Katrina Tale of Two Horses
September 5, 2006
Lori was contacted by Dr. Barbara Poole upon arrival to Belle Chase stating she was referred to Rescue Ranch to help with livestock recovery. Lori had been trying to locate a horse in the lower end of Plaquemines Parish that had been severely injured and was said to be dragging around her fore-leg. It took two days of searching and finally right before curfew on the second day while working with “Doc” and Marie Jackson they found her. We had some help from Dr. Barbara Poole (Doc) from Kentucky, Marie Jackson, Ranch volunteers Quentin Prout, Sarah Bassett, Jason Radazuski, and Lori Wilson, Rescue Ranch Director. We brought these horses to the ranch where they received immediate medical attention from Dr. Poole.
Lori was amazed that the horse was alive. People stopped on the side of the road and asked Lori if she was going to put the horse down and out of her misery. Lori as polite as she could just said “No”. Lori determined that if the mare had made it this far she deserved a second chance to live. The horse seemed to know and understand how Lori felt. The mare looked into Lori’s eye and seemed to sigh with relief.
We almost immediately started calling her “Boo Boo”. She had to have procedures twice to recover from the injury. Thank you Dr. Poole and Dr. Price for providing those needs. Thanks also to the New York and Idaho Guardsmen who helped Boo Boo by cleaning her leg, walking her, as well as, cleaning her stall. Unknown to Rescue Ranch at the time, Boo Boo was in foal. She delivered a healthy colt and they have been happily placed in a loving home complete with about fifty acres of lush green pasture.
After hurricane Katrina Boo Boo was rescued with her pasture mate Two Socks. Boo Boo had a rougher time of it than Two Socks. Boo Boo had been hit by flying tin that exposed her front leg to the bone. She received medical attention from two out of town vets Dr. Poole, and Dr. Price from Florida. Boo Boo rehabbed at a barn owned by Rescue Ranch board member, Angela C. Gallagher.
Boo Boo and Two socks quickly gained weight. Dr. Allison Barca, our local vet, came out for regular check ups on the two mares. It was on one of those visits we were told that they both were expecting foals. Boo Boo was later surrendered to the ranch.
They both had great recoveries and reintroduced into the herd. Both Boo Boo and Two Socks had healthy colts. Boo Boo and her foal were adopted together and now reside in Illinois with a great family. Two Socks and her foal we happily reunited with their human "family". Before Two Socks and her foal left we photographed them together in the pen they shared at Rescue Ranch. Two socks and her foal returned to her pasture with her pasture mates and is very happy.
Angela has, since Katrina, been forced to move due to her job relocation. Reluctantly, she’s placed her barn and home up for sale. Funds permitting, Rescue Ranch would like to purchase the facilities for continued use of horse rehabilitation and equine educational programs. It has a round pen that comes in handy when working with our Rescue Ranch kids.
Thank you, New York and Idaho Guardsmen (and women) who assisted the Ranch. They worked tirelessly by walking, cleaning, guarding, and nurturing the animals entrusted to Rescue Ranch. They also assisted in the recovery and transport of a stolen mare after Lori had burned up the transmission of her second truck. With out your help our efforts would have come to a screeching halt.