Horse rescue group to hold fundraiser

GETTING BETTER: Linda Richards of Safe haven Horse Rescue in Cottonwood pets Dawn, a 20-year-old mare that was abandoned at a trainer's house in Glenn County.

Dawn, a rescued horse at Safe Haven in Cottonwood, arrived Sept. 16. A Glenn County horse trainer found the abandoned horse in one of his horse pens, according to Linda Richards of Safe Haven Horse Rescue, who went to get her. What she found was not a horse "affected by the economy," but a horse that had been mistreated and abused for a long time.

"When an animal looks like this, it doesn't happen overnight," said Richards.

Dawn weighs approximately 700 pounds and is in need of putting on another 500 pounds before she will be healthy again. Dawn needs her teeth floated which can not be done for a few months due to lack of weight, strength and not being able to be medicated while the veterinarian is working on her teeth. Dawn also has an injured left leg that she has been given anti-inflammatories by Dr. Art Sutfin.

Sutfin believes that Dawn will heal, but it will take time and Richards "Magic Mush" to put the much needed weight back on. The "mush" Richards mixes up for the horses consists of three different types of feed with water added to it.

"When Dawn gains more weight, we will be able to tell what breed of horse she is. She is either an Arabian or a Thoroughbred," said Richards.

After being at the rescue for a week, Dawn is starting to get a bit of her energy back but still has a long ways to go, she still has a lot of muscle and fat to regain before she can have any of her shots or have her teeth worked on.

"Today, Dawn has a sparkle in her eyes that we haven't seen before. She has the heart of a stallion and a will to live," said Richards.

Many items are still needed for Dawn, as they are a special size due to her weight upon arrival. One of the most needed items is a 76" neck blanket which will help her going into winter.

The seventh annual Playday will be held on Oct. 4, 9 a.m., at the Bobby Jones Arena in Cottonwood to benefit horses like Dawn. There will be different riding events for all ages, raffles and food to help raise funds for the rescue. All proceeds will go to benefit the horses and their needs. There are currently 60 horses at the rescue, and 12 are ready to be adopted. The play day features many of the horses that have been rescued and given a second chance at life.