The pro slaughter movement has been working hard to convince the general public that there is an "unwanted horse problem"... that all the rescues are full and they cannot help any of the horses that need homes.

The truth is that there are many rescues out there doing a fantastic job rescuing horses from various situations including auctions. Sure there are rescues that are struggling and there are also those that are full on certain days, but there are always others that are adopting horses out and have new spots that just opened up.

We support the work of the real rescues... rescues that do NOT support horse slaughter; those who are out there in the trenches everyday working to save the lives of equines in need.

We hope these stories inspire more people to be active in supporting this CAUSE. We invite the Rescuers to share your stories with us so that we can expose the truth and tell the world what you are doing.

Destiny's Destiny January 18, 2010 A New Home for a Lost Horse

Destiny's Destiny
by Joan Stanley

Nine days ago, I received an email from a friend asking me if I knew anyone who owned and lost a 20 year old gray mare that was listed as a stray by the Dept. of Livestock and brought to the Headwaters Livestock Auction in Three Forks, Montana. She was to be auctioned off on January 18, 2010. I went over to see the mare, took a photo and began to inquire as to who may have owned her, and where she was found. My sister Nancy sent an email to Katia Louise in California and told her about the mare. Katia having many horse rescue contacts sent out my urgent message in order to find a forever home for this sweet mare. Within minutes, the emails came pouring in by people who wanted to help and several who said they would actually take the horse. I was amazed at how quickly everyone responded. I found a home with Lacie Mullaney from Boulder, MT, not to far from where I lived in Three Forks.

The day before the auction I made sure I fixed up a corral with hopes that everything would go as planned. I would bid on the mare, take her home temporarily and wait until Lacie would come to pick her up.

Upon the mare's arrival, I had planned on separating my two mares from her so they would have the opportunity to become acquainted slowly and without incident. On Monday, Jan. 18th, I hitched up my horse trailer and headed over to the auction with my friend Pat. It was 11:00 AM when I registered with the office and received my bidding number. They had said that the horse would be auctioned at noon, but the cows went first. They then broke for lunch and resumed at 1:00 PM.

She was the only horse being auctioned that day, and there was a kill-buyer lurking in the stands. She came out of the gate and the bidding began. All I could think of was listening to the price being asked (it was going so fast), and thinking when to raise my hand. There wasn't much time left. The gate opened to let her out and I raised my hand and got the last bid in at $137 (which included the brand inspection fee). “You got her” the auctioneer said to me. I got her! My heart was racing. I almost burst into tears. She's saved!

After getting all the paperwork in order, we drove around the side where the mare was being held. I gave her a treat, she gently took it from my hand and gobbled it up. They checked my papers out, I gave the attendant the halter and he took her around to my trailer. I asked him to please tie the lead around her neck and let her loose in the trailer. Since my trailer is a wide slant-load, I thought it would be best not to tie her since I didn't know if she felt about being tied.

All went well. We headed for home. I kept thinking that if I didn't rescue her, she would probably now be headed to Shelby, MT and then on her way to Canada or Mexico. This was the reality that really got to me. That was the moment when I decided that I could not give her up. I needed to make sure that this 20 year old mare had the TLC that she deserved. I needed to secure her heart and attend to her many needs. She needed me. She was skinny, filthy dirty, hooves needed trimming, cuts needed healing and she needed veterinary care and most of all she needed LOVE!

I let her out of the trailer and she calmly stepped out. I let her look around a bit. My two mares whinnied at her and she answered them. It was really nice to hear them greeting one another. As I led her into her corral, she went over to the far fence and stared out into the view as the sun shown on her. I took a picture of this miraculous moment. She was at last home and free, and she knew it.

I will keep her in her own corral for about a week or so and then put her in with my two mares who I have raised from babies, and are close to her age (one is 16 and the other 20).

She will be able to then roam on a few hundred acres with the other two mares. My sister asked me to name her Destiny and that is her name.