Abby's Passing: Indiana Horse Rescue Sends Condolences

First Post of the Day

As I grieve Abby's death, I was surprised and comforted to hear from two women who were a part of Abby's adoption from Indiana Horse Rescue. Leslie has stayed in contact with them and had sent them a message Saturday night about Abby's loss.

Both women responded with messages of condolences. As many horses as they rescue and rehome, I was surprised to discover that they even remembered me. Here are some cut and pastes from their messages to me. (Shared with their permission.)

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A quiet moment together in September, 2019

Kathryn Caldwell, Director, Indiana Horse Rescue

Lynn,

Leslie messaged me about the storm last night and the loss of your two horses. I am so very sorry and please know that you are in all our prayers here at Indiana Horse Rescue. Melanie said you came in with Leslie to pick up her pony and you fell in love with one of our rescues. Thank you for opening your home and your heart to a rescued horse. We are all so sorry for your loss.

Melanie thought her name was Sassy. I love giving horses new names as it is a new beginning for them. Thank you for the photos. My heart just breaks for you. Thank you for loving her and introducing your grandkids to her.

I decided to send Kathryn the blog post about Puppy Eyes and Horsey Hips to read. She replied, 

That is definitely a horse telling you, you belong together. Such a magical day. I have heard plenty about those Indy horses that were seized. This is why we continue. The love we see in the horses and the people. She had twelve wonderful years with you!

And here is where I got really teary.

May I have permission to share your story? I would not include names or pictures, but sometimes people need an eye opener on what rescue really is. Hearing these stories sure reminds me why we do what we do!

Knowing that Abby's story will live on and help other horses in need makes my heart glad and helps my grief heal. Of course I said she was welcome to share my story. And, to use pictures of Abby if desired.

Even when treats were long gone, Abby always continued to hang out with me. If I was at the barn, she was at my side. June, 2019.

I also heard from Melanie, the woman who facilitated my adoption of Abby.

Melanie Masunas, Assistant Director, Indiana Horse Rescue

I immediately remembered you and Sassy/Abby. Adoptions are always special and memorable, and yours very highly.

Kathryn told me of the tragic loss last night, and I just sank. My most sincere condolences. My heart just broke in two, the two of you picked each other simultaneously. You adopting Sassy was so special. I loved the bond the two of you had at the get go. Just remember those twelve years, the love you gave, and that it was reciprocated.

I was bawling at this point.

Just know my heart is with you as you mourn. Losing such a friend is never easy. I lost my mare, my girl Honey, almost seven years ago and I still well up when I think or speak of her. It's never easy.

Just remember you gave Abby the best of the best. She came out of hell and you gave her the best life. And when it's your time, she will come running to greet you.

Love and Prayers!

Melanie

My horse's feet are swift as rolling thunder

He carries me away from all my fears

And when the world threatens to fall asunder

His mane is there to wipe away my tears.

~ Bonnie Lewis

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Kathryn and Melanie, thank you for reaching out to me. It meant a lot. And thank you for all that you do to ensure that mistreated horses and ponies find loving homes. You truly make a difference in our world. 

Volunteering at Indiana Horse Rescue

When not in the classroom teaching, our daughter Lisa is the girls' youth leader at church. She spends Wednesday evenings with the kiddos and helps them organize activities and service projects. Recently the girls requested doing a service activity with horses, and she knew exactly where to take them - Indiana Horse Rescue, Abby's old stomping grounds!

Saturday morning they made the drive south to Frankfort and were quickly put to work. They cleaned, they raked, they did whatever was needed. And, they got to groom!

Louise, a miniature horse who is a permanent resident of the rescue, loved all the attention that she received. Look at her lean into those brushes!

Melanie, the woman who worked with me during Abby's adoption process, was still there.

Mel remembered Abby from her time at the rescue when her name was Sassy. Lisa showed her some recent photos of Abby from Instagram so that Mel could see how she looks now, eight and a half years post adoption.

 When I'd learned that Lisa was taking her youth group down there for the day, I volunteered to come along and help. But, due to the pandemic, they were limited in the number of people that could go. I'm glad that Lisa sent me these photos so I could enjoy the visit from afar.

Melting My Heart - Redux

Nearly three years ago, I wrote a post called "Puppy Eyes and Horsey Hips." It was about an incident that happened with Abby when I was trying to decide if I should get her or not.

She and I were alone in the round pen at Indiana Horse Rescue, and she was initiating contact as she wandered the pen, culminating in coming over, cocking a hind leg in relaxation, and leaning a hip against me, then standing there with me contentedly as I spoke with one of the ladies in charge of adoption. (Go here to read the post.)

It melted my heart and was what ultimately led to me deciding to adopt her.

Fast forward to yesterday, and I had a similar experience with Abby melting my heart.

Usually when I arrive at the barn, I whistle or call Abby by name to let her know I am there. Yesterday, she saw my car arrive and came up without being called.

She was so happy to see me, she didn't wait for me to walk down to the gate; she came down the fence line to where I was getting out of the car.  So, we visited there, instead of at our usual meeting place.

Surprisingly, Diablo did not come with her. Nor did any of the other horses who will usually come over to say hello. Just Abby and me? That's fine by me!!

At this point, my heart was melting that she was so glad to see me. We visited a while, and then I had to leave as I needed to take my mother's clean laundry to her at University Place. So, I gave Abby a final pat, turned, and walked back to my car.

But she did not turn and walk back to the herd even though that final pat is routine and she knew I was leaving.

She simply stood and watched me until I left.

I love my horse.

Indiana Horse Rescue - Checking In

When I adopted Abby, Indiana Horse Rescue asked me to check in with them annually and let them know how Abby is doing. Here is this year's letter.

Hello,

This is my annual "check in" email that you asked I send you when I adopted my horse in 2012.

It has been two years since I adopted my beloved Abby (formerly known as Sassy to you.) She was one of the 19 Beech Grove horses that were rescued.

Abby is doing well! She is very gentle, especially with little children, and is happily roaming 9 acres of pasture with her BFF Diablo and five other horses. Her favorite treats are carrots, apples, and candy canes, and she comes when called, usually at a trot and sometimes at a canter.

She loves a good scratch on her chest and back, and she has no health issues or problems. Her formerly slippered hoof (one of the issues she had when you rescued her) is doing well as I have kept it trimmed.

Attached is a picture taken earlier this week of Abby with me.

My best,
Lynn Isenbarger

Abby's Annual Letter

The folks at Indiana Horse Rescue asked me to send them a yearly update on Abby when I adopted her. Since she and I just celebrated our first year together, I just sent them my first update. See below.

(The pictures I sent them of Abby getting her chest scritched, in the snow with me at the hayrack, and the photo Vanessa took of her walking and swishing her tail are already posted in this blog so I will not repeat them here.)

Hello, Melanie!

Hard to believe it has been a year since my sister, Leslie, and I took home Sassy (now known as Abby) and Coco. You'd asked for an update each year, and since Abby and I just celebrated our one year anniversary together, here you go.

She and I are very happy together, and she has herd mates to keep her company (Diablo, Dolly, Trouble, Hokey, Mason, and Persuasion.) She's out full time on fifteen acres, but has a barn she can go in and out if need be. I have had a saddle on her but have not ridden her yet. That flare she had when you rescued her has caused her to limp, and I did not want to aggravate it, choosing instead to be patient and let it heal. I have not seen her limp at a trot or canter for almost a month (good news!) but I still intend to wait and watch. I am in no rush to ride her.

Abby knows my car and comes to see me when I arrive at the barn, nickering as she does. She is very fond of carrots, apples, pears, and as we discovered quite by accident at Christmas, CANDY CANES. Unfortunately, my stash is all gone; next December I will lay in a couple of boxes of the mini ones and parcel them out over the year so she can have her favorite treat year round. :D

(A funny story. I am a teacher, and word got out in the teachers' lounge that I had a horse who likes apples and pears. Several teachers now share their lunch pears and apples with Abby, leaving them on my desk or in my school mailbox to take out to her after school!)

Her health is good and her disposition is wonderful. As you know, she has her sassy side, but I see that very rarely. She likes to hang out with me, sometimes just standing next to me while I talk to her. (As you can tell from the one picture, she loves to have her chest scritched!)

My kids and grandchildren have fallen in love with her. In fact, I am going to Florida to visit my son and his family in June. I was talking to my five year old grandson on the phone about what we would do while I was there and he said, "Grammy? Will you bring your horse?" I still smile at that, but it also shows how good she is with people. (I have a movie of Abby following my nine year old granddaughter around the pasture that is very dear to my heart.)

So, it seems as though Abby and I are a match made in heaven. I love her dearly, and feel blessed to have her. When I consider I only came down to your facility on a whim to help my sister find a horse for herself, I shiver that I might have missed out on such a wonderful animal.

Thanks for all the hard work you and the staff do on behalf of neglected horses. I am grateful to be a recipient of one of those wonderful rescues!

Best wishes!

Lynn

Pre-Adoption Pictures

I was online tonight looking at Indiana Horse Rescue's "Success!" site and found some pictures of Abby, a couple of which I had not seen.

This one was new to me. 

 As was this one. This looks like the Abby I know and love!

 This was her adoption picture on the web site when she was available.

Another one that is new to me. I really like this one.

As I look at these pictures of her, I am amazed someone did not snap her up before I found her!

Leslie's Horses

I was on the Indiana Horse Rescue site tonight and found some pictures that Leslie had sent in of her herd!

Skippy, Beau, and Coco out in the field.

 Leslie says that when she brought Coco to her farm, Beau and Skippy were like, "Hey! We got a pony! She got us a pony!!"

Coco at Indiana Horse Rescue. (He was one of the 19 horses rescued with Abby.)

 Prior to adoption by Leslie.

That's one fuzzy pony!