Lucky Number 100

Some time ago I had the honor of rescuing my 100th horse, it was something I always dreamed of accomplishing.  We collected donations at our big dinner dance last year to rescue this special horse.  A few short weeks later we were at New Holland Horse Auction and I was looking at horses that could potentially be lucky number 100.  I looked at ponies and quarter horses, small and large.  In the back of the aisle I spotted a skinny, beat up, thoroughbred mare.  Her mane and forelock were shaved off and she had scars covering her body.  Her body was beaten down but her spirit and soul was gone.  Her eyes looked hollow, nothing left but a shell of a horse.  I stroked her head and checked her out from head to toe, she was about 8, I could see an amazing horse under the filth and scars.  At that moment she became number 100.  An hour later I purchased her as she went through the auction ring, outbidding a kill buyer and saved her from being sent to slaughter. 

How to name this special horse?  I asked for suggestions on my facebook page and soon had 300 names to go through.  I wanted it to involve Sage, I've worked so hard in his honor, the number 100 horse needed a special name.  One of my young volunteers suggested "Halia" which meant remembrance of a loved one, it was perfect.  She was sent to PA for quaratine for the month.

When Halia came to Long Island she was still skinny but some of her scars started to fade.  After a month at our farm she was sent to a foster for some much needed TLC and time to just be a horse.  Roxanne, her amazing foster, put 300 lbs on her and taught her the most important lesson, that people are good!  I had not seen her in a few weeks and the horse that I went to pick up from Roxanne's was stunning, she was filled out, had a nice mane and forelock, and was trotting and playing in her field.  The transformation was incredible. 

Once back at our farm we got to work with Halia, lunging and riding.  She was put into a work schedule to learn the life of a riding horse.  She picked everything up quickly and seemed generally happy to work.  For some reason I gravated toward her, maybe because she was my 100th, maybe because she looked like Sage, maybe because I love bays, or maybe because was a TB.  She quickly became my baby, I pampered her, got her a fancy halter, groomed her from head to toe everyday.  I took her to the park and rode her in the fields with my best friend and her horse.  We always joked that days in the park were like a get away, we were free to run across the fields, just us girls and our mares.  Lia loved every moment (mostly the grazing before and after our rides).  We rode up to the water, saw deer, and raced like we were jockeys.  Every day I'd check my e-mails with no interest in my Lia girl.  I guess you could say part of me was happy but part of me knew the first person that met her would realize what an amazing animal she was.  I'd quickly figured it out and I've sat on hundreds of horses in my life.

The call came from a friend of mine who owns a big boarding barn.  She had a girl who I knew that was looking to foster a horse for me for the winter, needed to be calm and some what easy to ride and sweet.  Lia's face popped up in my head and we made an appointment for Lucy to come meet Lia.  Lucy is an amazing person in her own right, she is involved in cat rescue and is always there to lend a helping hand to an animal in need.  A few days later Lucy was trotting around our riding ring on Lia.  I trailered her over to their farm the next day.  It was a bittersweet goodbye to a horse that felt like mine.  I knew this was perfect for her but it was hard to walk away from her.  Thankfully Lucy updated me with pictures of her and Lia.  It brightened my day everytime I got a picture or update.  Lia was living the high life with her foster mom. 

A few weeks later Lucy informed me she would be adopting Halia.  It was one of the happiest days of my rescue career.  My 100th rescue horse had found her new home.  The best part for me was that I would still get to see her and get tons of picture updates.  Halia was adopted just a short week ago, such a great home for a great horse.  Everyone always asks if I'm sad when the horses leave, I always say no, I pat every one of them and say the same thing "good luck on your new life, I'll always be here for you".  Lia was no different even though she took a piece of my heart, I wished her luck the day Lucy signed her adoption paperwork.  I know Lucy will give her the best care in world and I could not ask more for this amazing horse.  Every horse is special but I will always feel that Lia carries a piece of Sage in her and there was a reason she was number 100.  Good luck Lucy and Lia, love you both!