Hi Everyone, My name is HHO Cherry.
I was found on a very cold and wet day in January, they came for me and my friends. As i stood shaking with fear in a field, nothing to eat and no access to fresh drinking water all i had was some mucky puddles, that day was the first day I saw the kindness in humanity.
They told me they were bringing me and my friends home, I didn’t really know what home meant but I took my chances. That night for the first time in a what felt like forever i lay down on a big bed of straw, I was so Hungry I couldn’t stop myself nibbling on it. They gave me some lovely fresh hay and fresh water to drink and even a few handfuls of delicious nuts. At that time I didn’t know what they were but I quickly learned and they were so yummy.
The next day, a nice man came to see me, he said he was going to fix my feet, They were very sore. I didn’t like this but I was too tired to resist, after I’d been fighting for my life all winter long. When I was finally fully dry they put a really warm rug on me, It was super snug. They also told me I was full of worms, I was a bit annoyed with them when they gave me this disgusting paste. A gentle hand told me I was going to be okay. I was so itchy too, they say that was lice. Again, they treated me for these itchy monsters. In a few days I started to feel much better.
Each day they came to me, some days a look of horror on their faces, other days sadness. After a little while I was strong enough to have a little walk around the yard and meet all the lovely animals they have rescued over the years, I often fought with the other horses around the feeder, each morsel seemed like it could be my last so i was trying to make the most of it. I couldn’t quite believe that every day someone fed us, someone comes to see us and the biggest thing someone cared.
So here I am in June, a whole 6 months since I arrived at HHO, every week, my appearance has changed for the better. I walk now with pride, they keep telling me that they always knew I would be stunning and if I do say so myself, I look and feel fantastic, 6 months ago I didn’t know if I could continue fighting for my life. Now I look forward to each day, finally I am happy and free of pain and misery.
I suppose the reason I am telling you all this, is often Team HHO don’t have time to get our stories out there. They continue to fight and rehabilitate us, giving us the best chance at life.
A head count today says there is over 183 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules in their care. Sometimes they have over 200 at one time.
Just today 5 more ponies and 1 donkey arrived, each one of them will need
Microchipping and Passporting (they tell me this is the law).
- Microchipping & Passports, @€50 each = €250
- Worming, Delousing, @€20 each = €120
- Farrier care, @€25 each = €150
- Dental (when needed), – @ €60
- Before they go home they’ll need vaccinations – @€30 each = €180
- The stallions will need to be castrated, – @ €100 each
And they need feeding for every week they spend in our care. A huge bill as you can see, this is all before they can even prepare to re home them.
In my ideal world, all their followers would donate €1, €2, €3, €4 or €5 euro, one coffee less a week and it would help HHO continue to help horses like me and the other 188.
Thank you for reading my story and I hope you’ll support the rehabilitation of other horses like me
