FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
SIDELINES FEBRUARY 2013 65
part in the program. On the frst day of the session, the physical
characteristics and visible scars of the blind horses proved to be a
miracle in disguise. Sandy instructed each pupil to select a horse
and every participant chose a blind horse. “The kids could relate
to the trauma the horses had gone through,” she said.
Seven of the nine blind horses at Refuge Farm have had their
eyes removed. Hollie, a Morgan-Tennessee Walker cross, was
brutally beaten to such an extent that the kill buyer was called by
a rescue organization. Once again, the kill buyer decided to take
Hollie to Refuge Farms frst to see if she could be saved instead.
She was trembling and covered in cuts and welts. She had her
eyes, but it was obvious that she could not see.
Hollie, dubbed the “kill pen mare,” kept running into fences
and breaking them and Sandy was questioning her decision to
keep her because she was worried she may tragically kill herself.
Surprisingly, it was Helen a Saddlebred, who saved Hollie. She
gave a low nicker and when Helen nickered back, Sandy decided
to put them in a corral together. Helen became Hollie’s guardian.
Once Hollie’s eyes were removed, she became very calm and
now Helen and Hollie are inseparable. Helen, by the way, has
given herself the duty of patrolling the blind herd at night by
walking around them to keep guard, even though she is blind.
Sandy asserts, “Blindness is just a condition. It’s like being tall,
short, blond, brunette.”
No matter how diffcult the case, the determination in Sandy’s
voice is obvious; horses that were once considered “broken” are
given another chance in life at Refuge Farms. And so are humans.
“These horses are fantastic grief counselors. We have many
opportunities to use them,” Sandy said. Blind horses have a keen
sense of smell and can smell adrenaline and energy; thus, giving
indicators of what the kids aren’t telling. “An hour in our barns
gives us much fodder for uncovering fears and pains hidden deep,
deep within these young hearts,” Sandy said.
Refuge Farms is determined to continue the “Horses Helping...”
program, and are hoping to build a pole building that will serve
as an indoor arena. The building would enable them to offer
classes year-round and continue to make a difference in the lives
of equines and humans. (Please contact them if you are able to
make a donation.)
The words of Sandy’s late friend Andy constantly echo in her
mind: “Make a difference.” It is evident that she is doing just that.
To learn more about Refuge Farms, contact Sandy Gilbert at
(715) 772-3379 or visit www.RefugeFarms.org.
All photos courtesy of Refuge Farms
PONY, right, who has a mind of his own, with his lady friend
Alexius.
Michael Schuler, a member of the frst graduating class of
“Horses Helping...” with Helen, the horse who made a difference
in his life.
A group of blind horses from Refuge Farms gather in the corral
as they wait for the “Horses Helping…” class to start.
Helen stands with a young participant in the “Horses Helping…”
class. Helen is blind and a wonderful inspiration for the people in
the program.