Spirit Horse Equine Rescue and Education Center

Tommy's Story

Read up on Tommy's progress over at Tommy's Blog!

It all began with an e-mail from Lisa in north-central Wisconsin. On her way to and from work, Lisa explained, she kept noticing a little mule who had badly over grown hooves. She had tried to work through local authorities but no one would help. At wit’s end, Lisa Googled “mule rescue” and we popped up!

I offered to contact the owner to see if he would be willing to give the mule up to Spirit Horse. The owner, a cattle farmer with no equine experience or interest in learning, told me he had bought the mule in 2005 for his daughter. Tommy was a two year old at that time and the daughter quickly lost interest in him. He had been in a paddock by himself and given food and water, but had not had his feet trimmed in three years! The owner described him as “impossible to catch” and “a real kicker”. We could have the “S.O.B.” if we could catch him.

The next day Lisa and two friends chased Tommy into a horse trailer and took him to a farm where he could be stalled until his Coggins came back and we were able to drive up to get him. On Sunday, June 1, board member Wendy Becker and I traveled three hours to meet our first rescue. Tommy’s feet looked as bad as they had in the photos Lisa had e-mailed. It was truly criminal! Additionally, Tommy was petrified of humans and was a defensive kicker. The owner of the farm where he was stalled had gotten his old, ill-fitting halter off and put a new flat halter on him. Then Tommy had been tied so that we would be able to get him without a struggle.

Determined to start the relationship out right, I took about an hour of approach and retreat to get one of our soft rope halters on him. He flew like a kite on the end of my 12 foot rope (probably should have used a 22 foot), but he did jump right into my trailer. Lisa was amazed.

On the way back to Janesville, we stopped by Stacy Anacker’s place (Healthy Hooves Farrier Service) so she could get a good look at him and see what she was in for to get his feet back to normal. Stacy joined us in our indignation of how poor Tommy had been neglected. We made an appointment for June 5 and I knew I had my work cut out for me to get him ready to accept having his feet trimmed.

We are looking for some kind people to sponsor Tommy. It cost about $200 in gas to go and get him. He will need extensive long-term work on his feet, a battery of vaccinations and a long stay in foster care before he will be trusting enough to be put up for adoption. If anyone is interested in sponsoring Tommy, please go to our Donation page and use paypal, or send a check to us through regular mail.

The pictures of Tommy featured on this page were taken on May 23, 2008.