Ellie Has History

So I was able to contact a previous owner of Ellie's today. Her name is Tina and she seems like a wonderful woman. She had purchased Ellie for her children, thinking she'd be a nice mount for them to learn on. While she was with Tina she had mood swings, which she said sometimes made her dangerous. While she has been with me, I have yet to see dangerous behavior, but she does seem a little pissy sometimes. However, for the most part she is a sweet, calm older mare that just seems cranky (which I have thus far contributed to her being in pain from arthritis/old surgery etc).

When Tina found a new home for Ellie she traded her to a friend for a kid-safe horse more suitable for her children. That friend made attempts to breed her and was unsuccessful. He in turn had her ultrasounded and found that there was a basketball sized tumor on one of her ovaries. He sold Ellie and continued his breeding program.

Once she left his hands, she was passed around, lied about, passed around, dumped, rescued, passed around some more and sold for ungodly amounts amidst lies and betrayals. Instead of someone doing the right thing and disclosing her issues, or euthanizing her to save her from exactly what happened to her (being rescued numerous times etc) She was passed on, and passed on to multitudes of homes.

This poor mare is an example of why we, as humans, need to be honest with others about the abilities of horses. It is not fair to them to pass them around for one reason or another and not either address, or rid them of their issues. They end up, after 20 years of being passed around, in a kill pen during the coldest month of the year, skinny and untrimmed. How unfair!

While I feel there is a place for slaughter (although not in the state it is now, but a more regulated and humane option) this mare is NOT the type of horse I'd say is a candidate. This is a horse who was planned for, loved, and campaigned. Bred, and made money for people. She has given her all for people, and they in turn passed her on to the next wrong home. In a case like this...sometimes it is more humane just to let them go. I know we as a human race do not ever feel good about letting an animal who outwardly seems healthy (as a horse) go on to a better place, it is sometimes a better option than where they may someday end up.

Right now the plan is to save for Dr. Bob Campbell to come out and evaluate what sort of quality of life Ellie has. She has apparently lived with this tumor for at least 10 years, and is still around and reasonably happy. But if she is in pain, or is going to become a danger to herself or others due to hormones, we may have to make some difficult decisions. I ask you all to keep Ellie in your prayers and myself as well so that I make the right decision, as it seems not many people have done on behalf of her. I already love Ellie, and while it would be hard to let her go, sometimes that is the kinder option. I will keep you all updated. She is a special little girl!