We Ride Sport and Trail Magazine March 2018 | Page 47

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Missouri

Forget Me Not

Horse Rescue and Sanctuary

Linn Creek, Missouri

By Roxie Nieroda

entire life with his owner, who was no longer able

to care for him. He is 35 years old. He is picky

about his food, so he is given apples, carrots,

lettuce and soaked alfalfa cubes with his

Equine Senior grain. All of the horses are

fed in paddocks, or feeding pens, away

from other horses, so that their food

intake can be monitored and to keep

other horses from moving them off

their feed. Horses like Shiloh take a

long time to eat. He is usually the

first one fed and the last one to

finish eating.

Many of the horses that MFMN takes in are neglected and under-weight when they arrive. Many are also in need of medical care, especially for founder and other lameness issues. The horses are evaluated when they arrive and a health plan is developed to restore them physically and mentally for a new life. If the horse can be ridden, then MFMN pays to have the horse trained, so that it can be adopted. Once a horse is adopted, it can never be sent to an auction barn, or given away. It must be returned to MFMN if the adopter no longer wants the horse. This protects the horse from winding up in the slaughter pipe-line.

The Sanctuary still gets calls from law enforcement and works with them to rescue horses that are in perilous situations. It takes in all breeds of horses, including some mules and donkeys. All stallions are gelded upon arrival, and a no breeding policy is included in any adoption or foster agreement. Veterinarian services are a large expense for the Sanctuary, as well as, farrier care. There are usually two or three horses in stalls in the barn at any given time that are recovering from surgery or rehabilitating from some medical issue, requiring stall rest. That Sanctuary also has a dry lot for foundered horses.

or foundered horses.

MFMN became the only Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) accredited horse sanctuary in Missouri in 2017. This was a great accomplishment and attests to the great work that is done by the all-volunteer Board and staff that feeds and cares for the horses. “The wonderful volunteers are our greatest asset,” stated Connie Hendrix. “If it wasn’t for them and our generous donors, who love and care about abused and neglected horses, the Sanctuary wouldn’t be here, and I hate to think what would have happened to all of these beautiful animals.”

MFMN is planning an exciting 3-day event from April 27-29, 2018. Hosted by the Camdenton Saddle Club and Easy Rider 4-H this fundraising benefit combines a celebration that enters us into the ASPCA’s Help A Horse Day Contest and is being held in conjunction with our Horse Adoption Jamboree. We will showcase horses that are available for adoption and it gives the wonderful people who have adopted MFMN horses in the past, the opportunity to show them off.

© Creative Photography by Kim Hansen