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SAVING BLACK BEAUTY
A true gentle giant who deserved better.
Meet Black Beauty
We met black beauty at the local stockyards. She could barely stand because of pain, so she spent the majority of the night laying down. When it was time to auction her off, the men with paddles and whips came along and she stood, walked, and was headed to slaughter.
Helping Black Beauty
Already operating over capacity and closed for rescue intakes, we did not have the funds available to help Beauty. Regardless, our volunteers and staff were willing to help if possible (including Steph, who assisted from her knee scooter, still not allowed to walk on her shattered leg).
Social Media Rescue
Not wanting to give up, we turned to Social Media to help. We shared the situation and launched a last-minute fundraiser for Beauty. The response was overwhelming, and we quickly raised the funds needed to get Beauty to the vet!
Veterinary Findings
The diagnostics found what we all feared but none of us wanted. Beauty had been in excruciating pain for a long, long time. If she had gotten proper vet and farrier care sooner, she likely would have been okay, but the problems she suffered from combined with the neglect left too much damage. She was too far gone and nothing could be done to make her comfortable.
Rest in Peace
Beauty was laid to rest with a belly full of grass and plenty of senior feed. She knew love and kindness in her final hours.
Why This Happened
Following Beauty's passing, we reached out to the man who was listed as having sent her to auction. We wanted to tell him what happened with her and give him the opportunity to learn and grow so this wouldn't happen again.
We never know who will answer that call. Perhaps a distant relative who discovered the horse years after the owner passed, and followed poor advice regarding rehoming, or perhaps a "Kill Pen" scammer who knew exactly what he was doing.
In Beauty's case, a man who seemed genuine answered the phone. He is a local draft breeder, who claimed he got her 1 year earlier, completely sound and healthy, intending to breed her. He claimed she foundered 1 month after getting her while on fescue grass, and never recovered. Despite worsening infection in her hooves that traveled up her legs, he tried to breed her (unsuccessfully). He claimed a vet had been consulted, and her x-rays were 100% clear and that she should be a good riding or driving horse.
Upon hearing we had done x-rays, and the findings contradicted what he claimed, his story changed. He said he thought she needed euthanasia, so he called around to find a meat auction and intentionally sent her to one so she would go to slaughter.
We gave him the opportunity to put the money he made off her towards her vet bills, offering the vet's information so he could pay them directly. He declined.
We also offered education and insight, and we can only hope he makes more humane decisions in the future. Last we heard, he was still actively breeding for profit.