Two Warriors

Yesterday I was contacted about taking in two 25 year old geldings. Even with the recent (and heartbreaking losses), without sponsors for these two old warriors we are unable to take them in. These two old timers are exactly the reason why we exist and why there need to be more retirement homes.

I am absolutely devastated. I don’t want to tell the owner no but I have to be realistic and without sponsors, I simply can’t do it. No one wants to deal with their own aches and pains, let alone those of their old horses.

I’m worried about these two. How many people would be willing to step up and give one or both a PERMANENT retirement home? If no one does, I’m afraid they will enter the auction circuit. I doubt they’ll last long on the auction circuit. A killbuyer will probably buy them just to fill their load. Why do people think that because they are “useless” to them that they don’t deserve a retirement home? I can point out a few “useless” people yet no one seems to send them packing.

I feel absolutely helpless. I know by even mentioning asking for sponsors, I’ll ruffle some people’s feathers. Yes, I am a private sanctuary. Yes, we are currently working on the non-profit paperwork (and btw to even begin the process of applying for non-profit takes a long time. We are not being lazy, it’s time consuming with many requirements that we are still gathering). No, I don’t feel comfortable asking for sponsors or donations because I know they are not yet tax-deductible but if I were to wait for all the Is to be dotted and the Ts to be crossed, how many souls would have been lost?

I am devastated that I can’t do more. I feel do helpless. It could be that these two old warriors may only live for a few more months, possibly a year or two, or they may keep going strong for the next ten years. No one really knows because there is no time stamp on a life, unless you dump them. I’m simply worried that these two, who deserve a retirement home, will not land in a soft spot for their remaining time on earth and it saddens me to the core.

If you have any ideas on what we could do to help these two old timers, please let me know. Unfortunately, I blocked all Anonymous comments from this blog. We have had a wave of inappropriate/negative comments over the past five to six months and I will not tolerate bad behavior any longer. If you have any positive ideas, please post them on our Facebook page.

Thanks for letting me vent. I hate feeling so damn helpless.