Volume 2, Issue 1
January 2013
T ruhav en r anch Primary
Rescue of 55 Equines
Drew Fitzpatrick from MHARF (MN
Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation)
contacted us on Tuesday, Nov. 27
with a possible humane case involving over 80 equines in Fillmore
County. Since Drew (MHARF) wasn't
able to go, she asked us to be on call
to get the most serious cases to the U
of M as soon as possible. Candy also
offered to do some preliminary calling
around to make sure we would have
hay, when and if we were able to
S o m e
o f
Mini Molly Mule
had halter grown into head
seize the animals. Little did we know
at the time, what we were getting into.
Candy was on her way early Wednesday morning to pick up another rescue
from Siete Leguas Equine Clinic at
Cold Spring, when she got the call,
“Head South.” Candy, Conrad and
Melissa met Keith Streff, Animal Humane Society officer and a Fillmore
County officer at the Kwik Trip in
Spring Valley on Wednesday, November 28 about
4:30 pm. When
we got out to the
location we
found out that,
supposedly,
about 30 head
had been picked
up by a buyer
from Kansas
City. There were
t h e
F i l l m o r e
55 left on site.
What a sight! This place was a disaster;
garbage, junk and wire everywhere. The
animals had eaten all the roots out of
the ground, their own manure and each
other’s tails and manes to survive.
There were several carcasses on the
property as well and the smell was
pretty bad as we tried to find and load
the worst cases in the near dark,
treacherous conditions. (See “Ghost”
Story page 4) We took six to the U of M
that night, two were euthanized shortly
upon arrival, two more within 24 hr.
(See their story and photos on the next
page) That night, he (Wilbur Schmoll)
verbally agreed to turn the rest of the
animals over to the AHS (American
Humane Society, Keith Streff, case
officer).
We were updated while en-route to the
U and were to be back the next day to
pick up the rest and get them to the
R e s c u e
10 yr. old Paint mare at the U of M
So thin, she could barely stand
in
F a c e s
Dolly, a 2 yr. old molly mule, her tummy is
finally full enough for her to be curious.
V o l u m e
2 ,
I ss u e
1
P a g e
R e s c u e
Fillmore County Fairgrounds
in Preston. We definitely
needed more trailers to get
the animals moved. Candy
and Truhaven Ranch ended
up running point on this entire case as no one else was
available at that time.
Merrylegs, a 12 yr. POA mare.
She is very defensive, strikes and
kicks to get you to stay away.
Melissa and Candy, along
with 3 other volunteers with
stock trailers, moved the
rest of the animals on Thursday afternoon and had all
55 to the fairgrounds by
nightfall. While
unloading at the
fairgrounds, one
of the horses had
gone down in the
trailer. We were
able to get him
unloaded and
back on his feet.
As we moved
among them, we
found several
more with severe
eye injuries and in
very emaciated
condition. Bill
Meyer, equine
transporter, showed up with
his horse van to help and we
sent six more with him to the
U of M. Two of these died a
S t o ry
C o n t i n u e d
few days later, one was the
horse who had gone down in
the trailer; he was just too
far gone to pull through.
front of them. The animals
were sorted into stalls to be
able to monitor their water
and hay intake. One of the
first things Candy did, after
Melissa and Candy spent
sorting them into stalls, was
the evening watering and
to rope the little mule with
feeding the animals and
the halter grown into her
trying to identify some of
head. It was horribly infected
them by genus, color, age
and really stunk when Candy
and sex. It was getting pretty
finally got it cut off of her. (A
dark and there were three
couple days later, it took the
pens of animals at this time.
veterinarian 2 hours to clean
Most of them were
and disinponies, mini mules
fect the
and mules with one
wound.)
draft mare in the
Friday
mix. We started for
was a
home, supper and
blur of
a bed. On the way
feeding,
home and several
watering,
This 3 yr. old Molly mule
phone calls later, it
is slowly gaining weight.
sorting
became clear that
We call her Porsche.
and idenno one was going
tifying animals as well as
to be able to get down there
talking to the media, anto help take care of these
swering phone calls, keeping
animals in the morning. We
MHARF updated and dealing
finally crashed at about 1
with the people coming to
am.
the grounds.
On Friday morning, Candy
The news was now out and
left at 5 am to get down to
people were showing up on
Preston to feed
a regular basis. Some just
and water, while
curious, others offering to
Melissa did
help and a few ready to
chores at home
adopt and care for some of
and headed to
her regular job.
When Candy
arrived at the
fairgrounds, she
noted that the
animals had
This little bay pony didn’t make it
eaten every last
she died about 5 days after
spear of hay,
going to the U of M
had drunk all
the water in the
the animals. Over Friday and
tanks and had
Saturday, six animals were
also cleaned up
adopted out to new homes
most of their own manure. A
in Southern Minnesota. That
couple wonderful volunteers
left thirty-seven (37) still on
arrived to help fill water
the grounds, needing conbuckets and keep hay in
stant care. Truhaven
“Saving just
one horse will
not change the
world …..
But surely it
Will change the
world…..
for that one horse
Daisy Mae, a gentle, 10 yr. old
Belgian mare. She is being
fostered with adoption pending.
Ranch’s farrier, Dan Rettmann arrived with a stock
trailer around noon to haul
thirteen of the bigger mules
back to Winsted. Still
twenty-four (24) left to care
for and there was no electricity and no water. Water
was brought in by the fire
department truck and
dumped into tanks, and
then we carried it by bucket
to the animals.
That evening, people were
everywhere. At 8:30 Friday
night, they were still looking
at animals with spotlights
and flashlights to see if
there was one there they
wanted. There was no way
Candy was going to drive
home and leave the animals unattended. Some
really great people, who
had been helping out offered their horse trailer for
her to stay the night in.
That night, after talking to
her staff and the executive
board at home, Candy
made the decision to bring
the rest home to Truhaven
Ranch on Saturday afternoon. Drew (MHARF) and
one of her foster people
came down on Saturday to
take those that needed
2
V o l u m e
2 ,
I ss u e
1
R e s c u e
P a g e
S t o ry
more immediate individual care.
Saturday morning saw
a change in the animals. Their bellies
were full, there was
manure in their pens
and some leftover hay,
but most of all they
Serena, 4 yr. old Hackney Pony Mare.
whinnied and called to
No, she is not pregnant,
Candy as she started
this is a starvation stomach.
feeding them. After
In a week, she looked much better
days of not expecting
to be fed, they now asked
tined for a couple weeks.
to be fed, some even met
Water tanks were in place,
her at the gates.
filled and waiting.
While all of this is happenWe came out the next
ing, Conrad was at the
morning and there they
ranch doing chores and
were, 27 mules, donkeys,
updating Face Book as
information came in.
ponies and one draft
Thanks to his
horse stuffing their
efforts, there
bellies full and looking
was hay and
much more relaxed
grain waiting
about where their food
for them when
was coming from.
we got there.
```````````````
Drew had
Updates will be on our
called in a fawebsite and on
vor and there
MHARF’s website as
was a shelter
This
little
black
we
go forward. None of
brought in as
Hackney pony and
these
equines is over
well. Upon arher partner have
riving at Truage 12, most are 2-4 yr.
been adopted.
haven, the
They moved to their old and untrained. The
new home where
animals were
really thin ones will
they are being pamplaced in our
need warm stalls and
beautiful, new pered, had their feet
extra food for quite
trimmed and are
outdoor arena
gaining weight
some time.
to be quaranquickly
T h o s e t h a t d i d n ’ t
m a k e i t
Despite our best efforts, six (6)
of the equines that went to the
U of M were not able to be
saved. The five pictured here
and another emaciated paint
gelding succumbed to starvation or were euthanized due to
untreatable injuries.
Please don’t let their
deaths be in vain.
Help us:
To care for the
remaining ones
To educate people
on equine ownership
and responsibility
This young Paint has made it so far. After 2 weeks at the U of M, he is still recovering
and still very thin. It will take a nearly a year before condition and muscling is restored
to this horse. He will be in need of extra food and bedding for quite some time.
Give your gift of
money, items or
knowledge.
S p e c i a l T h a n ks
t o A l l w h o
h av e g i v e n
g i f t s o f t i m e,
s u p p l i e s,
e m o t i on al
s u p p o r t a n d
m o n e y
t hro u g ho u t
t h is r e s c u e
e n d e avo r.
3
V o l u m e
2 ,
I ss u e
1
P a g e
4
A “ghost” Story
When Candy sat me down on
Tuesday night to talk to me about a possible horse rescue mission in southern Minnesota, I had no idea how my world was
going to change. I was onboard to help
from the start. I am very passionate about
animals and the mistreatment of them is
unforgiveable in my eyes. So on Wednesday, Candy received the call that our help
was needed. Candy, Conrad and I hopped
into the truck and off we went.
I have been a part of many animal cruelty cases in my life so far as a CVT.
Nothing could have prepared me for what I
saw as we pulled up to the property. Broken fences, bent gates, wires, strings,
trash for as far as your eyes could see.
Abandoned vehicles, piles of discarded
microwaves, TVs, VCRs, blenders,
ovens.... and as my eyes scanned
the scene I saw her. Ghost, as we
later named her, a white donkey,
appeared to float around the
wreckage. I immediately started to
walk towards her. I had to walk
around the truck and trailer so I
lost visual contact with her for only
a moment. I came around the
front of the truck and she was
gone. I scanned the property for
her and couldn't believe the conditions of the equines that were
stumbling towards me asking for
food I didn’t have. My heart sank,
my eyes filled with tears, the pain
that these animals were feeling at
that moment almost made me
physically ill. The smell of death
was so strong I couldn't imagine
how anyone could possibly live there. Then
I saw her again, Ghost. She floated past
Conrad and I noticed her leg was swollen. I
called out to Candy that she needed to go
to the U of M that night to have her leg
checked out. Candy acknowledged me and
Ghost but at the same time she knew that
some of the equines were barely hanging
on to life. She sent me off to grab a very,
very ill pony that weighed less than me and
could hardly stand. On my way I passed a
beautiful Belgium mare, which didn't even
lift her head off the ground to look at me. I
was immediately overwhelmed with emotions again. How long had she been here
that she had just given up all hope and her
will to survive had disappeared.
I brought the pony back to the
trailer, and was able to observe this mysterious Ghost bring a skinny bay pony to the
trailer and guide her in to the hay. Candy
and I exchanged glances and kept moving.
We were losing light quickly. Next we had
to try and help a blind horse walking in
circles to the trailer. Candy and I maneu-
vered around him and finally caught this
sad soul. Ghost appeared behind us and
helped guide this poor blind paint into the
trailer. I was then sent to grab a huge
Percheron with a rear leg so swollen it was
the size of my waist. While I was on that
mission, Ghost appeared at the trailer guiding a mare with a badly healed broken rear
leg, she was so thin and weak, that we
knew instantly that she needed to go as
well. We loaded her and the Percheron and
looked for Ghost but she was gone. It was
totally dark out at this point and we still
had a 2 hour drive to the University. We
told all the animals to not give up hope, we
would be back tomorrow and everything
would be fine. Please keep fighting for one
more night.
On the way to the U, Candy, Conrad and I were talking about the white donkey, Conrad only recalled seeing her when
we first got there and she didn’t show up
on any of the film footage he took. Was she
a figure of our over-stressed minds?
The night was a very long and
emotional. We didn't get back to the farm
until 1 in the morning. I cried myself to
sleep, my dreams full of darkness and despair. The next morning Candy and I mentally tried to prepare ourselves for the day
of moving 50+ head of equines off of this
ignorant human's property. We wanted to
get there as quick as possible; the broken
souls of these animals needed us, they
needed hope.
We had a few other trucks and
trailers show up to help with the move and
Candy and I went on a mission to find
Ghost. We would find her and then she’d
disappear. She obviously was not allowing
us to load her in the trailer until her entire
group of was loaded.
One of these was the Belgium
mare. For all the animal lovers out there
my moment of overwhelming happiness
was walking up to the Belgium with a halter
and watching her lift her head and her eyes
brighten and fill with hope. She couldn't
believe that we came back for her. I gave
her the biggest hug I could. She almost
haltered herself, trotted to the trailer and
stepped right up. Once all of the others
were loaded, Ghost put herself on the
trailer and we headed to Preston.
We moved all 50 some head of
equines to the local fair grounds to sort
and figure out who still needed to go to the
University for treatment. Ghost was obviously on our list. She had other ideas.
There was no way she was getting back in
the trailer to go to the U of M. Looking
back on all of this I feel guilty for
making her go there… but that is
another story for another day. The
Belgium mare, who we named Daisy
Mae, helped us load Ghost. Not
much a 200lb donkey can do when
being towed by a draft horse on a
mission. So long story short...off to
the U of M we sent Ghost because
of her swollen leg.
A couple days later Candy
and I went back to the U of M to
bring Ghost home. She and I had
already decided that Ghost was
going to be a part of Truhaven. She
is a truly special soul, and we
needed her energy and love. Now,
This is my favorite part ...we
unloaded Ghost, I was walking her
around the trailer when she stopped
and brayed so loud and so long we
couldn't help but giggle. The amazing part
of this story is that when she stopped braying, there was complete silence for a second and then every single animal from
southern Minnesota (27 head) whinnied or
brayed back to her. The rest of the animals
here also joined in to welcome her. It felt
like 5 minutes, though it was probably 60
seconds. Ghost said, "I am here," and everyone welcomed her. We all started crying.
Talk about “goose bumps”, I still get them
just telling the story.
Everyday with Ghost is a blessing.
She brings smiles to all of our faces. I am
still scarred with what I saw on the property, but looking at Ghost every morning
and every night gives me strength to continue on in our quest to stop cruelty to animals. Ghost let go of her past and I just
know she will be a teacher to others to
help them realize what is important and
that past should be left...in the past. Learn
and educate, but never dwell, for everyday
is beautiful in its own way.
By Melissa Norton (2012)
V o l u m e
2 ,
I ss u e
1
P a g e
M e m b e r s h i p
We have been asked by a number of people to
offer a membership for Truhaven Ranch, so
as of January 1, 2013 we now have a
membership available.
2 0 1 3
January 6
5
C a l e n d a r
2 pm - Group Trail Lesson
3:30 - Truhaven Board Meeting
January 19
MN Horse Council Annual Meeting
Membership runs January 1 to December 31
January 28
3:30 - Truhaven Board Meeting
Benefits Include:
February 24
3:30 - Truhaven Board Meeting
March 24
3:30 - Truhaven Board Meeting
April 20
Trail Challenge Clinic - Truhaven Ranch
April 26-28
MN Horse Expo
April 28
3:30 - Truhaven Board Meeting
May 18
Event (TBD) at Truhaven Ranch
May 25-26
Kandi Klassic Show, Sauk Center
June 8
Event (TBD) at Truhaven Ranch
June 28-30
Central MN Donkey/Mule Days, HL
July 31- Aug.4
Wright County Fair
August
MHARF Trainer’s Challenge




Satisfaction in providing assistance for
our rehab and educational programs for
both equines and humans
Newsletters
E-news and E-blasts
Special values on promotional items
Please Send Your Membership In Today!
Form included with this newsletter.
This Year’s Membership Drive will
go toward a new roof on the barn
(the current roof leaks like a sieve)
Cost $17,000 (We have a gift for half of it if we
can match it, so we need to raise $8,500)
September 14
Wild West Day at Truhaven Ranch
October 19
Halloween Trail Challenge Event
That’s less than 300 memberships at $30
When you join, can you think of (5) friends,
family members, neighbors or co-workers who
would support our cause?
Let’s Drive!
We will keep you posted on our website.
FRIENDS OF
TRUHAVEN RANCH
Thank You! Thank You! Everyone!
Who generously helped out this past month.
2nd Annual MHARF Fundraiser
2013 WSCA Game Show
February 23rd, 2013 at 10:00am
M&D Arena at 6636 Old Viking Blvd, Anoka, MN 55303
(Which is heated!) WSCA Judge is Steve Bobzin.
Games - Egg & Spoon, Pole Weaving, Side Pot Pole Weaving, Key Race, UBRA Sanctioned Barrel Racing, Side Pot Barrels,
Jumping Figure Eight, Four in a Line, Speed Dash, One Barrel Pennant, and Ribbon Race.
$5.00 entry fee per class and $5.00 entry fee for Side Pot classes with 90% payback!
Ribbons 1st - 6th place and trophies awarded for High Point and Reserve in each age group.
MHARF booth on site and concessions available. Prize drawings will occur throughout the day with raffle tickets being $1.00 each.
Spectators are admitted free, but donations are of course welcome.
For more information or to enter please contact Nicole Rodenborg at 320-679-1639 or 763-957-0133,
or email Beth Wilson at [email protected].
We hope to see you there!
TRUHAVENRANCH.ORG
23677 Cable Ave
Winsted, MN 55395
320-224-5454
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: truhavenranch.org
R e c e n t l y
A d o p t e d
SHELBY
Annalise Scolardi
A Truly Unique Haven For Equines and Humans
Truhaven Ranch has been incorporated as a 501 (c)(3) not for profit entity.
M e s s a g e f r o m T r u h a v e n B o a r d
P r e s i d e n t C a n d y P h i l l i p s
2012 has been
the most fantastic year! The
vision we had in
2009 is coming
together in so
many ways.
We have found
“forever” homes for over 15 horses this
year so far. The most emotional adoption
was Lena finding her own person and leaving us after 2 years.
Our youth program is growing with 10
young people riding on a weekly basis and
an affiliation with SOS Group home for
“Day at the Ranch” visits.
Our fundraisers have been a lot of fun to
do, we raised some money for hay, met
many new people and increased our public
image locally and nationally.
Our Board of Directors has expanded with
wonderful new people this past year. Their
effort and commitment has taken a load
off of my shoulders and made anything
seem possible.
When I stand on the porch and look around
the front of the ranch, I am in awe of the
amount of work that has been done this
year. Kudos Everyone!
Candy
Yes, this is the same message as in the
last newsletter, but with an addendum. I
thought we could relax, that 2012 was
pretty much done and the only thing we
had to do the rest of the year was to plan
our Christmas Party.
WHOA! Little did I know what was in store
for us! Being the lead in the rescue of the
55 Fillmore equines really brought me back
to earth. It reiterated all the reasons I
started on this journey to begin with.
The need to educate people before they
purchase or breed animals of any kind
became, once again, the foremost thought
in my mind.
People must follow through with the responsibility of owning animals that cannot
fend for themselves, especially something
as large as an equine. They need to know
going into owning an equine that it is a
major commitment, both monetarily and
emotionally.
They are living, breathing beings with
needs that have to be supplied by humans.
That makes us responsible.
If you plan on having an animal, you should
also have a plan in place for that animal to
be cared for no matter what the situation;
loss of a job, death in the family, being
outgrown by it’s person, old age, etc.
Animals are not disposable items.
Lack of education and planning is how
they end up in the slaughter pen or
starving to death somewhere.
Please help educate people .
Spread the word about
ownership responsibility.
M e m b e r s h i p
A p p l i c a t i o n
We have been asked by a number of people to offer a membership for Truhaven Ranch, so as of January 1, 2013,
we now have a membership available. Membership runs January to December.
Benefits Include:




Satisfaction in providing assistance for our rehab and educational programs for both equines and humans
Newsletters
E-news and E-blasts
Special values on promotional items
This Year’s Membership Drive will go toward a new roof on the barn
Total Cost is $17,000 (We have a gift for half of it if we can match it, so we need to raise $8,500)
That’s less than 300 memberships at $30
When you join, can you think of (5) friends, family members, neighbors or co-workers who would support our cause?
Let’s Drive!
We will keep you posted on our website.
Full Name __________________________________________________________________Date________
Street Address _________________________________________________________________________
City, State and Zip ______________________________________________________________________
Phone______________________________ E-mail Address _____________________________________
____ Newsletters will be e-mailed unless you check here.
C h e c k
M e m b e r s h i p
____ $20 Youth (17 & Under), Sr. (62 & over)
Or College Student
____ $30 Individual
____$100 Sustaining Member
Mail To:
Truhaven Ranch
23677 Cable Ave
Winsted, MN 55395
320-224-5454
Office Use Only:
L e v e l
____ $250 Supporter
____ $500 Contributor
____ $1,000 Benefactor
MasterCard, Visa and Discover are accepted.
#______________________________________________ Exp. Date _________ Code _____
Payment _________________
Membership #__________