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BEHS 097 - Blazer

Rainbow Bridge July 2009

1990 grade gelding

Blazer came to BEHS in 2006 when his owner could no longer care for him. He was emaciated and badly foundered. Blazer received great care and recovered from emaciation but he struggled with pain from founder for three years. After exhausting all options for pain management, the rescue made the tough decision to help Blazer cross the Rainbow Bridge.

BEHS 228 - Captain James

Rainbow Bridge May 2009

1978 grade gelding

Captain James arrived at BEHS in 2008 when his owner couldn’t care for him. This older gentleman was underweight and his owners agreed they could not care for him. While putting in the long hours to rehabilitate him, his foster mom fell in love. Although he's not ridable due to his age, his foster mom couldn't part with him. She gave Captain James several months of good, loving care – but eventually Captain James made it clear he was ready to go. So his adopter said good bye to him and tearfully sent him across the Rainbow Bridge.

BEHS 398 - Diamond in the Rough

Rainbow Bridge October 1, 2009

2008 grade filly

Diamond in the Rough came to BEHS as part of a seizure of 18 horses. She hadn't been handled before coming to BEHS and was emaciated when she arrived. She slowly learned to trust humans and gained weight. Unfortunately she coliced and could not recover.

BEHS 029 - Ferris

Rainbow Bridge November 2009

1987, bay, registered Arabian gelding

Ferris' owner placed him with BEHS when she could no longer care for him. He was a stallion when he first arrived at BEHS and even once he was gelded, he could not be put in a mixed herd. Luckily he was adopted by a Bluebonnet family and lived with two other adopted geldings. The entire family loved Ferris. When he arrived at BEHS, he had a condition that had caused him to rub all the hair off his hindquarters and left him with little tail. The family worked with Ferris and helped him overcome his condition and he developed a beautiful tail once again. He then developed COPD and his adopters and their vet worked with him for over a year. He then developed a lung infection that he could not recover from. Sadly, his family was forced to send him across the Rainbow Bridge. Ferris touched several lives while in the rescue and will be missed by everyone who knew him.

BEHS 306 - Frosty the Snowman

Rainbow Bridge May 2009

25+ year old, grade gelding

Frosty was found wandering in Bastrop County. After unsuccessfully trying to locate his owner, the county placed him with BEHS. He was severely underweight at the time, but with proper care he recovered quickly. After a few good months with BEHS, Frosty began to stumble while walking, and one day he collapsed in the pasture. His foster “mom” sat on the ground with him until the vet arrived to send him across the Rainbow Bridge.

BEHS 175 - Gidget

Rainbow Bridge January 19, 2009

1992, grade mare

Gidget also arrived at Bluebonnet in February 2007. A law enforcement officer found her when investigating a neglect complaint and asked BEHS to take her in. Ralph & Loretta immediately opened their homes and hearts to her, but when she got there they were concerned she might not make it. Not only was she skin and bones, but one front leg was twisted. They asked me to come look at her, and when I first saw her my immediate thought was that we should put her down. But when she walked out of the pen, she walked strong. It looks like her leg and shoulder were both broken and healed poorly, but Gidget had learned to compensate on her own. And this little mare was so sweet and kind - she stole my heart immediately. That summer, Gidget met her new "mom". Melba traveled up to help us prepare a mailout, and she met and fell in love with Gidget. Several weeks later, she came back and took Gidget home. Gidget became a pet for Melba and her grandson, and she became a companion to Melba's other horse. Earlier this week, Gidget joined Biscuit and the Bluebonnet heard beyond. I know everyone who met this kind mare feels pain at her loss, but I know Jonathon and Melba feel it most sharply. I'm glad you two could show Gidget the love she deserved, and I'm sorry she wasn't with you longer.

BEHS 295 - Kenai

Rainbow Bridge June 2009

1996 grade mare

Kenai came to BEHS in 2008 after she and her entire herd were found abandoned near Austin. A few months after arriving, Kenai gave birth to an adorable foal. When the foal was just two months old, Kenai colicked. Several vets worked on her and even performed a discounted colic surgery. Kenai survived the surgery but died a day later.

BEHS 419 - Lady Pie

Rainbow Bridge June 2009

2005 grade mare

Lady Pie was discovered by the sheriff's department - badly injured and in need of help. Her owner had been given Lady Pie a few months before and had not treated the wounds covering her body. The rescue picked her up and took her immediately to the vet's office. The vet determined that she had a rare fungal infection that she could not recover from. She was in great pain, and we made the tough decision to send her across the Rainbow Bridge.

BEHS 110 - Matilda

Rainbow Bridge November 27, 2009

1986, Belgian mare

Matilda came to BEHS along with Henry, Misty, Sophy, Cookie and Celeste in mid-August 2006. The 20 year old draft mare was emaciated - every bone protruding beneath her dull coat. She had spent much of her life on a production line at a PMU ranch in Canada and then made her way to Arkansas. Her owner owned a feed store - yes you read that right. The man owned a feed store but did not feed his own horses. He agreed to surrender the six worst horses to BEHS and we quickly got them out of there.

Matilda, like most PMU horses, hadn't been handled much. And she apparently wasn't handled much during her life in Arkansas either. She was enormous and she knew it. She used her weight to push down fences and push people around. And her farrier eventually refused to handle her anymore. She was a bully.

But, her foster "dad" absolutely adored her. He babied her and she seemed to love her too. He and Matilda were best pals.

But Matilda's life had not been an easy one, and those hard years took a toll on her body. Her foster/adopter's daughter was a vet, so she got the best of care. But recently it became clear that this life was just too much for Matilda and on the day after Thanksgiving, she crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

Our sympathies go to those who loved her - and our heart felt thanks go to them as well. Matilda didn't know love in her life until that day in 2006 she was removed from the negligent owners. We're glad that she had a great team of people there for her.

BEHS 008 - Moonshine

Rainbow Bridge August 2009

Approx. 1987, Appaloosa gelding

In 2005, shortly after BEHS was formed, we were contacted and asked to take an older Appaloosa in. A very nice couple from Houston had rescued him, half-starved, from a pasture in East Texas. They rehabbed him up to a good weight, and loved him dearly, but they only had a couple of acres and had horses of their own. Would we take him? I raised my email hand and said "yes" then immediately wondered why I had done so. You see, I didn't like Appaloosas - or so I thought.

Moonshine arrived, and he was a true gentleman - my first BEHS foster horse. A pleasure to foster, he never gave any person or horse any trouble. He was reserved with me, but respectful.

When it was time to try him under saddle, I brought out a curb bit and headstall. My logic, you see, was that since he was an Appy, he surely had been ridden Western. This was Texas, right? Everyone rode Western. I placed the bit in his mouth, and tested the reins to see if he would respond to rein aids. Nothing. He turned his head and gave me a disgusted look - a look, as I would learn, only an Appy can give. Humbled, I retreated into the tack room and emerged a moment later with one of my English bridles and a snaffle bit.

Moonshine audibly sighed, and accepted the bit. He responded to rein aids well from the ground, so I mounted him. He was rusty, but willing, and a pleasure to ride.

A few weeks later I helped with the BEHS booth at the Equestrian Market Day in Bryan. A tiny girl came up to the table with her mother. Together they leafed through the notebook of available horses. I asked the little girl if she was looking for a horse. They responded together, explaining how they were looking for a horse for Kaye for Pony Club - to ride English. They had been looking for months, but found nothing suitable within their budget.

I found myself telling them about Moonshine. He was rusty, I warned, and although good under saddle, had never really clicked with me. He never acted like he was enjoying himself. They decided to come see him, and a few days later, we were all in my round pen. I rode Moonshine first, in the round pen and then down the driveway. He wasn't being very cooperative, and I sighed. This was not going to work out, I thought.

Then Kelly put Kaye on Moonshine's back. This tiny 7 y/o girl sat there - and magic happened. Moonshine was a new horse. With every step they took, it became so crystal clear to me - he had once been the beloved mount for a little girl. I swear he winked at me once as they rode by. He held his head high and there was pride in his every stride. Moonshine's new name was to be Moonshadow, they announced, as it would be more appropriate for Pony Club.

Shortly after, Kelly and Kaye came to pick up Moonshine with their trailer. We opened the door, and I went to lead him inside. He stopped - dead in his tracks - just outside the door. "Come ON, Moonshine," I pleaded, "Please don't start now. Please don't blow the chance to have a terrific forever home." He gave me one of those Appy looks, sighed, and obediently walked beside me. I turned to him inside the trailer - and saw the huge nest of yellow jackets on the trailer wall, right next to him.

Slowly, I asked him to back out. He eased back out of the trailer, and this time we both sighed in relief. I apologized to him, realizing I should have listened to this wise horse. Once the yellow jackets were sprayed and the nest knocked down, Moonshine eagerly loaded. He gave me one last wise Appy look before the trailer moved off.

Moonshine and Kaye were wonderful together in Pony Club. No matter what chaos was going on, Moonshine carried his little girl safely through it. They excelled in Pony Club camp, and he loved jumping. The old horse that others on their fancy, expensive horses had sneered at became the favorite of all. I did all the adoption follow up visits myself, so I could see him. He was happy and loved his new home.

Then one day, I learned Moonshine had EPM. Treatment would be expensive - with no guarantee of success. We contacted the manufacturer of a drug used to treat EPM, explained Moonshine's story, and they so very generously donated enough medicine for a course of treatment. It was hard on the old Appy. He lost weight and looked terrible, the next time I saw him. But then he started to come around, and eventually, Kaye was able to ride him again. But not for long - he had a relapse, and it was a sad decision that it was no longer safe for Kaye to ride him. So Moonshine retired, and spent his last few months being loved on by his little girl.

He became weaker and more unsteady, and this past week, he was sent across the Rainbow Bridge. A little girl is very sad, and misses him very much - and so do I.

You were a great horse, Moonshine. I will always wonder what happened to your first little girl - did she outgrow her love for horses, and you were simply turned out in the pasture? Why did no one apparently care that you were getting thin, or that you missed your little girl? I am so happy that you found your little girl again.

BEHS 195 - My Jorga Peach

Rainbow Bridge May 24,2009

Bay mustang mare

My Jorja Peach was found starving in a field, trying to nurse from her dead mother. Law enforcement removed her and placed her with BEHS. She recovered and was looking for an adopter when a tragic accident took her life.

BEHS 363 - Rachel

Rainbow Bridge May 22,2009

25+ year old, Thoroughbred mare

Rachel came to BEHS as part of our largest neglect case to date: involving 58 horses. She was severely emaciated when discovered on an east Texas ranch and her hooves were in such bad shape she could barely hobble towards the trailer. Her eyes were bright and she seemed to want to live and everyone fell in love with her. However her body was giving out. After several specialists examined her, we made the hard to decision to send her across the Rainbow Bridge. We know she? now healthy and sound again running in green pastures.

BEHS 229 - Sahara

Rainbow Bridge November 2,2009

1991 Chestnut Thoroughbred mare

Sahara came to BEHS in December 2007. Her owner could no longer keep her and asked BEHS to help out. At the time we had space, so we were able to help. Her owner told us she had abscessed several times in the past, and once she was evaluated by a veterinarian we discovered she had foundered badly in the past. She was not sound, so we began a long course of treatment to help her become sound. Unfortunately Sahara never fully recovered and recently took a turn for the worst. The difficult decision was made to put her down. She joins quite a few other BEHS horses who have led the way across the Rainbow Bridge, now sound and running free.

BEHS 057 - Topaz

Rainbow Bridge December 2009

1998 grade gelding

Topaz was purchased at auction by a BEHS member and donated to BEHS. He was led into the auction ring but froze in fear and practically no one was bidding on him. He literally was shaking with fright. One he was healthy and well-cared for, Topaz really blossomed. Topaz's color was just absolutely stunning to and he was a sweet horse. He was adopted and found dead by his adopters.

BEHS 244 - U.B. Josh

Rainbow Bridge December 2009

1982 grade gelding

U.B. Josh was surrendered to BEHS when his owner was investigated for neglect. He slowly regained weight and became a sweet and friendly boy. He died of old age while in a foster home.

? 2005 Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society. All rights reserved

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College Station, TX 77841-0632
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