December's Happy Tails Rescues
Meet Fame!
Fame's dam Starlett was taken by a new stallion two months before he was born. Then they got bounced between a couple of band stallions before landing with one, who had several bachelor buddies he allowed to remain with them. They took good care of Starlett and Fame until one night the previous month when Starlett was hit and killed on a South Reno road where there is no fencing to keep the horses off of busy residential roadways.
Wild Horse Connection worried about Fame at only 6 months old, and whether the stallions would protect him or leave him all alone. Volunteers kept close watch and for several weeks his band stallion kept him close and he seemed to be doing well. Then sadly he turned up alone. He tried to attach himself to another bachelor stallion, and another band, but they wouldn't keep him. He was found hanging around some domestic horses seeking the comfort and protection of other horses that he craved, and he made it through a rain and snow storm on his own. Fame is one tough little guy and we always want to give orphans a chance to stay wild whenever possible, but he was too close to busy roads and had no adult horse to protect and teach him.
Volunteers were finally able to close him into a fenced property (with the owners permission) and WHC called LRTC's rescue team. They showed up on a cold and snowy day to trap little Fame. This little guy was amped up in survival mode though and he didn't want any part of being moved into a corral by the rescue team. He did, however, want to be close to the geldings next door. The next door neighbor offered to halter up one of the geldings and bring him over. Between his desire to be with another horse, and the team using construction netting to keep him from running, Fame was finally in the trap corral. The team let the gelding and his handler out, and with a little pressure and some hay little Fame hopped up into the trailer. Sometimes thinking outside the box is what gets the job done in the safest and easiest way!
Fame was transported to LBL Equine Rescue where he was thrilled to see other horses, even if not too sure about the humans at first. He was introduced to rescued filly Sadie Bug, and just a few hours later was sharing dinner with sweet Sadie, both of them happy to have a companion on a cold, cold night. They now play together, nap together, and both have discovered that in addition to their hay, their junior feed is really tasty! Both Fame and Sadie will be up for adoption through Wild Horse Connection. Check their adoption page for more information on adoptions: wildhorseconnection.org/adoptions
Fame on the fenced property, wanting nothing to do with rescuers. And then safely loaded in the trailer for his ride to LBL Equine Rescue.
Fame and Sadie sharing a meal, and a nap!
Oh Mercy!
LRTC’s Technical Large Animal Rescue team actually had several rescues involving domestic horses in December. One in particular involved a beautiful adopted mustang named Mercy, while trained to ride and living the domestic life well, didn’t love trailer loading. While the hired transporters were trying to load for her move with her owners to their new home she pulled back, broke free and took off out onto the Virginia Range. Still wearing her halter and dragging 20 feet of lead rope, she met up with a wild stallion who was smitten.
The owners tried to catch her, but off they ran. They called for help and several team members set out in the snow and mud to try to help find her. What they found was her trail - melting hoof prints along side a snake like pattern in the snow from her dragging lead ropes! At least it set her apart from other hoof prints. Unfortunately, it was approaching dark and still no sign of Mercy herself. Of course everyone was worried about her and worried she would snag her lead and get stuck somewhere.
The next day the owner called. They had eyes on Mercy who was still happily romping the hillsides with her stallion friend. Team members drove to their location and spotted the horses high on the hills. In her domestic life, she responded to her name, came to kisses, and was highly food motivated. But she was reliving her wild life and none of those things were working. Any approach sent her prancing off in the opposite direction. They definitely needed to think outside the traditional methods.
While LRTC President Willis Lamm called a longtime friend who lived below and asked her to head out on horseback, rescue team member Tracy continued to try to head the horses off by getting in front of them and tempting them to stay put with some hay on the ground. They did not agree to that plan and kept running off. Tracy headed out in a wide arc circling around the two horses instead of walking toward them. They were covering a lot of ground, but persistence becomes key in these situations. Here’s how Tracy tells the rest of the story:
“About the time I got even with them in elevation on the hillside, a face appeared above us. And then another, and another, and another… I was sure that Mercy and her friend would take off with the arrival of this new bachelor band. But to my surprise, the stallion she was with led them toward the new bachelors, not away! It was almost like he was saying, “Look guys! I found a girl!”. While they were all busy greeting each other and checking out the new mare, I climbed a little higher so I could keep them all in sight. At the same time, Ann moved closer on horseback offering a bit of distraction for the group. I couldn’t see her over the little rise in the hill but Willis was in contact with us both and I knew she was there. Willis and John Cottrill were positioned way down below in John’s truck. While most of the bachelors watched the horseback rider, the mare and a small, young bachelor kept their eyes on me.
“I had to get close enough to get a hold of that lead line, but if I moved too fast or directly at them, they would be gone. Patience was going to be the name of this game. Realizing the tension I was holding in my own body, I took a huge inhale and audibly exhaled dropping my head and shoulders. They both looked at me more intently but curiously. So I did it again, and then again. I focused on feeling the ground under my feet and releasing all the tension in my upper body. And though they still watched me, they relaxed ever so slightly. I cocked one leg and then weight shifted, cocking the other, using the shift to inch my way closer all the while continuing to exhale tension audibly. Every so often Willis, who was in a position to see both me and Ann, would instruct Ann to have her horse take one step to keep the attention of the other horses.
“As I inched closer, I slowly lowered my hand to the ground and picked at vegetation then slowly stood back up. Inch closer, repeat. And repeat. Hoping that when I finally reached for the rope it would cause no alarm to them. I could finally see the end of the lead ropes which ended in a chain with a clasp as two leads had been tied together end to end. At last I slowly leaned down but this time I picked up that clasp and slowly worked my way up the chain until I had a firm grip on the lead rope itself. Gotcha!
“As I worked my way up the rope and the mare realized she was caught, the look on her face was priceless. Play time was over and she knew it. She complied with my request to walk forward. Then we had to shake six bachelor stallions who were none too happy to see their new friend leave. Between Ann on horseback, two vehicles, and some hay put out by John, we finally managed to leave the boys behind and begin our long trek down the mountain. Ann led on her horse and the mare and I followed with me walking her. It was a LONG walk back to Ann’s which was closer than where they mare had started and she had an extra corral where she could spend the night. The next day Willis helped arrange transport for her and even went to help Mercy have a good loading experience. She walked right on the trailer and got secured in the front compartment and they were off to pick up her friend at her previous stable and head to their new home together. Knowing she was safe was worth the sore muscles!
“Oh if horses could talk and tell their tales!”
L to R: 1. Mercy and her stallion friend way up the hills. 2. The bachelors and the mare, and the valley floor below showing just how far up we had climbed. 3. Gotcha! That face - she knew she was caught! 4. Loading with ease.