Phoenix Rising

January 27th started out ordinary enough – then a call came in – an urgent plea to take another horse. A young man phoned in tears, desperately seeking a home for his horse. The barn owners were going to turn the horse loose in his yard if he didn’t move it that day. They were upset because people were complaining about the skinny condition the horse was in and the guy had lost his job, etc. The horse is an 18 yr old Quarterhorse gelding who the guy had “saved” a couple of months back. However, he didn’t realize he might have to feed it – he thought the horse would be ok just turned out in a field. We’re not here to judge and the guy did eventually do the right thing by calling - so – seeing as how we are full to the limit, I made my own urgent call to a friend, Sue Healey, who had offered to foster previously. She was also looking for a horse who might be suitable for her teenage son. She agreed, without too much persuasion, to take the horse. I also spoke with the barn owner and told them that Horse Play would be taking the horse but we couldn’t move him until the 29th. They said that would be ok.

On Friday, January 29th, Sheila Ryan and I headed over to pick him up, only knowing that he was skinny. We arrived at the farm and the barn owner’s daughter and Sheila loaded the horse while I had the horse’s owner sign the necessary surrender release. I didn’t really get a good look at the horse who loaded like a dream, burying his nose in the hay bag we had for him. When we arrived at his new home, I went in to unload him – I almost fainted – he was literally a hide draped over a skeleton. He didn’t want to leave his hay, so I gathered a bunch under my arm and backed him out of the trailer. There was a welcoming committee of several young girls, Sue, John Dellena (the barn owner), Cathy (who lives on the farm), a couple of donkeys and a dog. We all looked in disbelief at the pitiful site before us – still very happily munching hay! I have never seen such a skinny horse that was still upright and let alone alive. We got a couple of blankets on him and soon had him settled in a quarantine stall. Sheila and I headed home, feeling happy yet angry at the same time. I still don’t understand how this can happen – why didn’t someone call for help sooner?

The next day, I checked in with Sue and she told me he was doing fine – had eaten almost an entire bale of hay overnight. She also told me they wanted to call him Phoenix – a great name, very appropriate. I stopped by on Sunday, January 31 with friend and photographer, Laurie Sturdevant, and shot these pix.










Phoenix is an incredibly resilient soul. He has had his teeth floated and the dentist agrees he is 18ish. He also mentioned that it appeared he’d been eating dirt/rocks from the look of things. He is now surrounded by all the hay he can eat, fresh water and also some Sentinel Performance, not to mention tons of care, love, human and equine friends. He still has a long road ahead and it’s looking like Sue may take the plunge and adopt him. In the meantime, as always, we are seeking donations towards his (and all the Horse Play horses) care. Please contact Horse Play at (401)294-3565 or email horseplayri@msn.com – you can also donate on line via PayPal on our website – www.hptrc.org

Phoenix is rising and hopefully will soar into a new life of trust, respect and compassion.