Story by Debbie Stoutamire of the Galveston County Daily News
Habitat for Horses Touches the Lives of So Many Equines
Before I took a trip to the Habitat for Horses the morning of Jan. 29, my heart broke as I read about 500 to 700 malnourished horses on a foreclosed Montana ranch.
An unprecedented livestock rescue effort was being made, and hay was being airlifted to the starving horses.
These efforts were being focused on a group of 350 horses, because the remainder of the herd broke through the fences of what was once called the Home Place Ranch.
Offers were coming in from around the nation to buy hay or otherwise support the effort.
After a few grisly discoveries made by investigators, including a horse that had been walking on a severely broken leg for perhaps a year, the previous owner of the foreclosed ranch had been charged with five counts of animal cruelty.
I researched animal cruelty after reading this and discovered that cruelty to animals has been connected to a violent nature in people and even children.
Jerry Finch and R.T. Fitch ~ photo by Terry Fitch
I am grateful to God for the rescue effort and visionaries like Jerry Finch, who has helped to save hundreds of horses from abuse and neglect since founding the Habitat for Horses in 1998.
He once said, “We have become a throwaway society, where anything less than perfection holds no value. If there’s a problem, we would rather replace than fix it.”
Take Jessup, for instance. Jessup was donated to the Habitat after having his eye removed from cancer.
Less than perfection — a white horse who has seen better days, who stood by himself, lonely and unloved, until he came to the habitat.
Or take Luke, the horse that I sponsored — tied to a tree until he was brought to the habitat, severely malnourished and dehydrated. With lots of love and good nourishment, Luke now is thriving.
Or take Marco, a registered Arabian stud, who was taken away from green pastures and his soul mate, Misty, to a dirt paddock that could only be described as a garbage dump.
Who was never fed and became so hungry he chewed on a wooden fence. Who watched in horror as his owner cut open a new pregnant mare’s abdomen because she didn’t want to call a vet.
Marco watched as the mare and baby died, screaming, and the mare was buried with her head and feet above the ground.
Marco was seized by the habitat along with 58 various animals, and his owner was charged with animal cruelty.
After Marco was rehabilitated and brought back to life at the habitat, he was taken back home, where Misty, his lost love and soul mate, waited patiently at the gate.
How many times have I heard these horses crying out for justice, for love, for a good home?
“Have we not been your beasts of burden for more than thousands of years? Did we not carry you in wars throughout history? Did we not pull the chariots in Roman days?
“From the beginning of time until the end of days, we have always been in servitude to you. How long will it take for you to recognize us?”
And as it says in Isaiah 11, at the end “the wolf will lie down with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat and calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.”
And, until such time, the horses will wait patiently at the gate.
Debbie Stoutamire lives in Galveston.
Click (HERE) to visit HfH
Proceeds from “Straight from the Horse’s Heart” go to the Horses at Habitat
Categories: Equine Rescue, Horse News
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
While this may be in large part a throw-away society, there are still a great many craftsmen (and women) who value the Living Things built by the hand of the Creator.
These are the Better Angels, like Mr. Finch and Mr. & Mrs. Fitch and all the men and women who strap on their wings every day, searching ceaselessly for the means to bring Better into the lives of those we find priceless.
I am honored and thankful for having encountered, if only in the virtual world, those people. By printed word & actual deed, somewhere, somehow they have made a difference in the life of at least one lost & precious soul. And that is very fine company, indeed.
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Thank You Lisa !!!! I was just thinking about that yesterday !!!!! I thought here we all are together , brought together by horses, the people here and in the field , I am amazed everyday by the wonderful souls who inhabit here, all for the horses each and everyone, we all reside here for a reason and were brought here for a reason, together we will find a way to save these wonderful magical horses, we together will do this, I believe this will be a combined victory ………….We were all brought here to this place it was no mistake !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Each one one of us was hand picked to be here……………. Each one of us is an expert in one thing or another combined we are power…………………A force for the Horse………….
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A Much Deserved Tribute!
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May these horse be delivered from the hands of those who didn’t care into the hands of someone who will love and hold and provide.
It is that prayer that is being answered.
It is that miracle for which I am truly grateful.
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The more I read about abuse, the sadder I get. And then, I get angry! Thanks to all of you who are making a difference, if only one life at a time. (That life appreciates you.)
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God Bless those who help those who cannot be helped by human abusers. Shame on them.
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I cannot imagine nor understand the person who does not care for their horse(s) or cares so little for them as to not properly care for them. It is beyond me the kind of person who would cut open a pregnant mare–why? What twisted mind would do such a thing? I hope they threw the book at that owner.
I do volunteer PR work for two rescues in my area to help bring them to the public’s attention. Whether as a place to find a horse or a place to bring a horse when times are hard. And even a place to call if they’re concerned about a horse in need and want to know what to do. It is, as I’m sure Habitat for Horses knows, a labor of love. These are all volunteer organizations with all of the funds going to care for the horses. All have amazing people involved to carry out their mission.
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How very sad and beautiful all in one reading. WHY are they (BLM) not listening to the people that are trying so hard to help these animals? We can be grateful at least for the internet to let us know just what they have been up to all these yrs. Now it’s time to change it!
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Very touching, thanks Debbie. It gave me goosebumps & brought tears to my eyes, as does all sad cases of animal abuse, & the same for child abuse. The two DO go hand in hand. I pray often, that someday soon, our Creator will show them the wrongs that they do, & make them change. Thanks, also, to Lisa. I do think people are born with either love, compassion & empathy for ALL living things, or, their brains are lacking in that dept. I think people like all of us(not wanting to sound conceited, rude, or self righteous), are here to protect the innocents from those that would do harm, whether we are protecting horses, other animals, or, children.
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