LIFESAVERS WILD
HORSE RESCUE
Dedicated to
saving abandoned, abused, neglected and
slaughter bound horses
Many thanks to these extraordinary people &
orgs who have helped us with the funds for
this very complicated and expensive rescue:
Ellie Phipps Price ~ Madeleine
Pickens ~ Return to Freedom ~ ASPCA ~
PetSmart Charities ~ and many many other
individuals whose selfless giving to this
cause ended up saving 172 horses from
slaughter. I am eternally grateful.
So are the horses.
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SIX WEEKS LATER...
160 RESCUED WILD HORSES SURVIVE AND
RECOVER FROM NEVADA WEST NILE VIRUS
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Let your heart run wild
in...
Wild Horse Canyon
Share the dream...help
us turn Wild Horse Canyon into
reality.
Just imagine.
Refuge for the soul.
Escape into a world where the
song in your soul is answered by
the thunder of hoofbeats.
Retreat into Wild Horse Canyon
and have lunch beneath the shady
oaks. Rest and recharge with
meditation and spirituality
instruction. Hike along trails
and photograph wild horses
grazing, socializing, or running
across the
hillsides and meadows.
Ride into a new
adventure.
Journey by horseback and explore
California's beautiful mountain
desert region in partnership
with an American mustang.
Explore ecology and the
intricate web of nature on a
backcountry excursion or join
the local cowboys on a genuine
cattle drive right through
downtown. Ride among the wild
horses at Wild Horse Canyon and
learn about the heritage,
heartache and struggles of
America's native horse.
Refine your
understanding.
Improve your horsemanship
skills with educational
programs tailored especially
for the horse lover in us
all. From the basics of
horse care to saddle
starting, you will learn
about horses from the ground
up. Or enroll in workshops
focusing on women's
empowerment and horse
inspired growth and
healing. Discover how wild
horses can soften even the
hardest heart and strengthen
the weakest parts of
yourself.
Revel in relaxation.
A visit to the spa for a
massage or reiki
treatment and a dip in
the hot tub will melt
away your tension and
stress. Dine at the
local cafe for a healthy
gourmet meal or snack.
And don't forget to pick
up your souvenir from
the Wild Horse Thrift &
Gift shop.
Come for a day or for
the whole weekend
and the experience of a
lifetime.
Wild Horse Canyon
is a Lifesavers,
Inc. program in development.
We are looking for
charitable investors to help
us build this
sustainable Wild Horse
Sanctuary and Healing
Retreat for Humans.
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We named
her
Hummingbird.
This loyal mare tried very hard
to survive the West Nile Virus
for the two foals she was
nursing. Sadly she was not
successful.
May you rest in peace
sweet
mother.
Our
other West Nile victims:
Bordeaux, Halo,
Syrah
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Young colts
survived West
Nile and await
adoption in
Fallon Nevada
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It's been six weeks
since the historic
rescue of 172 wild
horses dumped at a
Fallon, Nevada
slaughter auction.
Lifesavers purchased
169 of the entire
lot of horses (3
horses were
purchased by private
individuals) and
subsequently found
homes for 3 of the
rescued horses
leaving 166 horses
under our care.
They were
transported to a
private holding
facility on the east
end of town where
they will be kept
until some can be
adopted, and until
the unadoptable can
be moved to natural
sanctuary.
Little did we know
that another killer
was lurking in the
shadows - thriving
in the irrigation
ditches surrounding
the facility.
Mosquitos breeding
and feeding on our
innocent slaughter
auction survivors.
Stressed from the
BLM gather and
having their lives
turned upside down
in a very short
amount of time, the
wild horses were
easy targets for the
wicked West Nile
Virus that spreads
from infected birds
through the bites of
mosquitos.
One by one we were
losing horses.
Mares were dying in
the night showing no
obvious signs. We
attributed the first
two deaths to stress
and age. But, then
a third mare died
and finally we were
able to get the vet
to weigh in on the
cause. Dr. Gerald
Peck out of Carson
City, Nevada tested
the blood of the
dead mare and just
as he suspected, the
blood was heavily
charged with West
Nile.
With no ability to
treat the horses
themselves, we had
to counter attack
the carriers. We
immediately called
the County Vector
Control and they
came out to spray
for mosquitos. We
also ordered enough
vaccines to
innoculate the
entire herd. Still,
we lost another
three mares to the
horrible virus.
The last was a mare
who was nursing two
foals. She tried
valiently to make it
and was able to get
back up after she
had fallen in
convulsive throes -
her natural and
adopted foals
begging for her to
stand up and nurse
them. So she did.
Sadly she was found
dead the next
morning.
Her foals were
accepted by other
nursing mares in the
herd. They will
survive and grow up
strong.
I still have tears
for the mother who
fought so hard - a
testiment to the
will that lives in
the heart of
mothers.
The virus has taken
its last victim from
us. And now the
herd is recovring
and becoming a
stronger unit. They
are growing
healthier and
adjusting well to
their captive
surroundings. They
are becoming
comfortable with the
humans that feed
them everyday and in
fact look forward to
their arrival each
morning as they have
breakfast in tow.
But the challenge is
not over yet. We
still need to write
the last chapter of
this story...The
Sanctuary.
We promised
these born-wild
mustangs that we
would give them back
their natural
freedom, in the best
way we can.
As a Lifesavers
supporter you know
that we are always
trying to expand our
sanctuary for the
horses we had in our
care prior to this
massive new rescue.
And with generous
contributions we
were able to
purchase another
parcel of land which
is designated for
some of the
Lifesavers horses
from previous
rescues. They will
be released in the
next few weeks - a
gift that is long
overdue for our
deserving wild ones.
Again, already, we
need to purchase
more land for the
Fallon Nevada West
Nile Survivors.
Please help
us give them back a
life of tranquility
and peace where they
can graze on grassy
hills, drink from
cool spring water,
and nap under blue
oak trees swatting
flies in the
California sun.
There is as much as
10,000 acres
available right now
- we are desperately
trying to acquire it
- but it has a 3
million dollar price
tag. Hope springs
eternal in my heart.
Your
donation, in any
amount, will get us
closer to giving
back what was
ruthlessly taken
from this herd of
wild horses.
It will also help us
care for the 450
Lifesavers horses
that have been saved
from slaughter and
abuse and neglect.
Thank you for caring
and helping. Your
support is critical
to the long term
health and happiness
of the horses you
love.
Kindly,
Jill Starr,
President,
Lifesavers Wild
Horse Rescue
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Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue
has been fighting battles for horses since 1997 when
we became a nonprofit organization set on making
this a more humane world for horses.
During these last few years not only have we rescued
horses from slaughter auctions like the ones I have
written ab out above, but also we have taken in many
horses because their owners fell on hard times...not
because they didn't want their horses anymore... not
because the horses were old, sick or lame, but
because the economy forced them to let go of their
large pets.
These horses might have gone to slaughter if we had
not been able to take them.
We make promises to our horses to care for them and
watch over them as long as it takes to find them a
loving home who will also make that promise.
In some cases our rescued horses will never find
another home, but will live out their precious lives
at one of our sanctuaries in peace, tranquility and
harmony - as nature meant for them.
Lifesavers has 450 horses to
feed and care for every day.
Your support is the only
reason we are able to do this.
Your support is the only
reason we were able to rescue them so they would not
fall into
slaughter house hands.
Please find it in your heart to be as
generous as you can during these difficult times
where there are more horses in danger than ever
before.
Your donation of any amount is greatly appreciated
and will go to the greatest good for the horses
rescued by Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue.
Thank
you for caring,
Jill
Starr, President, Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue www.wildhorserescue.org
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Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue,23809
E. Avenue J, Lancaster, CA 93535 661-727-0049 |
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