A Harrowing & Memorable Rescue For Live & Let Live Farm

by Scott Philbrick
Live and Let Live Farm

Recently we shared with readers and Live and Let Live Farm followers, a summary of what the year 2018 brought to us; much of it centered on heart splitting tragedy. There was certainly good to counter the bad, but as we struggle to regain our collective balance into 2019, battered and bruised, we embrace the unknown challenges, growth, and gratifications that lie ahead for us. We choose to stare 2019 straight in the eye with sanguine optimism; gloves cinched up tight, strong and willing backs, and fresh batteries in our headlamps. Being prepared, we’ve long since discovered, is of paramount importance.
If you read that summary of 2018, you may remember the rescue of three horses from Acworth, NH, shortly before Christmas. We revealed the new names of these horses— Morgan, a Morgan mare who is likely pregnant, Pinto Bean, a Paint mini who also shows signs of pregnancy, and Dune, a less-than-two-year-old colt.

I’d like to now share some details and specifics regarding the rescue of these three souls. Most rescues are initiated (thankfully) by alert passers-by who notice a horse or horses in some kind of distress. They then call the local authorities, and it progresses from there. But this rescue was a bit different. This rescue was initiated by one of the horses ultimately rescued. This will be Dune’s story, for he is the “hero” of this account.
As I think back on the rescue, now over a month ago, I like to think of Dune whispering to the two mares he was penned with, “tonight; I’m breaking outa here; I’ll come back for ya…” as if he were in some 1940’s B-grade movie about a harrowing prison break. But he wasn’t in a movie. He wasn’t in Hollywood. What he was in, was a makeshift paddock in the middle of deep freeze NH, with those two mares, and no food or water.
So during a snowstorm in early December 2018, the less-than-two-year-old colt, starved, dehydrated, and weak, managed to break free and meander through the woods, summoning his inner stallion and grasping at the threads of a new freedom, where he emerged at a private residence. Police were subsequently called, and arrangements were made for him to be temporarily housed at an Acworth donkey and mule rescue, rather wittily named “Save Your Ass.”

And here’s where luck steps in— the snow had stopped. Police were able to follow the horse’s tracks back to the property where the two other horses were still held in desperate conditions.
Authorities then began gathering and processing information, coordinating with state officials, and generating the requisite paperwork for a seizure. Ultimately Live and Let Live Farm, having long since become the “go to” rescue organization for the state, was brought into the picture, and a rescue plan was hammered out.
Once the seizure warrant was secured by state police, this writer found himself driving a truck with a four horse trailer, along with LLLF Executive Director Teresa Paradis, from Chichester to Acworth. Moments after the warrant was served, we found ourselves leading the two mares— Teresa the mini; I the Morgan— down the long, steep, icy driveway to the waiting trailer.
An extremely nerve wracking transport ensued. The road— long, steep, winding, and coated with ice, left a tiny margin for error. At no time was backing up an option, so I needed to drive straight on through. The snow, having thawed and refrozen, covered the icy washboard roads. Wheels were spinning furiously as I neared the top of each hill. With the width of the trailer, there was perhaps two feet of clearance on either side before snowbanks began their steep climb or descent into woods. Tight pivoting, skidding, and daunting turns near steep river drop offs were accented by washboard road surfaces that could easily send the trailer bouncing laterally. Thankfully we had a NH State Police escort clearing any traffic ahead for us, and the trooper escorted us to “Save Your Ass,” to collect the hero colt.

We met up with the staff of our counterpart rescue operation, who had dutifully blanketed his frail, skeletonized frame. We led him to the trailer where, with some difficulty, he summoned the strength to load, where he was finally reunited with his two paddock mates he had left days earlier.
Three hours later, a full seven and a half hours after we had left the familiar confines of LLLF, we arrived at our indoor quarantine and rehabilitation arena. I backed the trailer to the bay door, where the reception team, comprised of Heather Evans, longtime volunteer Sharon Morey, and another volunteer Michelle Clark, had prepared the arena with separate pens, heated troughs of water, shavings, and hay… all awaiting them as they were unloaded, one at a time.
It is believed that both Morgan and Pinto Bean are likely pregnant, though it’s still difficult to confirm for several reasons. Time will tell soon enough. But on that one cold, snowy night in December of 2018, when he broke free and found his way to distant property, the young colt Dune, whom I named for his marvelous beach sand colored coat, was the hero of the day.

Post note: shortly completing the rescue, Teresa was driving the very same truck around Concord and Chichester, when a brake line blew out. Had that happened during the hours of our delicate, fragile drive with the trailer under those conditions, it could have been disastrous. Earlier I mentioned luck. Somewhere in between luck and fate, lies the realm of chance, which brings to mind a great quote from Louis Pasteur: “Chance favors the prepared mind.” Luck has, we believe, little to nothing to do with any of what we do. We tend to subscribe to the aphorism that people, in general, must forge their own luck.
Shifting gears, we’d like to tell you about an exciting new venture for LLLF; a newly formed alliance with an organization known as THHIN— Trainers Helping Horses In Need. Based in Warren, Vermont, this organization coordinates a network of training facilities by raising funds for training programs for rescued horses who meet certain criteria. THHIN recently contacted LLLF, and as a result of the new entente, five of our post-rehab horses were recently selected to receive extensive, specialized training at various equestrian training facilities throughout New England. As of this writing, the five horses are at their locations scattered around New England, and we look forward to reporting on the results of this emerging relationship with THHIN.
Please watch for more details and exciting updates as 2019 progresses. Please know that we remain ever grateful to our thousands of supporters and 500 plus volunteers who keep LLLF running smoothly, and able to respond quickly and reliably to rescue requests throughout New Hampshire and New England. Here’s to a beautiful and blessing filled 2019.

Please consider contacting Live and Let Live Farm if you’re considering adopting a loving family companion. Financial contributions are desperately needed and greatly appreciated, as the costs to operate such a facility are staggering. Contributions are fully tax deductible, and 100% allocated to the care and healing of these animals. Contact Teresa by email, at: tehorse@aol.com, or send donations to: Live and Let Live Farm Rescue, 20 Paradise Lane, Chichester NH 03258. Donations can also be made with credit or debit cards, at: www.liveandletlivefarm.org. We welcome you for our weekly tours, held Sundays at 2:30 pm, to meet the animals of Live and Let Live Farm. If you’re looking to adopt or become part of the working hands and caring hearts of our volunteer family, the tour is where it all begins.