she go to a home that has adequate shelter and continuous turnout. We think her best job is that of a companion pony, for someone who just wants to take their friend out trail riding once in awhile. She is a low energy horse who’d be perfectly happy letting someone else come in first. If she sounds like your kind of girl, will you give us a call?
 A scene from the Rescue this morning. Four inches- wheee!!! Our northern friends are permitted to roll their eyes at our excitement.
Below, Dandelion and her friends would like to know where all the grass went.
 So far, this has been a gentle winter, with balmy days and nights dropping just below freezing. Today has been a reminder that we still in the middle of February, as we experience our first snowfall of the season. We are expecting a total of 2-3 inches. Below, the guys in the “barn for old people” take a break from telling each other war stories just long enough to ask about the forecast.
  
We are really hoping that someone will find it in their heart to offer this girl a loving home. Pearl is about 14-15 years old and a strong, level headed girl. She is bomb proof and can and will do anything she is asked- trails, show, English and western skills, team penning, swimming and cows. She is gentle with children.
Pearl is a former rescue who nearly did not survive her previous owner. She needs and has earned a forever home. Today, her only issue is that she is losing her sight. We have many blind and low-vision horses at White Bird and know how easy they are to maintain. All they need is a safe, obstruction free enclosure and some gentle buddies. They learn to navigate beautifully and many are still easily ridable. Pearl will likely remain a safe mount if she has smooth footing, such as that found in a ring, and knows her rider.
Surely someone out there has room for this kind and gentle pony. Pearl easily meets our criterion as a horse at risk, however we do not have room to take her in. This is a courtesy listing for her owner, who can no longer keep her and who can be reached at: lessontyme@yahoo.com
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