The Mill of Bel Air - Success Stories

SUCCESS STORIES

Just a normal Tuesday afternoon or so I thought!

On Tuesday afternoon around 4 as I was heading home from visiting my mom in the hospital I received a call from Jo Deibel of Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue. She had been contacted by a young man named Tom. Upon the recommendation of the ladies at The Mill of Hereford he had contacted Jo re a neglected and starving thoroughbred at a farm on Mt. Carmel Rd. He needed someone to come immediately as he didn’t think the mare was going to make it. Tom has been working for the last several weeks to convince the owners to do the right thing and give the horse to someone who could help care for the mare.

Jo was tied up in Pa. and ironically I was on 83 just shy of the Mt Carmel Rd. exit when she called. Tom and I connected via cell phone and he met me at the property. What I saw was by far the worst living situation for people and animals. I had no idea that could ever exist especially within 10 minutes of my house.

We found the mare, now known as ‘Baby New Year’, in the back of what was laughingly called a pasture- a muddy lot/wooded area with probably 8 other ponies and all were eating horse poop. The ponies looked a bit better than this mare but their long shaggy hair and muddy legs covered them up. The mare in my estimate was a 2 (Jo said later I was way too generous) on a body mass scale and seemed depressed. She is probably about 15.2, bay with a very sweet face with bones sticking out everywhere. Tom just put a blanket on her that day or a coat as he kept calling it! – I couldn’t tell her age real well due to her condition but she had ulcers in her mouth which surely had to hurt.

I called everyone I knew as the Angel Acres Trucks (all 2 of them) are broken down right now. We needed a trailer fast before these folks changed their mind and the horse died. Thankfully Connie Bison responded. We spent 30 minutes trying to get her loaded. Right when we just about got her on the owner decided that we “weren’t takin’ her horse tonight- the son in law would take her in the morning.”

Beyond frustration and covered in mud Connie and I left but Tom continued to make sure they lived up to their word. Yesterday morning I got a call while in the CCU with my mom from Tom who said the horse was loaded up and they wanted to know where to go. We made arrangements for someone to meet them at the Rutter’s on Middletown Rd. and then they followed to the Angel Acres Farm.

‘Baby New Year’ is 19. Apparently she was “given” to these folks 2 yrs ago after having a foal at age 17. She is by Nostrum and probably was lovely when in good condition. She won at least one race at Pimlico in ’93. Her former owner will be contacted nicely. I say that because some rescues are known for nastily calling and trying to ransom the horses. Angel Acres does not do that. Our main interest is the horse. Should he not want her back we will nurse her back to health. Should her condition severely deteriorate she will be given euthanasia. We will adopt her out to be a companion horse when her health indicates she is ready.

The reason for this story is to thank the folks at The Mill of Hereford for saving ‘Baby New Year’- you could have done nothing but you didn’t. In my opinion 2 more days at that place and this horse would be dead like the other that died there a week ago. (they told us that tidbit when Connie and I were leaving) A very big thank you to Tom who by the way is only 16 but is extremely wise beyond his years for caring enough to help.

Thanks to you all for making a difference. The proper authorities have been notified. It is my great hope that the animals and people are moved out of there and the property condemned.

By the way her new name is “Baby New Year” since we got her on New Year’s Eve. She is doing well and has the kindest eye and sweetest whinny.