The Re-purposing of Miniature Equine Lives

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tlfleming
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Real Name (first and last name): Theresa L. Fleming

The Re-purposing of Miniature Equine Lives

Post by tlfleming »

Theresa Fleming, an EPNet member, is the "mama" to many unwanted miniature horses and miniature donkeys under the ranch name Blessing Way Miniatures. Many unwanted miniatures have made their way to their mini ranch, some from rescue situations, some not, but all have been "adopted" by The Flemings as a part of their family. The ranch is considered a sanctuary (a home for the life of the equine) and not a rescue facility (where horses come in and other homes found for them) but they do maintain a list of horses looking for homes and try to link them with people wanting to provide homes. In July 2011 she and her husband, Bill, established a 501c3 nonprofit to give these little horses a purpose. E.L.L.A. Equine Learning and Literacy Advocates was born.

E.L.L.A.'s Mission Statement: To link unwanted miniature and large equines as book ambassadors with children and young adults as
a way to discover and foster the desire to read and learn of the people, places, and events that have shaped the history of the Old and New West and also Bibilical History. http://www.horsesforliteracy.com

The following photographs are of the re-purposing of four of the little equines at Blessing Way Miniatures.
tlfleming
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Re: The Re-purposing of Miniature Equine Lives

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Blessing Way Shady Lady is one of the original horses at Blessing Way Miniatures. Her original life was to have been as a brood mare for a local breeder but her first foal was not in the correct position for the birth. The vet clinic in trying to help with the difficult birth ended up damaging her reproductive system to where she could no longer have foals. The breeder was going to send her to an auction. The Flemings stepped in and bought her. Shady was then "re-purposed" as a show mare and won numerous championship ribbons in the youth division with daughter, Lori. This photo is of Shady and Lori. It was done as an assignment for EPNet class The Art of the Equine-Human Portrait with Shelley Paulson in 2007.
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tlfleming
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Re: The Re-purposing of Miniature Equine Lives

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This photo is of Shady being the "Little Black A Pony" book series representative for the Colorado division of The Black Stallion Literacy Foundation. She loves having children read to her!
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tlfleming
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Re: The Re-purposing of Miniature Equine Lives

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Running Creeks Lil Pearl is part of a multi-generational family at the ranch. Her grandfather, LaRays Patrick, and her mother, Running Creeks Easter Lily also reside at the ranch. She came to The Flemings through a "going out of business" auction by the breeder. Theresa bought her when no one else wanted to bid on her due to a disfigurement/scarring on one of her front legs from a past injury. This is Pearl in front of the Assisted Care Facility in July 2011 before visiting with the residents.
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tlfleming
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Re: The Re-purposing of Miniature Equine Lives

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Pearl has become Blessing Ways resident therapy miniature. This photo is also of Pearl's first visit to an Assisted Care Facility in July 2011. She has the innate ability to sense those in need of a "healing" touch.
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tlfleming
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Re: The Re-purposing of Miniature Equine Lives

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Lil Ric O'Shay is Blessing Ways blind colt. He was born with no normal "visable" eyes but The Flemings believe he can see some light and shadows. When the breeder was going to put him down at birth they stepped in and said no they would take him. Shay and his dam came to the ranch when he was two days old and his dam stayed at the ranch with him until he could be weaned at 3 months. At that time a little female Nubian goat named Gidget was put in his pen as a companion. Unfortunately, a neighbor's wolf hybrid dog got into the pen and killed Gidget and tore up Shay's rear legs. With numerous vet visits and with Theresa keeping him in the house for a week to care for him he did survive. He is the family's special little guy as is evident with daughter Lori giving him kisses in this photo.
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tlfleming
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Re: The Re-purposing of Miniature Equine Lives

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Second photo is just a creative try using an old ranch" call to dinner" triangle as a framing tool while Shay was grazing. Shay is the biographical storyteller for Louis Braille who created the Braille system so that the blind could learn to read and for Helen Keller and other famous individuals who were and are visually impaired.
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tlfleming
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Re: The Re-purposing of Miniature Equine Lives

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The newest miniature to come to the ranch is Hope, a tiny brown yearling filly. Theresa found her through an online ad that caught her attention. A "rescue angel" named Vania, had purchased her at a local horse auction in April 2011 to save her from becoming a "riding pony" for a large family of children. Hope is only 26" tall and is in no way a "riding pony". She was malnourished and when Vania got her home discovered she had a very sick little horse on her hands. She spent her own money for vet visits and the medicines needed to help Hope survive. Vania was pregnant at the time of Hope's purchase and after the birth of her son she ended up with some unexpected medical bills. She needed to find Hope another home and that is how Hope came to live with The Flemings in July 2011. This photo is of Hope being loaded into the horse trailer to go to her new home. She was renamed Bright Hopes because she now has a bright future ahead of her.
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tlfleming
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Re: The Re-purposing of Miniature Equine Lives

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This photograph is of Hope being groomed by two visitors to the ranch in December 2011. When Hope came to the ranch she was still thin but with a new balanced diet and being on a correct worming schedule she is filling out and her long winter coat shows the beginning signs of good health. Because of her tiny size she is a "big" hit with the smaller children who visit. Hope made her first off
ranch visit to a local library in November 2011 as a part of E.L.L.A..
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kjmichels
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Re: The Re-purposing of Miniature Equine Lives

Post by kjmichels »

Hi Theresa,

Your story is so endearing. I have always wanted to have companion horses, big and small, and take them to visit seniors and people with special needs. I was especially touched by reading that Shadow loves to be read too.

Thanks for sharing.

Kim
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