Before & Afters

We love to watch the gradual transformation that occurs when we accept a horse in the most tragic condition, then give him or her proper vet and farrier care, correct feeding and lots of love. This is one of our greatest joys. Horses that had all but given up on life were now given a second chance. And it seems to us that each horse has known this, and fought with all his or her heart to be the shining beauty each sees reflected in the eyes of Mylestone's volunteers as they care for them daily. Here are just a few of Mylestone's many success stories.

Linus

Linus was discovered severely neglected by his owners. He was living in a tool shed and it was estimated that he had not been out of that shed in nearly 5 years. There was no food or water in the shed and it was not known when the last time any was available. His hooves had been left to grow to 13 inches and every bone in his body was visible. He is MER's mascot now, and despite permanently malformed legs from neglect, in good health and very happy.

 

Rose

Wild Roseberries, known as Rose, was a 23 year old mare rescued from a riding stable. She was not being fed enough and but was forced to continue giving riding lessons, 3 to 5 hours per day, 6 days a week. When she was brought to M.E.R. she had numerous saddle sores from being ridden while so thin. She has since been placed in a wonderful home as a companion for an older gelding.

Sweet Pea

Sweet Pea was rescued after her owner said it was a hassle to feed her while he continued to feed his other horses. She was blind in one eye with very limited vision in the other and her teeth were worn down. Mylestone was able to bring her back to health and she enjoyed the attention of the kids from Stepping Stone School was well as many other friends who visited.

Ginger

Ginger came to us in September 2003, part of an ongoing cruelty investigation. She was a walking skeleton, weighing only 680 pounds. She needed to gain 350 pounds, needed dental work and had other health issues. She had a terrific will to live, and with 8 small meals a day, gradually put on weight. Ginger was still painfully thin at 2003 Open House, but touched all the visitors with her sweetness. Today she is a beauty, and would welcome your continued support.

Smokey & Wyatt

It's amazing what love and proper care can do - two horses who came to Myelstone in the beginning of September 2005 in the most deplorable condition have rallied with the help and support of so many people who cared - volunteers, our vets, our farriers and equine vet, and the many wonderful people who have provided financial support through donations and sponsorship. But not least of the people who have helped this pair are Susankelly and Bruce, who have ministered to them both constantly - preparing and feeding 8 meals a day for the delicate stomachs that had been empty for so long, administering meds in treating Smokey's Cushings disease, and assuring them that life was worth living after all.

Margrit

Margrit's come a long way from when she first arrived. It's not hard to see looking at her `after' photos, above and at bottom, and comparing them with the photos taken shortly after she arrived, that Margrit has made wonderful progress at Mylestone. She was terribly underweight when she first came to the farm, and this was an improvement over her condition when she was taken by another rescue who held her for us until we could arrange transport.

Margrit had spent her entire life tied to one tree on the wooded property resembling a junkyard of a person who collected all kinds of things, including animals. The Appaloosa mare was never provided shelter during any season but whatever foliage might happen to be overhead at the time. There she was bred, and there she gave birth. When old enough, her foal was tied to another tree `til sold.

Margrit hasn't always been the easiest horse due to her years of confinement and neglect. She has dreadful fears of many men and especially our farrier. We believe that work on her hooves must have been a torturous and possibly abusive experience for her.

Yet Margrit continues to come around. She shares her paddock with Sunny and gets along well him. But her greatest moment came this past Spring of 2007, when Margrit looked around, then suddenly picked up and tore at a full gallop around her paddock -- finally realizing she was free. Every horse on the farm literally stopped what they were doing and just watched. We can only imagine - if horses can feel proud of one another - how their hearts must have burst to watch this moment of triumph for one of their own.