Bring the Louisiana Ponies to SD
UPDATE 9/19: I will be taking along care packages, particularly dog, cat & horse (mini) supplies to help alleviate her situation. If you have anything you'd like to contribute, please contact me! Also, I will likely bring back several Cocker Spaniels to be adopted out as well...a friend of mine will manage those adoptions. They are younger...details to come later. If you might be interested in adopting a dog, contact me.
UPDATE: I received word yesterday (8/17) that one of the minis, the mother of the ~2 mo old foal, has drowned. She had recently developed heaves and evidently the horses left the barn which is high ground and went swimming...she couldn't make it back. The owner is devastated.
Little Hooves Miniature Horse and Pony Rescue is taking in some mini horses from Louisiana. Their well being has been very questionable with the flooding but found out that they are ok just very hungry. Their owner has been trapped in her trailer house with 20 dogs for the last few days with water inside the house as well. She refused to leave her animals behind. Valerie Hicks from LH along with her husband are driving over 1200mi. to get the horses to safety and eventually adopting them out to forever homes. But this trip is an expensive one since the horses need vet checks in order to cross state lines and not to mention gas for the truck. If you can help in anyway it would be much appreciated.
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My name is Valerie Hicks and I'm from White SD. I privately take in a few miniature horses as needed to rehab and rehome. My projects range from severely foundered to coming from foreclosed homes to life changes where the owners just can't keep them anymore. All of my *rescues* are privately funded...and this is my first request for help.
I talked with a concerned owner early this spring about rehoming her horses due to her life changes (husbands death, care of her wheelchair bound mother, limited fixed income now, etc). After several failed attempts at a more local connection, I finally agreed to take in the ponies. The plan is they will eventually be rehomed as good matches were found, and stay in my care until/if that new home is found. This summer has been a struggle, and the owner is now dealing with flooding issues. While the horses so far have come out ok, that does limit the owner's ability to help financially with the expenses of relocating the animals.
We are scheduled to drive down to Louisiana over Labor Day to pick up the minis (3 mares, 1 foal, 1 stallion). Doing the driving ourselves will save us a good amount of money over paying to have them transported. Before that can take place we need to get health papers & negative coggins tests on all of them. This will be a costly venture, and funded solely by our own means (mostly my husbands salary). If you would like to contribute to the cause, your donation is greatly appreciated.
How the money will be used:
We expect approximately $600 in gas to drive the 1217 miles each way pulling a trailer. Vet expenses for travelling papers should run approximately $250.
Any additional funds will be used:
Upon their arrival, we will make sure their cares are up to date--get any hoof work done that needs attention, geld the stallion (~$150), deworming ($25), etc. Then they will be evaluated, which involves individual handling and just daily care. Ones suitable will begin training as my time allows--I drive my minis for fun, in parades, around home, etc. Some drive as singles with a cart, and others in teams on a wagon. If they don't like driving, they may just be a pet. ;-)
you can find out more information about some of our previous rescues on facebook https://www.facebook.com/Little-Hooves-Miniature-Horse-Pony-Rescue-317516141615811/