FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2012 35
Halters bought for Minnie and Mouse by donors. Finally they have a real
identity.
Photos by Carolyn Sanders, unless noted otherwise
.
A photo of Mouse’s back
in the trailer at pick up.
Minnie upon intake – her head was covered
with sores.
a 16 year old horse would have. During this exam he
realized that her growth plates were still open, something
typically closed early by malnutrition. This circumstance
made us reconsider their ages. With further evaluation we
concluded Minnie was closer to one year old and Mouse
about six months to a year older. We started some anti-
infammatory medications, adjusted our feed routine and
shortly thereafter the limp stopped and has not recurred
again.
Moving ahead Minnie and Mouse were able to transition
onto a less strict and more realistic diet; the medications
slowly were diminishing. Minnie’s sores were now covered
in velvety fur and there was some spunk coming from
these girls! Their mysterious infections were no longer
showing their ugly heads and Minnie and Mouse were on
a roll to a normal healthy life.
The process of bringing these girls back to life is not one
that I will ever forget, nor will the people involved. We were
very fortunate to have Minnie and Mouse enter our rescue
and will always make sure they are safe and protected for
the rest of their long lives. Minnie is now two and Mouse
is coming three. They are robust, lively, sound, happy and
run with the herd of ponies side by side. They have spent
time apart when necessary but always remember each
other when brought back together. They are a literally a
miracle. My vets had never seen animals in such poor
condition make the turn around that Minnie and Mouse
made.
How The Rescue Started
In 2010, I created Sand Stone Farm’s Rescue Effort,
a Non Proft equine rescue in Michigan as a way to give
back to the horses for the unconditional help they give so
many, including me. I had started with one horse in need,
a few friends donating to help the horse and soon found
ourselves with a Facebook fan page, a Michigan Non
Proft status, an application to the IRS for a 501(c)3 along
with many supporters all over the world.
Rescue horses are in need of assistance however, they
are just that, horses rescued. They can do anything any
other horse can do and sometimes more! They give you a
sense of love that is hard to fnd, as they know you helped
them. They show children and adults a side to horses that
some may never see if the time isn’t taken to visit or work
with a rescue. It’s easy to just ride your horse; but to learn
about them from the inside is priceless. I hope that more
people will look at rescues for their horse purchases and
not attach the stigma that these horses are worthless,
used up and or lesser quality. Sand Stone Farm’s Rescue
Effort currently houses some amazing horses and ponies.
We have adopted out all over the USA and have some
showing upper level circuits while others are giving pony
rides to grandchildren. These animals deserve nothing but
the best and we won’t give them anything less.
Minnie and Mouse reside at the farm and welcome
visitors. Mouse is available for adoption and is being
ridden but is still green. Minnie will remain with us for a
while longer. An ideal home would adopt and love them
both together.
For more information and ways to help, please visit us at
Sandstonefarm.info
“My Story” is a frst person account of life in the equestrian
world. Would you like to write your story for Sidelines
Magazine? To be considered, send a brief description of
your story to editor@sidelinesnews.com.
About the writer: Carolyn Sanders, 38, resides in Michigan and has been
involved in horses since the age of 10. She grew up riding anything she could
along with grooming, showing and teaching camps in Hunt Seat. At 21, she
turned professional and from there took both riders and horses to the National
USEF levels. In 2010 she took a step back from teaching full time to pursue her
career as an aide to special needs children, working with private families. She
still enjoys every moment spent with the horses and continues to own several
as well as run the rescue.