It was in early October, 2009 that I found myself scanning the internet for any good deals on horse related items.  I came across an ad placed by Ashley at Rugby Creek Animal Rescue.  It was simple - Bendi, a Quarter Horse mare, who had been at the rescue for a couple years, had run out of funding.  Although her list of needs is minimal, Rugby Creek takes in the most neglected animals in their area and their money is tight.  I'm not sure what compelled me but I clicked on the link to read about Bendi's story...

I feel it is best described in the words of Clare Tager, who is responsible for Bendi's rescue.  Every time I read her email it brings tears to my eyes. 

         "A farm close to me had her to begin with, and she was a brood mare for them.  Her feet were in deplorable condition, and in fact hurt her so badly that she literally leaned up against the barn during the day to take some of the pressure off her feet.

She could barely walk, even to go to get hay,and sometimes not at all. Her 'owner' tried to fix the problem himself with self shoeing and believe it or not, put duct tape on her hooves to try to hold them together just so he could continue to breed her year after year.... 

She had no shelter from the sun on the hottest days and no shelter from the ice and cold either.. The barn they had was used only rarely...  When it was time for her to foal that last time she was locked in that small dark barn and left there alone, and of course thats when she had the problem with the birth, and in fact, thrashed so violently that she broke her jaw.

I had not seen her in a long time and thought he had sold her, and as it turned out she was kept in that barn to see if she could gain strength enough to stand, and when I asked about her one afternoon, he said he was going to shoot her.  I offered to take her and he refused so I called Ashley and she came immediately and was most persuasive with the owner...... She left in short order with Bendi in her trailer."  

                                                                                - Clare Tager

Once Bendi was in the hands of caring people she began to recover.  After several operations, expert farrier care, and a lot of love from the staff at Rugby Creek, she is now the horse you see above.  She is sweet, gentle, happy, and full of life!  She runs around in the pasture with the other mares and greets me by the fenceline every morning.  She is no longer forced to suffer in pain. 

Bendi will remain here with us as long as she needs to.  She is still available for adoption through Rugby Creek Animal Rescue but will always have everything she needs here on our farm.  We are honored to be a part of Bendi's story and to give her the care she deserves. 

Thank you to everyone who has worked to save Bendi's life. 

You are truly a blessing and so is she!