Rescuer and horse trainer Ann Fouret recalls her first encounter with the seven horses she was tasked to rescue. “They were skin and bones and living in dark barn stalls without ventilation. They were like shells of horses. Their eyes were blank, like they were somewhere else. They were only getting fed once a day, and their food and water troughs were slimy and dirty. The horses didn’t want to drink from them.” Kindal Nay, fellow rescuer and manager of Whispering Pines Equestrian, says, “My heart just dropped seeing the state they were in. When we opened the barn door, the first thing that hit me was the smell. It was overpowering.” Five younger horses were closed in the barn, and two older ones were in the outside pens.
The elderly, ailing owner planned to send the older ones to a rescue, but her plan fell through. Horse rescue organizations are beyond capacity, making it challenging to place them. Ann and Kindal decided to rescue all seven horses, including the older ones. “We decided that we would bring the 25 and 26-year-old stallions to their barn and get them healthy before we put them down. I didn’t want them to die in that horrible place,” says Ann. They have since decided to keep them alive because they are making good progress.
Kindal is the manager of Whispering Pines Equestrian, and Ann is a skilled trainer and owner of Fouret Farms. Together, they took on a sizable feat when they adopted Mort, 9; Charlotte, 9; Taco, 6; Queenie, 13; E.T., 19; Blaze, 25; and Larry, 26.
The horses have been living at Whispering Pines for six weeks and are undergoing physical and mental healing as they acclimate to their new home. They had barely been ridden or handled in seven years, so Ann and Kindal started working with them slowly, providing food, which they eagerly devoured, clean stalls with both indoor and outdoor areas, as well as medical care, grooming and interaction with people and other horses on the property.
“I enjoy seeing their personalities come out; they’re very different, but they're all very sweet and kind, considering all they have been through. They are starting to trust again and know they are okay here, that there will always be food and attention. Horses are very social, and they were kept in individual pens where they couldn’t touch or groom each other for years. Now, they are being turned out together and beginning to make new friends among the herd of horses boarded on the property,” Ann says.
The monthly cost to rehabilitate each horse ranges from $1,500 to $1,700, covering housing, food, supplements, medical care, training and grooming to maintain their health. If you would like to contribute to their care, visit the Facebook page, ‘Save the Seven’.
It takes time and dedication to care for these beautiful animals. It was clear these women prioritize the welfare of the horses and have given them a new life, where they can thrive in health and happiness! Their eyes have life in them again!
Whispering Pines Equestrian is set on a beautiful acreage in Elizabeth, CO., where Kindal manages the business of boarding, breeding, training, rehabilitating, sales, lessons, leasing and more. She can be contacted at (970) 629-3072.
Fouret Farms is Ann’s training business on the Whispering Pines Property. Contact her at (719) 641-9176.
"They were skin and bones and living in a dark barn."