Introducing Cindy Lou!

We are contacted almost regularly about horses who are in need of homes- unfortunately because so many of our horses are currently sanctuaried, we really don’t have any stalls available. We try to network many of these horses in order to try to help them find homes.

A few weeks ago we were contacted by a law office who was dealing with a ranch that had gone bankrupt. They had found homes for all but two of the horses, a cute little 22 year-old Arabian/Paint mare named Cindy and her six year-old son. Although the son had a number of different options of where he could be placed, the mare had bonded with him to the point that she was completely inconsolable when she separated from him. The manager did not want to let him to go a new home until they found a home for Cindy. We were concerned about trying to network a home for Cindy because the situation did not allow a potential adopter to really know much about the horse, or do much besides meeting her before deciding they would like to adopt her. We also really didn’t know enough about her temperament, soundness or riding ability to promise anything. Finally, we were concerned that her separation anxiety for her son would prove to be too challenging for most people. We were very concerned that someone might take her, only to give up and later sell her or send her to auction, putting her at risk for being sent to slaughter.

Thankfully, one of our friends and supporters stepped up and offered to foster Cindy. Very soon thereafter, the law office was able to find a home for her son.

We rarely foster because we just do not have the ability to constantly check up on the horses, but Natalie is a long-time friend of both Elizabeth and of Hanaeleh. Her mother served on our board and even adopted Maggie, one of our horses. Natalie also adopted a few horses through Hanaeleh, and has helped us place a number of horses in the past. We trust her judgment and know that she takes excellent care of her horses.

We decided, due to the timing of the year, to call her Cindy Lou (who is no more than 22).

Natalie arranged and paid for Cindy’s transport to her house. We were concerned that Cindy would be an absolute basket case because she was being taken away from her son for the first time in six years, but she trailered well, and settled in OK at Natalie’s that evening. Unfortunately, she began to experience some separation anxiety the following day, so Natalie put a pony next to her, which helped calm her a bit- she didn’t have her son, but at least she had a friend.

Cindy Lou is doing better emotionally, but unfortunately she had been neglected for a long time before the ranch had been taken over. She needs farrier work, and her teeth desperately need to be floated. She also has a little lameness in her hocks, so she will need some injections in addition to a daily joint supplement in order to be truly comfortable. Currently she is at a good weight, but needs some muscle tone, which will come with consistent work.

Cindy Lou will be up for adoption once she is healthy. She was used as a trail horse for the ranch, so she has a very pleasant personality, but she needs some more daily handling to get used to being with humans again. We did have someone ride her around at the walk for about 10 minutes just to see how she would act, and she was very calm and worked well. Until she gets her feet and teeth done, however, and builds up some more muscle, we can’t do much more work with her beyond that. She will eventually be an amazing horse for a beginner or intermediate rider, but she just needs the basic care that she was denied for so long.

Would you like to donate to help with Cindy Lou’s care? No amount is too small: click HERE.