MARGARET
From AlexBrownRacing
At New Holland 
Story
Margaret is an ENOURMOUS 7 year old Belgian mare who was rescued by the MD FOB's. For reference the fence behind her is 5 foot high. She is reportedly in foal for a mule baby due in June/July. Margaret is very sweet but still a little jumpy in her new surroundings. The vet has been schedule for Friday, May 25th, when we will confirm her pregnancy and do a general health check.
Margaret just before she left for her forever home in NC.
Pictures from her new home
with her new foster dad
UPDATES
5/25/07: Dr. Riech was out today and verified that Margaret
is NOT in foal. She does, however, have cataracts
and is for all intents and purposes blind. So we
have a beautiful, huge Belgian mare that is
perfectly healthy in all other regards. We are
currently doing research on cataract surgery to
see if this is a viable option for Margaret
Elle Williams of HorseNet Horse Rescue has agreed
to take in Margaret and place her in their blind
herd. They currently have 8 blind horses that live
together with one sighted horse as their guide.
The herd does very well together and there is not
the upset of a companion coming and going such as
we have here with Margaret and Maggie. Margaret
would have the opportunity to bond with another
horse and will more easily adjust to life and her
blindness.
7/18/07: Margaret is patiently waiting to move to HorseNet
but if she doesn't move soon I am going to have to
come up with a better shelter for her. I also need
to bring the ponies home and she in the pony
paddock.
7/20/07: Margaret is just hanging around waiting and eating.
That's what the big girl does best. She really is
a big old love bug.
7/23/07: Elle contacted me today to let me know that she has
3 blind horses coming back from a foster situation
and will not be able to take on Margaret. So we
are back to searching for an appropriate place for
her.
8/03/07: Margaret is doing well and I am researching some
info on having her eyes checked to see if she is,
or is not, a candidate for surgery. There is a
specific test that can be done to see if she still
has the required eye function to benefit from the
surgery. Everyone please keep your fingers
crossed for her.
8/11/07: Bather, Lady, and Margaret are all doing well
eating and waiting to learn their futures.
8/30/07: There is someone interested in Margaret. I'll keep
you posted as soon as I know something definite.
9/14/07: Margaret is doing so well now that Nugget is with
her. She has calmed down so much you wouldn't think
it was the same horse. She just needed a little
Nuggy by her side to make her a happy camper.
10/12/07: Margaret is packing on her winter weight and is
happy as a clam spending her days with Nuggy.
Except for when the little brat hides from
her.
10/29/07: Margaret should be leaving in about 2 weeks and
of course you can see her before she goes.
11/02/07: I want to let everyone know that I moved
Margaret today down to New Windsor. She and
Nuggy are setting up house in the barnyard until
next week when Margaret will be traveling to NC
to her new home.
Margaret will be going to Double G Stable with
Tamara Gainer and her family. Tamara
specializes in retraining blind horses for a
useful life and she is eager to begin Margaret's
training. I'm am happy that Margaret will have
the opportunity to live a useful life with a
loving family.
If anyone would like to visit Margaret before
she leaves her departure is now scheduled for
Thursday, November 8th and she will be happy to
give really big hugs until it's time for her to
go.
11/13/07: Update from Margaret's new mom.
Well here's a few pics from her first few days.
She is already walking back and forth from the
barn to the pasture like she's been here a
hundred years. We did a little ground driving
and she did great. A little tentative at first,
but soon remembered what to do. She took the bit
like a champ, and we had no problem tightening
the surcingle. She'll have a few days break and
we'll work some more on Wed.
12/03/07: I received this update from Tammy on
Margaret. Sounds like she is doing great.
Hey there,
I just wanted to give ya'll a quick update.
Miss Margaret is doing GREAT. She is gaining
confidence everyday. Today we saddled her and
took her for a short walk/ride. I rode and
gave leg ques and a friend walked her by the
lead. She was FANTASTIC!! She listened to all
my leg ques with no problem. She has even been
on walks in the woods! We have to be careful,
hunting season! She has even learned to step
over small obstacles without running them
over! We couldn't be happier for her. Margaret
even has her very own foster daddy. She will
stay here and be boarded and trained, and of
course I still retain actual ownership, and
her daddy takes care of all her treats and
extra love and other expenses. He comes out at
least twice a week and grooms her from head to
toe, and she loves every minute. He has been
working with her also reinforcing all her
lessons. She has truly made GREAT progress!
We'll keep you updated!
1/01/08: From Tamara: I saw you lost a horse today
and am sending my condolences. I thought
maybe a picture of everyone's favorite Draft
might bring some cheer. We rode her for the
first time Thurs. She did better than great.
She all but dragged us down to where we ride,
she was sooo excited. For the first part of
her ride there was a barking dog about 50
yards away. She just kept listening to us and
paying attention to what we were asking and
NEVER got sidetracked by the darn dog. I know
plenty of sighted horses that can't ignore a
dog barking at them. Enjoy the pics and pls
share them at will!
STATUS
11/08/07: Margaret is at her forever home at Double G
Stables In NC with Tamara Gainer and her
family. Tamara specializes in retraining blind
horses for a useful life and she is eager to
begin Margaret's training. I'm am happy that
Margaret will have the opportunity to live a
useful life with a loving family.
Click here to read Margaret's whole story from the board http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=alexbrown&msg=9171.1
Click here to go to the Main MD FOB thread. http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=alexbrown&msg=5879.1
Click New Life Equine Rescue to go back to NLER Main Page.
