When It Comes To Horses, Love Knows No Boundaries

Billie Mitchell has published a book which focuses on horses. Her journey takes us from Georgia where she volunteers at Iron Gait Percherons Draft Horse Rescue in Waleska, GA to New Mexico where she captures the beauty of wild horses. Billie explains to readers that she experienced a fear of horses and through her work assisting with the care of horses at the horse rescue she not only learned to manage her fear but has had the fortunate experience of learning how these beautiful animals have kind hearts and open minds.  The published photos capture the true essence of her love for the horses as well as the love the horses share with her.

Volunteering is not new to Billie Mitchell.  In the past she has volunteered with programs such as the Craft Emergency Relief Fund, the Olympics, the Special Olympics of Atlanta, and she also served as a teacher in Belize.  Her participation at Iron Gait Percherons Draft Horse Rescue includes rescuing and transporting horses, daily care of horses, and fundraising.

Love Knows No Boundaries is available through Blurb, one of our favorite self publishing companies. The author is generously donating all proceeds to Iron Gait Percherons Horse Rescue so they can continue their work of rescuing horses that are in need.   

Sad News From Iron Gait Percherons Draft Horse Rescue

My last blog told of the wonderful experience we had at the Iron Gait Percherons Draft Horse Rescue's open house.  It's hard to believe that I am passing along the sad news that Iron Gait Percherons announced through their facebook page this past Friday as follows:

I am so very sorry to announce to you...At 12:53pm yesterday afternoon we had to euthanize our dearly beloved Randolph. His heart rate was 80 bpm, we suspected strangulating colic that was causing him unbelievable pain. Even after given pain medication, the meds. did not help him at all. He did not have much time left and would had never survived the trailer ride to UGA. It was the only thing I can do to help him and to stop his pain. I could not bare to see him in so much pain it was heart breaking.

He is now buried beside our Valerie and they can spend eternity running through green pastures together.
Rest In Peace my dear boy...
We all loved you very much and I will see you again when it is my time to leave this earth.

It's strange that some of the horses at Iron Gait Percherons made a big impression on us, and Randolph was one of those horses.  We are sure that he had the best care possible at Iron Gait and we extend our sympathies to everyone within their organization.


 

Our Visit to Iron Gait Percherons Draft Horse Rescue

This past weekend we visited Iron Gait Percherons Draft Horse Rescue.  We expected to see a few horses in a tiny barn and some small fields.  Instead we saw one of the most impressive facilities that we have seen in years.

We are enthralled by draft horses and believe they are one of the most fascinating animals on earth. Years ago while visiting the Clydesdale stables in New Hampshire we set their establishment as the standard for care and accommodations provided to horses. Accommodations at Iron Gait Percherons were not quite the same as the corporate run facilities but these rescued animals have not been slighted in any way.

IGP rescues and rehabilitates horses by means of donations.  No one at IGP receives a salary and one-hundred percent of donations go directly to supporting their cause. The IGP website is set up so that individuals or corporations can easily make monetary or material donations.    

Some of the horses require so much help that they are placed in the Sanctuary Community of IGP.  Randolph is one of the horses that was placed in the Sanctuary and his story is best explained through this video of Randolph arriving at IGP.  

Please take a look at the Iron Gait Percherons wish list help them in any way you can.