Blind rescue mare, May

Instead of our usual spotlight, let's take some time to get to know May, the blind Standardbred rescue mare we are honored to have as part of our program. She has been on a long journey in her life.

As close as we can calculate, she began by taking her first breath 12 years ago this year. She was registered as May, an ordinary race horse name, as when you look at the trotting registry, there are several others who were registered identically. May was loved, nurtured, weaned, trained, and raced. Somewhere in time, somehow, May ended up at a horse sale in Thorpe, Wisconsin. We do not know how many owners she had, or how many times she bounced near and far. We do know that a man, a Standardbred dealer from Wisconsin, purchased her as a blind mare, and brought her home to his farm. He knew she had value. She was driven blind and was obedient, steadfast, and unflappable. She obviously had not been abused, as she was not afraid of man. The gentleman saw her and appreciated her, and hoped someone else would, too, so he brought her to southwest Wisconsin from Thorpe and put her in with the others who were waiting to be purchased, mostly, by members of the Amish community.

May was not an ordinary Standardbred (is there such a thing?)... she was refined, with ears that nearly touched together at the tips when she greeted you with an eager whinny. She carried herself so regally - almost like a proud, sighted horse. Somewhere, not so long ago in time, a man (not Amish) came along. He, too, was a collector of sorts. After all, he had purchased 35 horses for $3500 at a sale! What a bargain! This man approached the man who owned May, and the man shared how wonderful May was. He also thought she would turn out some fine foals if bred. The man agreed. He paid the dealer by check, and took May home to comingle with the many others who shared a barren, vast pasture with rolling hills and deep ditches. The check bounced. The dealer thought about approaching the man who had written a bad check and taking May back, but later thought to let things be. May stayed in that pasture, with so many other horses, fending for herself. There were many other breeds of horses there. May was ridden on trails as a blind horse and driven, but she rode and drove like a proud, sighted horse. She was hungry, but she pleased man, and trusted... that man would provide for her.

The pasture was more barren than ever, and the line to the water tank broke. There was only a small puddle where the water once flowed, and May sucked the muddied drops of water and tried to gain enough nourishment from it to survive. There was no hay, and no grass. Some horses were not that lucky, despite the fact that they had two good eyes to guide them. Carcasses of horses who had starved or thirsted were found in that pasture. One horse was impaled with a sharp object in her ribs with a baby at her side. Broken glass was everywhere where horses had crowded each other and hurt each other. One man found a piece of a foal's foot where a hungry dog had sucked every piece flesh from it, and other pieces of a foal lying here and there.

ASAP got a call on a September evening, asking for assistance to move horses from this site. ASAP responded, and one of the first horses to greet us at the gate was Glory, the black weanling or yearling filly. Then came more and more off the hill, from the back, from every direction, seeking water. A water tank with water was provided by some wonderful, compassionate caring people and a large bale of hay was brought in by a man who, until that night, had been a complete stranger. As the horses came in to surround us and fight for the liquid of life, a very skinny, desperate mare that we found out later was our wonderful May came stumbling up to the truck. I gasped, and walked over to her. I put my arms around her neck, and she trusted me to guide her to the large water tank. She knew I would help her, and when we reached the trough she kindly dislodged herself from my grasp to gulp down the water as if it would not be there for another minute if she didn't get all that she could. I was instantly taken by her firece fighting spirit -the spirit to survive... and yet to trust. Why? Why should she trust anyone? I was angry, sad, heartbroken, and desperate to get her out of there immediately.

Suddenly we felt the presence of the person who owned the horses, and we were asked to leave. My heart sank, feeling as though we may not be able to get to the horses before they could be taken away. When we returned the next day, only a handful of horses remained at that farm scene. May had been taken away, but to where? And why?

Weeks went by, and then a phone call. A call asking us if we wanted a blind mare that did not go to auction. You see, it is illegal to ship a horse to kill if they are horribly lame or blind. May was blind, and that impairment saved her life! May was transported by Terry and Katie (thank God for them) to foster care. The cold winter was about to begin, and May had no extra stores. She needed good nourishment. We continually brought good feed up to May and Aggie throughout the winter, and they stayed most of the winter inside a barn. May greeted each new day with an enthusiastic whinny - almost a smile - to whoever entered her barn. She always believed... that people would take care of her! Amazing, isn't it? Unable to take May to the ASAP farm due to lack of appropriate space for her to stay safe, she remained in foster care at an Amish farm until a wonderful family volunteered to take her in. She needed bloodwork and health papers, and finally when spring was about to enter, May was on her way to a new home. She rode like a trooper for the three hour drive to Cannon Falls, MN. She had a warm, clean stall waiting for her and a loving family. She had all the food she could imagine, and clean water in abundant supply. The veterinarian came out to inspect May, and found she was ridden with parasites. We also found out another piece of exciting, but scary news - May is in foal and due in the next six weeks or so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In spite of all she has gone through, May is a fresh breath of spring. She deserves, and has gotten, a new chance at life. Everything for her is all brand new - like the new spring grass and flowers... somehow God has loved her so intensely, so immensely, and so completely that His hand has never left her. Isn't it just mind-boggling how mysteriously God works? How much more does He love you and me if He loves May so very very dearly - to the point of seeing her through her triumphs and tragedies to this point in her life? Isn't Easter an appropriate time to worship and admire the God who gives us all good things, and we are so proud to have May in our ASAP family, and so glad that God brought her to us for protection and safety and happiness? And now, May gets to be a mom! Oh, how I wish for brand new eyes for her to see her brand new baby when it arrives. Nevertheless, even if this isn't possible - May will not be ungrateful or bitter. She will be an overcomer - a horse who is a true champion who continues to trust and look at life with eager ambition despite her circumstances!

Who will adopt this amazing horse? Whoever does will also receive the added bonus of a beautiful, perfect foal by her side!

Susan