Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation, Inc. - Rebel's Story

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allthehorses
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Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation, Inc. - Rebel's Story

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Why do horses wind up being neglected? There are a lot of answers to that question ranging from “hoarder” issues, lack of education, someone not seeking help when they run into a problem, and ranging to, believe it or not, the person/people just not caring about the horse(s) or their welfare. The people of the Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation, Inc. (MHWF) have been working in rescue for over 15 years, and in their combined experience report that the calls coming in with people wanting and needing to surrender their horses have certainly increased over the last couple of years, mainly due to the economy, job losses and related issues. They report that the cases of neglect they see have not risen over these years though.

Rebel is a horse who did not have an owner calling to surrender him. Unfortunately, it looked like Rebel fell under the category of his owners just not caring about him. It was found that there was no lack of funds for them, no job loss, and certainly no good excuse for the condition Rebel was allowed to deteriorate to. The local sheriff’s department stepped in to help Rebel when complaint calls came in about this horse who was deathly skinny and obviously not being cared for. MHWF agreed to take Rebel in and help them with the case. Rebel scored barely a 1 on the Henneke Body Score System when he arrived to MHWF in early October of 2011.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henneke_ho ... ing_system
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Last edited by allthehorses on Fri Dec 16, 2011 1:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation, Inc. - Rebel's Story

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The first step in Rebel’s care was to get a thorough vet evaluation, fecal samples and a dental exam to see what care he would need, and determine if there was a problem that contributed to Rebel deteriorating to the condition he was in. Rebel needed a tooth floating and was carrying a pretty high worm load. His feet were also horribly neglected and received the care they needed as well. He was aged at about 20 years old and luckily Rebel still has good teeth with none missing or rotten. Rebel had also not been combed or brushed and his mane and tail were both just a mass of burs. A couple of volunteers went to town on getting that mess taken care of and he really seemed to enjoy that.

Photo provided by sheriff’s department.
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Re: Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation, Inc. - Rebel's Story

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Within the first two weeks there was already visible weight gain and it became very apparent that Rebel had suffered from pure neglect. It was becoming apparent that he was not receiving even the most basic care a horse requires.
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Re: Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation, Inc. - Rebel's Story

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Over the next few weeks Rebel steadily continued to gain weight and became very bright and happy. He soon learned that the food was always coming, there was always fresh water and he was not going to feel the pains of starvation any more. He is also thriving on human attention and always has a nicker to greet anyone who comes out to visit. He quickly became a favorite of the volunteers at MHWF.
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Re: Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation, Inc. - Rebel's Story

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In the 2-1/2 months that Rebel has been with MHWF he has gone up to almost a 4 on the Henneke body scoring system and is looking and feeling great. Rebel has received the basic horse care that any horse has the right to receive. His care was not “pushed” to see quick results. He was simply given the basic care any horse owner should have given him. Rebel has already shown tremendous improvement and it can be reported that he is definitely making a full recovery from his severe neglect.
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Re: Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation, Inc. - Rebel's Story

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I was hoping to be able to report that Rebel’s case is closed and he will be looking for a new adoptive family soon, but sadly I cannot report that yet. Rebel’s case is still hung up in the legal system as of this date. MHWF will continue to provide the best care for Rebel for as long as it takes, and all involved hope that justice will be served to his neglectors. No animal should ever have to endure the suffering that Rebel has.
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Last edited by allthehorses on Thu Dec 22, 2011 10:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation, Inc. - Rebel's Story

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MHWF, Inc. is receiving no compensation for Rebel’s care. MHWF, Inc. is a non-profit charity organization dedicated to finding homes for horses who may otherwise have a hard time finding a good home. Everyone involved in our program is a volunteer and 100% of all donations and adoption fees go back into the care of another needy horse.

The Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation is dedicated to providing qualified homes for any horse in need. It is our goal to make certain that every horse placed in our care is provided with all the necessary ingredients for a safe and happy life, and that it is also protected from those who would do it harm.

Please visit the MHWF website to learn more. http://www.equineadoption.com

Keep Rebel in your thoughts and join us in hoping that he will be released to MHWF and can move on to find a new home when his rehab is 100% complete. MHWF and other horse rescues across the country need your help to survive and to be able to help horses like Rebel. Please support them in any way you can. Rebel, and all of the horses thank you from the bottom of their giant hearts.
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Re: Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation, Inc. - Rebel's Story

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Well done Karen :D
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Re: Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation, Inc. - Rebel's Story

Post by BarbYoung »

Great story, lovely photos (not the first ones, of course). You guys do such good work, Karen, and you know I'm in love with half your horses. I surely hope Rebel's abusers get punished, and Rebel gets a loving, forever home.
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We have to stand a little rain"
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kjmichels
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Re: Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation, Inc. - Rebel's Story

Post by kjmichels »

Hi Karen,

Your story is great and touches me deepIy. I assisted with my first rescue two days after I got to MT. It sickens me to see first hand what some people put horses through. Its very sad and infuriating all at the same time.

Thanks for sharing.

Kim
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Re: Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation, Inc. - Rebel's Story

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I wanted to post a very happy update to Rebel's story as it has unfolded. Rebel made a complete recovery, Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation, Inc. did receive ownership, and then Rebel was adopted to Stable Hands Therapeutic Riding to go on to be a therapy horse. Things have turned around in Rebel's life dramatically and Rebel is now spending his days helping others who need him. Along with working with children he will also be working with Veterans, and he does love his new job.

Here is a picture of Rebel at Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation right before he left for his new home.
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