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Rescues & Rehabilitations
Ask me sometime about the
beautiful blind Arabian stallion that screamed any yelled in his pen
until I walked up and spoke softly to him. He actually put his
head through the bars and laid it on my shoulder.
Everyone else was afraid of this "Wild mean horse". His
punctured eye was so far gone I knew he was in terrible pain, he was
young, in pain and knew he was going to die among strangers.
He still haunts me to his day. What did I whisper to this
terrified animal?, "I am with you and it will be over soon".
I touched that soft velvet nose and it seemed to calm him. He
will be in my heart always as one I could not save. The meat
buyers have unlimited funds, I do not and sometime the choice I make
is based on gut feeling as well as the chance of survival...
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Mr. Bill
Due to the illness of his owner of 17
years, Mr. Bill arrived at Break Heart. This snazzy, old
duffer celebrated his 30th birthday, with us, on May 17th. He
quickly won our hearts with his wonderful personality. Mr.
BIll could never be called a worn out old horse. He is a
retired cattle horse, and he loves to move-fast. Belying his
age, Mr. Bill, is always ready to trot out. Mr. Bill
understands that he needs to keep a close eye on kids. His
gentle, loving heart, and "you want what?" attitude has earned
him a place of sanctuary.
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Miss Rose
Rose is 26 years young. A lesson horse for several years, Rose
is wise in the ways of humans. Beginner or experienced Rose
knows, and immediately adjusts. When she goes into work mode,
her one thought is to take care of her rider. Miss Rose will
stay, in sanctuary, here at Break Heart. She has earned the
right of retirement, just as Mr. Bill has. Though not our
oldest horses: Chinook is over 36 years old, they have taught
us much. Golden in years, they are Golden in heart and
experience. Don't let the sway in her back or the white in
her hair fool you. This gal enjoys life to the max.
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Dick and Dan
Dick and Dan are a matched pair of black
Percherons. Due to health problems in their family they
had to find a new home. I am happy to say they have found a
wonderful home for these two huge boys, that are willing to
love and care for them. Break Heart Ranch works very hard to
place horses that have come into peril due to family or
financial hardship. A sad story with a happy ending.
 
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Rebel
 Rebel was heading to auction. His owners were done with him.
They didn't realize that Rebel couldn't help himself. Being
overfed corn and alfalfa had made him too fat and too hot.
He was so high on sugar he had more energy than he could
handle. A wonderful young lady stepped in and saved this
overweight horse from being a main course. She not only made
the trip to pick him up, but brought him to Break Heart.
Once here, it was obvious he was strung out on too many
carbohydrates. He was so hyper he couldn't stand still. A
diet of oats and grass hay reduced his weight and changed
his hyper disposition. The "sugar demon" departed, and the
true horse emerged. Sweet and eager to please Rebel was able
to show his true colors (he turned out to be a registered
solid paint) He bonded with one of our volunteers, and the
rest is history, so to speak. Rebel is now living with his
new "herd" two female Alpacas. I am sure he thinks those are
the ugliest horses he has ever seen, but his "herd"
nonetheless.
Due to a caring person, willing to take
not only that extra step, but many, many extra miles and
expense, Rebel has a new life.
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Due to the poor economy, some horse lovers have
been forced to give up there horses. Such was the
case with four horses that came back to Break Heart.
Halima & Egypt
Halima is a beautiful Egyptian Arabian
mare. She is well broke, but has a strong personality, and
does not tolerate anyone whom she considers "wimpy". She
came back to Break Heart with her filly "Egypt" and it has
been determined that she was bred back on the foal heat, ( the
stallion is a black polish Arabian) so will be giving birth
next year. Our adoption contract states NO BREEDING OF
MARES. Egypt is eating on her own, but will not be separated
from her Mother, due to the time of year. Once Halima's foal
arrives and Egypt is weaned they will be put up for adoption.
Halima will not leave us again, unless I am absolutely sure
she will find her "forever home". She is broke to ride,
but prefers an experienced rider.
 Apache
Apache was one of the horses to come back.
Apache is big and beautiful. She bonds closely with her
human and is saddle broke, however, it does take an
experienced rider. She is like Halima and wants a strong
companion she can depend upon.
She has had her way for too long, and is
learning to work together with her human. Apache has a
wonderful, flowing gait.
 Ricky
T. Rose
Ricky came back to us with a biting
problem. However, he has since dropped this habit, like a bad
rash and is now in a new home where he is being ridden on a
daily basis. Ricky just lacked confidence, but he is a quick
learner.
 Mac
and Dutch
Two beautiful geldings needing a home.
Mac and Dutch, who we call "Mac and Cheese" had outgrown
their welcome and needed a new home. Mac, a heading horse,
long and lanky, and Dutch, out of Two eyed Jack was needing
guidance.
Mac calm and cool, Dutch full of energy.
What a pair. Dutch will go into training, in the Spring,
for barrels. Mac, at a young 16 years, will start to
work with cattle again. Both in loving homes, they
were here only a short time, but we miss them, however, we
will be looking forward to the new pictures of their new
careers.
 
Two Beautiful Black & White Paint Mares
These two beautiful paint mares needed a
new home. We are happy to report that a new home was found for
both the mares and they didn't need to be separated. Part of
our goal, here at Break Heart is to help owners re-home their
horses, without resorting to auction.
Monkey & Duchess
Monkey and Duchess came to us on the way to another rescue.
However, when we saw the condition they were in, we
immediately took them to our vet. Unfortunately, is was
determined that the older mare Duchess had cancer and that her
long time companion Monkey had shattered knees and was so
crippled he was in great pain. They passed over the Rainbow
Bridge together. We do what we can, but when they come to us,
in such a condition, the kindest thing we can do is release
them from pain.
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Morgan
A beautiful 3 year old Morgan gelding.
He was brought to Break Heart, because he has a lot to learn.
This boy has had little handling, and is lacking in
confidence. He would really like to learn, but is anxious
about humans.
He is registered and has a fine line, now
he needs to build his confidence. He still has to learn
that water hoses won't attack him. If you are interested in
this Morgan with great potential, please contact me.
Morgan is in love!!
In love with his 55 gallon black plastic
barrel!! Morgan has found this to be a great toy, and
although not cuddly, it will bounce, and he can pull it around
with his teeth. It is a joy to watch this big boy
jumping and playing with the old barrel.
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Preacher
Preacher is a black, registered Polish
Arabian Stallion that fell on hard times, after the death of
his owner. He is underweight, but has a calm, sweet
disposition. He was trained by a teenager and ridden for some
time. Preacher needs to put on some weight, but if you are
interested in this horse, please let me know and I can tell
you his lines.
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Rosette Two
& Maverick
Rosette Two was a pregnant
mare we bought out of a kill auction. Rose is a sweet mare
that loves hugs. Ricky T. Rose is her full brother, you see
him under
success stories. Rosette and Ricky T. are now together
in their new home.
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Three mares and two foals
have been saved from slaughter by the
Friends of Barbaro (FOB)
Amber and her foal, Sparkey, were the first
to be saved, they came very close to be separated forever.
Topaz and her little filly had been in hiding, no one had any
idea the baby existed. Jade, a pregnant, mare came to Break
Heart in hopes of healing and learning to trust humans again.
Amber, was very quiet, turns out she was a very young filly
herself, far too young to have a foal. Sparkey, had a
severe birth defect that kept his abdomen from closing, and on
performing his hernia surgery, it was found that his testicles
had somehow wrapped around his intestines. There would have
been no tomorrows for Sparkey, but the defect was caught in
time and a couple of surgeries later, he is a growing boy.
Ambers health was not helped by the fact that she was covered
in hundreds of ticks. I have never
 seen
anything like it. It was very unusual that the baby had only
one to be found. Amber has a problem with one eye, that will
take more treatment, and she may eventually become completely
blind in that eye.
Jade lost her "lethal white" foal, which is
the results of two paints that both carry the lethal white
gene. The baby was stillborn. After the loss of her foal,
Jade has quieted down and is starting to come around. She
enjoys her beet pulp.
Topaz is a beautiful dun paint, but she is
very leery of humans, and does not prefer their company,
unless they have treats. Her filly Priscilla, or little Pris,
loves people and never gets enough attention. She has already
learned halter, farrier and loading, just like Sparkey.
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Rain
Rain is growing into a
beautiful gal. She is learning that humans
aren't all that bad after all. She would be a
good project horse.
UPDATE
Rain is now in her new
home, where she is coming around to accepting the love of
kind humans. She is growing into a beautiful mare. Her life
started out badly, but she is learning to trust again.
Black
Hawk
Probably a long yearling.
He is a beautiful black and white paint with, what looks to me
like a bird on one side and whatever your imagination calls
the other. He is a stud colt that will need to be gelded
before he leaves Break Heart.
No uncut stud colts need
to add to the over breeding situation. His price will reflect
the gelding fee and must be paid in advance of pick up so
there is time for the surgery and healing. Black Hawk
has had some halter work, but we are just starting to work
with him again. The rain has delayed this. He has
been wormed, Coggins and had his first set of injections.
Black Hawk will be a nice sized horse and very flashy.
With the right training and patience he will be a wonderful
companion.
UPDATE
Black Hawk is now up for
adoption. He has been gelded and it ready for his forever
home. He is somewhat shy, but eager to please. Black Hawk
could be the horse of your dreams, if you are willing to spend
the time with him he needs.
Timmy
Timmy has not been
treated well by humans. He was sold to a kill buyer,
bought back and then we got him. He is a little shy, but
really wants affection. He is halter broke and would
make someone a lovely companion. Timmy is a short
yearling and I have no idea at this time how big he will get.
He has large brown eyes that are always searching for his
forever home. Timmy has not shed out in this picture.
He has put on weight and is beginning to fill out.
Timmy has
found his forever home with "his" boy Trace, in Colorado.
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Jet "The Outlaw"
I wrote an article for the Panorama
called 'Jet, "The Outlaw"'. It is the story of my
appaloosa, Jet, and the abuse he went through. It tells
the story of our bonding.
My
poor battered, beautiful boy. He was deemed "untrainable", mean and even
called a "man killer". They had tried to train him at two years and had
given up, after considerable abuse. Then when he was a little over 3, I
was told about him and that if I didn't buy him he would go for meat. When
we first looked into each others eyes we connected. Against all advice I
purchased him. I worked and worked with him trying to earn his trust, he
hated everyone for good reasons. He was also one heck of a bucking horse
- no one could stay on him if he didn't want them to, not even the so
called tough bull riders. I was told the best thing to do was shoot him in
the head. But we had a connection. I was warned he would hurt or kill me
several times, but they never understood. I did something, that everyone
thought I should be committed for: I put a halter on him, took him into a
large arena, mounted him bareback, wearing moccasins so as not to
inadvertently kick him and put my trust on the line. He has never let me
down since. He may become upset, or buddy sour, or scared - but he trusts
me and that is worth more than the $2000.00 I have been offered for him as
a bucking horse. He has only been ridden by one other person than myself
and he hated every minute of it. I think he only did it for me.
You can't imagine how proud I was to
ride him in the 2003 Minden, Nebraska homecoming parade. Not only had he
never seen or heard all those scary noises, but I had wrapped him in
patriotic colors too. I have been offered money for him several times and
as much as I always need it, I cannot betray the trust we have built
between us.
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I heard about Misty before I ever saw her, but I was not prepared for
what I saw. A horribly skeletal mare trying desperately to eat the dry
grass around her as her owner, "Trish", made excuse after excuse why she
looked that way. She would not give her up so she could be helped, she
demanded money. I looked around the barnyard and saw another horse, Misty's daughter, fat and sleek. It was a clear cut case of starvation. Why, I will never know. What had she done to deserve this? We can only
imagine what she thought after 20 years with this family. The cold
bloodiness was staggering and left one thought in my mind-get her out of
here. I could not believe "Trish" signing the Bill of Sale, asking for
the option to buy her back. What nerve? I heard from town, that her
former owner was telling everyone how she was going to get Misty back
when she was back to health and even open a horse rescue operation! NO
WAY IN HELL! was the words that first came to mind. Never would I
release that sweet, old girl to such horrible, heartless starvation.
She was a sweet, kind and gentle mare. She had an adorable face and
was a beauty in her prime. We started the long road to recovery. Teeth
floated, hooves trimmed, a special diet and Misty, now named Misty Rose,
seemed to bloom and began to put on weight. We were thrilled. In the
meantime, her former owner, was telling everyone how she was going to
get Misty Rose back, once she was recovered. Sweet Misty Rose began to
decline and the vet was called out to find out why. The news hit hard.
Her starvation by her "so called family" had destroyed her liver and
kidneys and she way dying. There was nothing we could do. We watched her
get thinner and thinner. We
tried to keep children around her, as she loved them so. She was just a
big babysitter, kind and gentle with the little ones.
She spent the last few months with a small girl, and when it became
apparent she was failing, we brought her home. I awoke two weeks later
to see her bright red blanket on the ground. She had slipped away,
during the night. Her head looking toward the house, as if saying her
goodbyes and thanking us for the last few months of her life. She had
fought hard for 8 months, but the starvation, that was so cruel and
inhumane, had claimed her.
Misty Rose didn't have to die. She could have had many good years
left, if only she would have been cared for. If they didn't want her,
there were so many places that would have taken her. That sweet, kind
soul was killed in the most insidious way.
As I laid my head upon her cold body, it came to mind, did she ever
wonder what she had done, that her humans would not feed her? The hunger
pains tearing across her empty stomach as she smelled the hay the other
horse was fed. A once loved member of the family, dying in front of a
picture window, while the hay tractor went by her every day. Why had
they stopped loving her? Why did they watch this sweet girl die inch by
inch just across the driveway? If you know the answer, please tell me.
I mourn that sweet girl and all the others like her. I hope Misty
Rose is waiting at Heavens gate, when her former owners arrive. I would
hope she would turn them away, but I know better. She has a bigger heart
than they ever had or will have.
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Bless You Misty Rose,
you taught me so much in
your short time with us. |
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Max's Barfly Blues....
 My
stallion was a rescue. A friend called me and said if you don't help
this horse he will die. How do you answer that one? You just jump in
the truck and go see. I was appalled. He was in a small round pen, no
water, moldy black hay, no shade and covered with blood sucking flies.
A divorce situation, this comes up more than you know. When the owner
showed up, I made her an offer she could not refuse and he was mine. I
almost lost three weeks later when he tried to go into kidney failure
but you would never know it now. He does have starvation complex so is
very proprietary with his food, except when he is courting.
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Spirit & Lakota Moon....
I bought these two beautiful
Mustangs off the meat line. Spirit, even though I gained her trust
over the years, had been too abused by humans to ever be comfortable
with human touch. I was told I would never be able to ride Lakota,
but by establishing trust, she allowed me to saddle and ride her. I
felt
 Lakota
had paid her dues and in her best interest she should be retired to
the lifestyle she would love best, the open prairies. Both of these
beautiful horses have been released in the Black Hills Wild Horse
Sanctuary in South Dakota. The are running with the herd on 11,000
acres of open land.
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Nymawae....
Bought at auction,
Nymawae is a gorgeous little miniature. She was terrified when we got
her, but has since settled down. She has shed out and is turning into
quite a lovely lady, a Palomino with a lovely white mane. Her and her
friend Twinkle love to tease Star.
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 Hope
. . .
Hope was bought
from a sale by another person. In October of 06, she fell and
injured her knee and shoulder. She was left without medical
care. I was asked to come and get her or she was to be destroyed.
This poor little
filly was terrified, as we loaded her in the trailer. She was in
such deep muck, I had no idea how bad she was until we got her home.
Hope's front leg was deformed and her shoulder was injured. The
original knee injury had caused damage the other leg as well.
When we opened the trailer and saw her poor twisted legs and spine, I
knew in my heart there was no miracle for Hope. We put her in a
small stall and I worked with her to gain her trust. This smart
girl was
wearing a halter and following me around in less than an hour. I
brushed her and felt her atrophied shoulders. It was then I saw
the curve in her spine from pulling her damaged legs backwards.
She could only lie down with both legs in front of her. This
poor little girl had only one option, but I could not make
that decision until I took her to a specialist. He confirmed my
worst fears. There was no Summer for Hope, nor playing or
running in the pasture. She was in pain and her legs would just
get worse. 
Hope walked calmly behind me, as I lead her to a little grassy spot.
The wind was blowing and you
could smell the coming of Spring. Hope was willing to follow
where I led. I looked into those soft brown eyes, and stroked
her soft forehead. "Trust me Hope. Trust me, for you are
going to a wonderful place." She looked right into my eyes and never
flinched as the needle entered her vein. She crumpled slowly to
the ground. NO terror, pain, or fear. Just a peaceful
passing with me and John at her side. I really think she
understood. For the first time in a very long time she was
without pain. In the soft evening twilight her legs appeared
straight and strong. Only a trick of the light, but
for a moment I could see the beautiful horse she would have become, if
someone had only cared enough to help her.
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Chinook....
 A
32 year old blue-eyed appaloosa stallion pony. He has a wonderful
disposition and is totally blind. He is one of the smartest horses I
have been around. You would never know he is blind. He is not for
adoption as I have promised his family he would live out his life here
at the Break Heart Ranch, but a sponsor to help with his care would be
wonderful.
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Our newest rescues
Six
horses were going to slaughter. A small colt was going to be
killed, as the owner thought no one would want him. Through the
efforts of many wonderful people these horses were rescued. They will
be evaluated, treated, wormed, gelded and quarantined. If anyone is
interested in adopting these horses, please let me know. The paint
mare and stud colt will stay with us until he is weaned. We DO
NOT split off babies from their mamas before they are fully weaned.
NO exceptions. There is a young Palomino Stud and a younger
Overo stud, and AQHA buckskin mare, a 3 year old APHA paint filly a
APHA Gray Overo stud and then the Overo mare and little cremello
colt. The younger studs will be gelded as soon as they can be
handled. It is fairly certain that all mares are bred due to
running with the two younger studs. That will, also, be
determined.
 
Fobe and his Mom
Click on Fobe's photo
for a page dedicated to
his rescue and progress
 
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Thank you for
visiting Break Heart Ranch's web site.
Please feel free to look around and see
the wonderful things happening here
and contact us for any additional information.
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