|
Welcome to...P.
O. Box 6 | Ochlocknee, GA | 
"In God
We Trust"
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
|
||
|
On March 1, 2009, in a rare South Georgia sleet and snowstorm, DCFHR volunteers picked up a pitifully starved skeleton of a horse, “Sundance.”
Click here to become a member of Dancing Cloud Farm Horse Rescue
Apache puts up with a lot of "loving" from Fee Shang. Horses aren't the only creatures rescued by Dancing Cloud Farm. Our hearts are open to many animals who come here. (click on the picture for a larger view)
Visit Hearts4Horses - Where our goal is to help create a world where every horse is in the care of a responsible owner.
This pony foal and his mother were brought to Dancing Cloud Farm in November 2011. For the first two weeks that the foal was at DCFHR, we feared the little fellow wouldn’t make it. His mother was starved, wasn't producing milk. Sixteen days after their rescue, the little foal flew around the barn in a full out gallop, full of life and spirit. That’s our paycheck! And that is a better “thank you” to our supporters than our words could ever say. |
Proverbs 12:10 “A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.”
DCFHR friend and supporter in Kentucky, Mindy, sent us this photo. She had cleaned the saddles the night before, was too tired to put them up, and this is what she found when she woke up the next morning! Happy Birthday, Poco! In May 2012, Poco will be 34 years old. He has lived the last 24 years here at Dancing Cloud Farm and has
earned his retirement. Poco not only participated in parades, was our His joints are old and stiff, and rainy or cold weather makes his arthritis flare up, but Poco is healthy for an Old Geezer and stands every morning at the gate, wondering why the food service is so slow. Thank you, Poco, for all the joy you have given us over the years. Happy, happy birthday, old boy. Caring for an Older Horse Horses can sometimes live to be forty years or older, although that is an exception rather than a rule. Just like humans and other mammals, as horses age they require a different feeding regimen and need an equine senior feed which provides all the necessary nutrients, plus the forage supply, in a moist pelleted form. Equine senior feed is expensive -- $20.00 per 50 lb. bag these days, and older horses require up to 15 pounds per day. Caring for an older horse correctly is expensive and requires lots more hands-on and eyes-on to make sure that the horse is eating well. Older horses have teeth problems and may choke easily because they can no longer chew hay and feed; veterinarians should be asked to check the older horse’s teeth to identify any problems. Equine senior feed provides just about everything an older horse needs, but we still provide fresh hay, minerals, and usually mix in a high-quality 12% pelleted feed with the equine senior if the horse can still chew and digest that feed. When DCFHR takes in starved horses, equine senior feed is what we start them off on. It helps their digestive system start up again while providing the horse with the nutrients it needs. The first week after a starved horse arrives as DCFHR, most of its pelleted feed intake is an equine senior feed.
Cremello gelding on the day of his rescue. His open leg wound had been left untreated.
An agonizing moment at DCFHR….
During a rescue, one of the first horses led out from an almost pitch-black stall was this older soul. People were shocked at his skeletal condition as he walked into the sunlight, blinking at the sudden bright light after days in that darkened barn. He stood and looked at all the activity – the trailers lined up, all the people, he listened to the hushed tones, and he stood quietly as we measured and photographed him. Then he willingly stepped onto the first trailer leaving for DCFHR for his ride to freedom. Unfortunately, this older horse was so far down that he couldn’t be saved. For twelve days after his arrival at DCFHR, he received care, sunlight, fresh hay, good feed, TLC, respect, a clean stall, kind words, loving touches. On Saturday, March 3, he collapsed and could not get up. For three hours DCFHR volunteers tried everything to get him up, but he was too weak from starvation. The look in his eyes told us he was ready to let go, that he was too tired. Tornado weather was approaching and the rains poured down. It was an agonizing morning at DCFHR. We know, and the vet agreed, that the horse had been too starved for too long to recover. Dr. Mary Rogers of Red Hills Equine Veterinary Services, drove through the worst of the weather, in a tremendous thunderstorm, at 25 mph with the flashers on to come to the farm to take care of this horse. It was a terrible time for all of us because we were helpless and this horse was so pitiful. He left us gently, but the day was much, much darker and sadder. We were all angry that this horse had not been given the senior care that he had needed to finish out his life in a healthy condition. We are posting the photos of this horse’s final moments for one reason: that he did not die in vain, that we will all be motivated to DO SOMETHING when we see animals suffering. No animal, horse or otherwise, should ever be neglected the way that this horse had been. We encourage everyone to get help for animals in need, just like the concerned citizen did when Shasta was discovered and brought to DCFHR. We were able to save Shasta; our hearts broke when we couldn’t do the same for this horse.
On February 27, DCFHR
and GERL received photos of a starved horse in a nearby county. The For the first five days, Shasta was in critical condition, a Body Condition Score 1, and was a resident of our “Crittercal Care Unit.” This rescue was a close call: Shasta was within hours of death at the time of her rescue and had to be monitored hourly for several days. Her thigh muscles were completely gone and her bodily functions had begun shutting down. Shasta’s tail and back legs were covered in diarrhea. At first she stood white-eyed when we entered the CCU; she would kick out when anyone approached her hindquarters. She trusted no one and was a very unhappy, scared animal. It took her three days to gain enough strength and trust to let us work with her. Now she nickers to us, comes to us, and we can walk all around her, pick up her feet, groom her, and there is no kicking, not even a hint of fear and she is no longer on the defensive. She was tired of being alone, scared, and hungry, and now she knows she is safe and will be cared for. Shasta came to us a week after DCFHR was involved in a huge law enforcement seizure of 78 horses. While she was in the Crittercal Care Unit, she was in the midst of constant sunrise to sunset activity, a big change for her because at her former home she had been totally alone. We are publishing these photos of Shasta with captions to explain what happens as a starved horse heals. Read our article on “Refeeding” so that you will understand the steps and time it takes for a horse to come back from the brink. Photos below show the
condition of Shasta’s body at the time she came to DCFHR. Note the
“shelf” above
Note also the condition of her fur. It is dull because it’s dead. A horse starves from the outside inward; a malnourished horse’s body automatically diverts whatever nutrition it receives to the vital organs to keep the horse alive. That means the skin and fur receive nothing. Compare the width and muscle tone of her chest; the first photo is March 1 and the second is April 9. We show her “hiney”
pictures below because these are the most graphic examples of starvation
and healing.
The las
Stay tuned for more updates on Shasta!!
NEWS FROM THOMAS COUNTY: Pictures from the latest rescue effort
A little history: Dancing Cloud Farm Horse Rescue, Inc., (DCFHR) , a 501(c)(3) organization, was established in July, 2008 when thirteen starved and neglected horses were rescued and brought to our farm. Before this rescue, we had taken in eight previous rescues, brought to us by owners who could no longer afford to keep their horses or by people who rescued the horses themselves but had no place to keep them. With our world's economy in trouble and with the number of home foreclosures, horses and other animals are being abandoned in great numbers; we saw the need for a horse rescue and sanctuary in South Georgia and committed ourselves to using our farm to help horses. A group of horse lovers joined together to create Dancing Cloud Farm Horse Rescue, Inc. We are funded totally by donations of feed, hay, and finances. Since Dancing Cloud Farm Horse Rescue, Inc., began, FORTY-SEVEN horses have come through DCFHR. Of those, thirty-five have found new homes; we have several who are still waiting for homes; and one (Lil’ Richard, aka General Lee) is now a lifetime member of the Old Geezers Club at DCFHR where he will live out his days as a retiree. In addition, three horses and one donkey went from “old owner to new owner” without having to come to DCFHR because we were able to match them through our database files. Five horses had to be put down because of health conditions.
Requirements for adoption: Please read the information contained in the "The basics on adopting a rescued horse from Dancing Cloud Farm Horse Rescue, Inc." DCFHR requires that anyone interested in adopting a horse will need these items: two reference letters, preferably from your large animal vet and your farrier, stating that you are a responsible animal owner and can afford to take care of the horse; potential adopter must fill out the Foster/Adoption Form. DCFHR will make a site visit and interview the person/family interested in the horse; each horse has an adoption fee that pays DCFHR back for much of the expenses we have invested in that horse.
Sir
Lancelot After searching for weeks for a walking horse, a friend of ours contacted an Alabama horse trader who arrived with six horses for us to look at crammed in a stock trailer. The first three horses he unloaded were “already sold,” he explained, but he wanted us to look at horses #4 and #6. But when he unloaded horse #5, we were shocked to the innermost. A frightened, emaciated skeleton of a walking horse stepped off the trailer, its beauty, dignity, and majestic step intact. While the other horses stood tied to the trailer, heads down, eyes lifeless, and the horse trader spoke about the qualities of horses #4 and #6, our eyes were locked on that poor horse #5 and he stared at us. Something in his eyes locked into something deep within us, pleading with us for help. We don’t even remember what the horse trader said about the other horses; we just stared in disbelief that anyone could abuse and neglect a horse like they had horse #5. It wasn’t the horse trader’s fault -- he had just picked up the horse that morning and was taking it to auction to sell for dog food. To the total surprise and dismay of the horse trader, we bought that skeleton of a walking horse and never regretted that decision. We named the horse “Sir Lancelot,” giving him a knight’s name befitting his courage and spirit. “Lance” came to us with thick, heavy walking shoes and scars on his legs where chains had rubbed him raw; every rib showed; his chest was maybe 10 inches wide; every vertebrae showed. It took months of feeding and care to get even a little weight on him, and it took two years to restore him to the sleek black majestic animal he should have been all along. Sir Lancelot served us faithfully, patiently teaching adults and children how to ride. Our hearts broke the day seven years later he had to be put down because of colic. Because of his courage, his faithfulness, and the many hours of service he gave to us, Sir Lancelot stands as the standard of what a horse rescue is all about. Rest in peace, our good and faithful friend, and thank you for showing us the way. Visit our newest feature:
The Library
In The Library you will find articles, essays, poetry, etc. that we believe you will enjoy. You will also be able to submit comments about the featured article if you wish. With your help, we can make a positive difference in our world. |
Visit us on FACEBOOK and join our page: Dancingcloudfarmhorse rescue, Inc. Written by Katie Graham Our Location Click the picture to Just a note: We are frequently asked what the name “Ochlocknee” means as people stumble over its pronunciation. Ochlocknee (oh-clock-knee) is the Creek Indian word for “crooked waters.” The Ochlocknee River begins near Albany, Georgia, and winds its way through South Georgia and North Florida on its way to the Gulf of Mexico. It provided a major trading route for Indians of this area. So now you know! Horse in a Cage
Poison!
Click on the icon below to see how DCFHR has gone green!
Click the picture above to see Gus enjoying his new home.
Our
Hero is coming home!
Click here to see more pictures of this amazing little horse. Please visit Golden Brothers Feed in Thomasville, GA For excellent equine care, click
here to visit
|
|
For questions or
comments about this site, contact the webmaster at:
lmeisen@tds.net |
||
|
|
||
Please
be assured that all donations are kept confidential and that 
dependable ride on trails, and taught many children and adults how to
ride a horse, but he also enjoyed swimming in the ponds with us.
animal control officer had allegedly been out to the residence and saw
nothing to motivate him/her to take action. In a desperate effort to
find something to eat, the horse had gnawed on all the boards and fence
posts; her teeth were ground down to nubs because of this. Our local
GERL representative, Debora Hines, went immediately to check out the
situation and talk to the owners; many, many thanks to Debora for going
the second mile to help us out. The owners did not want the horse and
were only too glad to get rid of it. We have named the horse, a
registered AQHA mare, “Shasta,” which is her granddam’s name.
the
rib cage; this “shelf” becomes noticeable when a horse reaches BCS 2 and
becomes very pronounced at BCS 1. Shasta was a BCS 1. 
March
1 – Shasta’s thigh muscles are gone. This is evidence that the horse is
in
the last stage before death from starvation. Notice two things: how
her thighs fill in over the next six weeks and how she loses her
“starvation hair.” The loss of hair is not from rain rot – IT’S A SIGN
OF SUCCESS!!! This means that Shasta’s body has received the right
nutrition and has healed enough to allocate the nutrients to her skin
and hair. (Side note: Several of our foster homes are reporting that
the starved horses from the February 20 seizure have also lost their
hair. We assure them – it’s a good thing!!! It’s the sign the horses
have made a major forward step in their return to life!)
Mama
Cheyenne gave birth to little "Lincoln" just
five days after her rescue. Notice her body condition. This photo was
taken 7 days after her rescue; she had been eating well for 7 days.
