Pictures from the ranch

Our friend, Cathy Potter, visited the ranch last weekend. She took some fabulous pictures!
This is Fred:


Nap time on a nice winter's afternoon. This is General, really sawing those z's:



Shiloh:


CB (Cruisin' Bay):


Leaguer (Diamond Leaguer):

Wally Tamale:


Rosie, nose down!

Queen Misty, immodestly:

Spirit, breakfast in bed:

The Diva, Baby B:

Silky, formerly bald and tailless!

Grace:
Casper, Jocori and Sinatra:

Valentine's Day 2008

It is a special month indeed. Nellie, who is so excited to be at MHR and amongst friends who will love and care for her and her unborn foal, has decided to do something special for everyone at MHR this month. She has decided to make her world famous (okay, famous in the horse world)

Whoa Nelly Newtons

Whoa Nelly is right! These scrumptious little Fig Newton look-alikes will stop any horse in their tracks. Cookie on the outside Mooshy on the inside….

So will you be My Valentine? Want your favorite MHR horse to be your Valentine this month? For $5.00 payable to MHR, the horse you choose will receive some of Nellie's cookies on that special day.

Make it a special day for your special MHR Valentine.

Proceeds will go towards the Big-Boned Gals maternity care.

Payment for hay tickets can be made in several ways: Paypal or credit card on the MHR website, or checks made payable to Miracle Horse Rescue Inc. See this page for instructions on using the PayPal link. Checks can be mailed to

• Miracle Horse Rescue, Inc.
  2220 Simkins Rd.
  Pahrump, Nevada 89060

Please make sure you put Valentine's Cookies and the horse's name on your check or include it in the comment section for Paypal or credit cards so your donation goes to the horse of your choice.

Thank you!

JAN Progress Report

Jerri, Apple and Nellie are coming along a lot better than I anticipated in such a short time.

Nellie is timid but quite curious. She watches everything you are doing. If you approach her stall she will move away from you, however if you stand there long enough she will come over but will stay out of arms length.

Jerri is going to take a great deal more time. She does not trust and it is by the grace of God that she allowed Theresa and Joseph their few minutes to hold her and pet her. For a brief few moments she relaxed when they were petting her, but you could see fear in her eyes as if she was waiting for something bad to happen. Sad.

Then there is Apple the Mooch. Apple loves attention and wants it all. What a personality this girl has. Very loving and VERRRYYYY food or shall I say treat motivated. She wants all the attention and she wants it all for herself. She expects you to have goodies in your hand. She wuffles at you in a very deep voice and it begins as you walk out the back door and she sees you...very funny.

It has been a short time since their arrival but we believe we have made excellent progress.

Stephanie

Video of Jerri and Theresa

Theresa is Joe's wife and is a very brave person! Video taken February 2, 2008. Jerri loves those Tumbleweeds.

And then there was Jerri...

Jerri is a lot more reluctant than Apple and Nellie have been. This is real progress, although it was a quick session which she ended rather emphatically. No new halter for Jerri yet.

Apple, Joe and her feet

More of Nellie's new halter

Nellie gets a new halter!

Big day today! Joseph was able to take Nellie's old halter off and replace it with a new one. Her old life is now officially over. Jerri isn't cooperating yet, but it's only been two weeks. Who can resist Joseph?

Remembering Barbaro

On the eve of the anniversary of his Crossing the Rainbow Bridge, we must remember that Barbaro did not die in vain.

He has brought many people together to fight for the lives of horses around the world and to fight for the Ban on the Slaughtering of Horses.

His Legacy lives on through each of you and through the lives of the horses you have saved.

THE LEGACY

Sunday morning

Good Morning,

I wish that I could explain what I felt when Apple's halter was removed and the new one put on. It gave my heart an ache. Joseph did not know I was taking that photo, he was totally engrossed in touching Apple. In fact at one point Nellie had come up behind him in her stall and was watching intently. He did ask me if Nellie was behind him and I said yes. Jerri is a bit more aggressive and does not hesitate to show her displeasure, a bit of ear pinning and turning the rear but even that is beginning to not show itself as often. You cannot make any sudden moves whatsoever, everything must be slow or you risk the chance if them rushing away from you. I know in time Jerri and Nellie will come around, maybe not to the extent that Apple is, but I won't rule it out.

I have taken to sitting and even reading to them the last couple of days. I am reading "BREAKING FREE" by Lauraine Snelling. It is an outstanding book, of a young woman sent to prison and while there had the opportunity to work in a high profile retired TB race horse program. I had been sent this book to read and evaluate by the publisher a few months back. I grabbed it up, and thought what an appropriate title.

These girls are really helping me right now...you will never know how much. We are finding comfort and peace within each other. I can never thank the FOBs, family and friends enough for saving them.

Thank You

Stephanie

Apple shows off!

Apple gets a new halter, and kiss from Stephanie's son, Joseph. We think she likes it.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Good Afternoon Everyone,

I hope this finds all doing well.

Everything here at the ranch is going well. Jerri, Nellie and Apple have truly fit in. While, filling Nellie's water barrel yesterday, I was standing there talking to her. I know she did not know what I was talking about, kind of a private conversation. She was watching me, and a little bit at a time she began inching her way over. She was within arms reach, and though I wanted to reach out and touch her I refrained from the urge. Instead, I reached down picked some hay from the bale and handed it to her. She stood and I stood quietly, a few sniffs and ever so gingerly she took it from my hand. I was thrilled. Of course though, there was Apple, her large head and deep voice wuffling at me. I had some carrots on me. I took a carrot and attempted to hand it to Apple, she stood looking at me as I was rubbing it on her lips, sticking it in the side of her mouth...nothing. I then reached over and got a handful of hay and these huge plunger lips slapping together came towards my hand..she took it. Once she ate that she took the carrot from me...LOL..she wanted to have what Nellie had first. Apple has also taken to lifting her right leg and pawing the air at feeding time, not big swipes but little ones...indicating her impatience for her food. Jerri is much more wary and watches everything you are doing. You can tell she wants to be part of it all as well, but she is not ready to commit to giving into her desires. In time. She is however not moving away when you are around her pen, but she does stay back and watches very intently. It will happen, and we are in no rush. They need to be comfortable first and foremost.

All the horses at the ranch are enjoying the spring-like temperatures. Most will bask in the sun, some standing and the others lying down, especially after their morning meal.

*******************************************

I would like to share with all of you a special telephone call I received on January the 18th. It was Gretchen Jackson. She was calling to thank us for the print "The Legacy" She really liked it and said she has a special spot for it. We chatted for a few more minutes and I told her about your big girls arriving the night before and the efforts that went into not only this save but others as well.............All in his name, "Barbaro" This was a thrill and an honor for me.

******************************************

I hope that each one of you have a blessed and safe day.

Stephanie

Two new videos

Apples for the crew

Part I
Part II

Nellie

Jerri

Apple

Pictures from the Weekend

Rosie. Photo by Cathy Potter.

Monday morning, 1/21/08

All is well here at the ranch. Jerri, Apple and Nellie are settling in. They are very quiet, and other than the ruckus upon their arrival, it is as if they have been here forever. All the other horses pay no mind to them.

They are taking some treats but they are so very cautious. I actually touched Jerri on the nose and then a touch to the shoulder which I thought was going to cause her to jump through her skin. Nellie not a chance at this point, but with time and patience it will happen. I have had the opportunity to rub Apple's face and her cheeks (big cheeks). She is a sweet a mare but cautious as well.

It will be some time before we can change their halters out. In the meantime, I call the halters they are wearing their "BADGE OF COURAGE". Jerri's number is 92, Nellie is 34 and Apple is 09. Their names were actually given to them by Animali staff members, as they were only numbers to the rancher. These numbers are freeze branded on them which will always be a reminder to us of their previous lives.

In time, they will come around, maybe not entirely but they will always be safe and loved.

Stephanie

More pictures from LindaNV

Jonah:

Leaguer:

Half Moon:
The Diva, Baby B:
Baby B and Spirit:
Baby B and Spirit:
Cloud and Roger (Linda's husband):
Buttercup and Dublin:
Fred!:
Click on images for larger version. Thank you Linda!