A concerned member of the community contacted our ACT to report a deceased horse as well as other horses on the property suffering from neglect and starvation. When our team arrived, the owner agreed to surrender custody of the remaining horses to HSMO. Our ACT and Longmeadow teams acted immediately to bring these animals to safety.

The conditions of the horses were shocking and heartbreaking. They were underweight, malnourished and suffering from heavy parasite loads. Some are in desperate need of farrier work and grooming (Longmeadow staff and volunteers have spent hours removing cockleburs from their manes, tails and bodies). In addition to the six horses rescued, the team found three deceased horses on the property. Sadly, two of these horses were the mothers of the foals. These orphans were unhandled and will need a lot of time to learn to trust people.

We named the orphans Dolce and Gabbana. They grew up at the ranch, learning how to trust people and be horses. Near the end of the year, these two both went to loving homes! Gabbana even went home with a staff member.