Waiting in line ...

     Three separate calls had recently come into Happy Trails concerning retiring buggy horses through our Amish Horse Retirement Program. This unique Happy Trails program allows a buggy or a plow horse that can no longer earn it’s keep on an Amish farm, an avenue to a kind and caring retirement home as opposed to being sent through the local auction. The sad facts are that if the retiring horses are sent to the auction, 99.9% of the time they are picked up by the meat-buyers and sent on a long road trip to the slaughterhouse

     The Amish families who willingly give up their retiring horses do so out of love for their horse, and they want to see the family horse who has worked so very hard it’s entire life find a place where it can relax and spend it’s last years in peace and comfort. Happy Trails does not pay the families for these horses, but rather we spend the money on having each horse accepted into our program completely and thoroughly vet checked. Usually the medical examination is conducted either by our field service veterinarian or through the Equine Specialty Hospital in Aurora.    

     Happy Trails then invests time and care and love and a great deal of money in these very deserving horses. They are put on a healthy nutritional diet, have their hooves trimmed every six weeks during their stay at Happy Trails, have their teeth floated as needed, and receive their regular vaccines and booster shots which do include the West Niles vaccine. They are also put on a rotational paste worming schedule, and given lots of attention, massages, brushing, and are spoiled rotten to the extent we are able to do so.

     The funds required to get proper help and medical care for these horses are often phenominal. Their medical conditions often dictate costly treatments and daily medicines to get them on the road to recovery. Donations can be made specifically toward the Amish Horse Retirement Program, and you can help Happy Trails get the proper medical treatment, nutrition and meed the special needs that these horses are so desperately in need of.

     Happy Trails is trying our very best to find ways to not let these horses down. In an ideal situation, we would be able to find loving and caring homes where these wonderful and hard-working animals could live out their remaining time in peace and comfort. Private homes with hearts and finances big enough to care for an injured or lame horse that is not ridable are often not abundant enough. Though most of the horses are "Pasture Pals (not ridable), we often run across a few that are still capable of light work for recreation, wich was the case in our most recent trip. 

     Here are the details of the current Amish horses available for adoption.

RUSTY

Rusty the Standardbred riding down the lane near his Amish home.

RUSTY: is currently being used as a riding horse, is a sorrel color, 17 years old, about 16 hands high, stands politely for the farrier, and is believed to either have arthritis or is possibly navicular because he exhibits lameness on occasion. He is currently on an arthritis supplement, has been recently wormed, has also seen an equine massage therapist and an equine chiropractor, and will need an experienced light-weight rider for some basic back-yard riding. He has been ridden Western and bareback, neck reins, is wonderful to work around, and stands at about 16 hands high. we do not believe that he's appropriate for a beginner rider — he enjoys going fast and large trucks still scare him. Since Happy Trails is currently filled to capacity with rescued horses, Rusty is still living at his Amish farm while Happy Trails tries our very best to find a loving and caring home for him and his little pony buddy, Surefoot (see pony details below). If we can facilitate an adoption directly from the Amish farm, there will be no adoption fee in exchange for the new owners agreeing to pay for the vet soundness evaluation and overall health and wellness check up which would include bring both horses current on vaccines and worming.

SPECIAL NOTE: There is also a pony named Surefoot that is Rusty's best friend. The family is willing to let the pony be adopted along with his very best horse friend, Rusty. The pony is a 24 year old brown and white paint named Surefoot and is about 48" high. He is broke to ride and drive, but can be rather feisty. He is also cute as a button — who wouldn't want this adorable little fellow around? Heaves is suspected since he occasionally has a cough, and will need to have a thorough medical evaluation also. Rusty and Surefoot currently reside in the Millersburg area since Happy Trails is full to capacity at the sanctuary.

DARLIN' DIXIE
DARLIN' DIXIE: a 15 year old Standardbred mare, is about 16 hands high, dark bay color, has bowed tendons, and is currently residing at Happy Trails during a period of rest and recovery. She is an absolute love, and may recover enough to give small children lead line rides around your back yard. Her back suspensories are weak, and we do not believe that she will be able to hold the weight of a large adult rider. Dixie is currently placed in our Pasture Pal Program, and has a $250 adoption fee. She has been wormed, received her initial vet evaluation, and will receive her initial vaccines this next week after she settled in more comfortably at the sanctuary.

CINDY LOU WHO
CINDY LOU WHO: a 15 year old Standardbred mare who is drop-dead gorgeous! This beautious dapple bay will steal your heart! She's a little shy but is coming around and learning to thoroughly enjoy her daily horsey massages. She is not sound enough to drive or buggy. She has never been ridden, and we are not certain if her arthritis will allow her to ever hold the weight of a person. She has severe allergies which require daily eye salve to control swelling and redness and to offer her comfort. Cindy Lou Who is experiencing a period of rest and recovery here at Happy Trails, and she is a doll! She lead's nicely, ties quietly, and is starting to get used to being fussed over. she is now listed as a Pasture Pal (non-ridable) adoptable horse, and has a $250 adoption fee. 

Happy Trails is planning to bring more of the Amish horses to the sanctuary as soon as room and funds are available. As the current list of horses find their loving and cairng new homes, we are able to help the next ones on the waiting list. If you are interested in providing a permanent retirement home for any of these retiring Amish Standardbreds, or if you would be interested in adopting a retired Amish draft (plow) horse, or would like to participate by donating to their care, please give Happy Trails a call at (330) 296-5914.

Many thanks to Eileen and Bob Roloff, Connie Bloom, and Karen Schiely, for accompanying Annette on this trip to meet the Amish horses and for helping to spread the word that these wonderful animals are in need of retirement homes.

Photos of these horses will be available soon!