In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a five-week-old foal was rescued this weekend after she was purchased by someone who had hoped to save her before she was destined to be loaded onto a local contract buyer’s truck heading to Stroud Kill Pen in Oklahoma.
The mother and the foal had been sold together at Kramer’s auction on Saturday, and after the auction, the contract buyer had been making comments about not wanting the foal and how she was going to “just get trampled and be dead in 100 miles anyway.” According to the man, the mare was destined to die. A Good Samaritan at the auction overheard the conversation and offered to buy the foal in order to save her life.
The Good Samaritan purchased milk replacer, and for the next three days tried to get the baby to drink, but that didn’t happen, nor did offering her pelleted feed work either since her mother nor other horses had been around to teach the baby. The person became more and more worried about the foal and reached out for help. Gentle Spirit Horses Rescue stepped up.
Initially, the rescue networked with local friends searching for a nursemare and/or pick up the baby near Sioux Falls – almost two hours from the rescue. As that was arranged, the auction listing was posted on the South Dakota Equine Network group searching for the foal’s mother with hopes to reunite the two before it was too late.
We also put in motion multiple options – getting milk pellets, looking into potential nursemares, and even considering chemically inducing lactation in a mare who had been a great mother and companion for other foals. Baby was found in ok condition with a corneal ulcer so she headed to the vet, while various names and ideas started pouring in.
One of the many leads stating that Platte had been having a livestock auction panned out. One of the trainers #DakotaShowdown helped and within minutes photos of the mare at the auction came through. The mare was owned by Stroud Kill Pen in Oklahoma, but was not being offered for sale through the auction. The buyer was at Platte to buy more horses.
And then the rescue plans started to come together. The auction owner agreed to help and reunite the mother and her foal.
That started the longest part of the whole thing – waiting for a price and the name/contact information of his on-site buyer so we could hopefully afford to get her, have the money exchange hands, and get her out of there. Platte is about 2 hours from Sioux Falls. A local person headed to the auction to take care of the money exchange and secure the mare, and a Sioux Falls family of supporters hooked up the trailer ready to go get her. We decided it would be best for baby to bring Mama to her, rather than load her up and take her to Mama and then to our place. After what felt like hours (but was probably less than a 1/2 hour) I had a fair price and permission to buy Mama.
Facebook Tiffany Ring
Although there were some obstacles to overcome once the volunteer arrived at Platte, the auction owner made sure the original agreement, including the price for the mare remained as previously agreed. And so the mare was loaded up, and after 12 long hours after the initial call for help with the foal, the reunion occurred.
On Tuesday evening, a naming contest for the two was held on the rescue’s Facebook page. “Lizzie” is now the foal’s name, and her mom is named “Autumn.”
Check out the video of the reunion of mare and filly:
https://www.facebook.com/gentlespirithorses/videos/5759145077463587
The rescue is now fundraising to help cover some of those costs. The mom and baby are currently being fostered.
Donate to Gentle Spirit Horses Rescue here.
The rescue also has a Chewy.com wish list for supplies here.
Follow the National Pet Rescue on Facebook for the latest animal related news.
