[Chaotic_Affection]

Username: Chaotic_Affection
Barn: Paradise Valley.
Promt:

Nevah tapped the leather cover of the steering wheel along with the beat of a song, her rescued greyhound, Freya, in the passenger seat, her narrow muzzle out the window. The two were heading home from picking up her trailer from a friend who had borrowed it. After the song switched to another one, Nevah changed the channel, stopping at a particular one, the voice on the radio informing the people about a busted illegal breeding operation. Freya looked at her human as Nevah listened, shaking her head.
• • •
Pulling the silver Ford and trailer into a spot, she hopped out, pushing through the crowd, Freya hot on her heels. She'd already called the lady to inform them that'd she'd be participating, all she had to do was save some lives. Upon getting through the crowd she was able to see the man behind the situation, then the makeshift pens. Cupping a hand over her mouth, she cleared her throat at the emotional sight. The horses were nothing but skin and bone, their hips and ribs showed through their dusted and dirty coats.
• • •
As the last mare and the last few foals were guided out, the old barn creaked before a section of the roof and ceiling caved in. Furrowing her eyebrows - she spoke with a purpose, "Come on Freya," she patted the lithe dog and approached her first, frail horse.

[watercliff]

Username;; watercliff
Barn Link;; n/a
Write or draw about your experience coming to rescue;; Hunter had denied his sister to come with him, knowing that if he hadn't she'd have collected each and every horse to own and bring home. He found the place somewhat nice despite the heavy emotion in the air while looking at the horses; some caught his eye, some looked hurt, some angry.
He had left, only momentarily, to go to his truck and gather some things; his hat, a red rope halter that his sister had made, and a bag of treats which he secretly gave to the horses; offering reward to each horse he saw just for being so strong giving their situation, some were even slipped a second as they showed interest, their nervous frames stepping closer to the walls of their pens to sniff for another. Hunter immediately knew he had to take one home, no matter how much it might break his heart to leave another.

After a while he was preparing his trailer to hold a horse even though he still hadn't found 'the one'. Putting pool noodles over the rods as he had to with his own horses at home; they often pressed against them nervously and bothered their knees, so Hunter decided to play it safe and cover anything that could potentially be dangerous with soft materials. Then he went and cleaned up his saddle rack, putting everything into its compartments to make sure everything was neat and away; someone had come over to him, offering assistance which he graciously accepted. He and the other person filled the two small hay bags while exchanging names and numbers to keep in touch.

Hunter was happy that the people were kind and understanding here, all willing to help regardless of the heavy energy; he hoped, sometimes out loud to a horse, that each thoroughbred would find a loving home and get better.

Words: 308

[Kassypen]

Username;; Kassypen
Barn Link;; n/a
Write or draw about your experience coming to rescue;; My hands couldn't help but tremble as I signed my name on the permission form for adopting. I was adopter #326. The number gave me a moment of relief, for that meant so far 325 volunteers had already shown to help the poor horses of Fallen Oaks Farm.

The booth was set up by the designated parking lot, and about a quarter mile up from the barn. That meant I had a little while on top of the car ride to prepare myself for the horror that would soon lay out before me. Even though a large part of my heart would never heal if I saw the crumbling barn and even worse off horses, I knew I had to be there. I had to use my years of Euphorian Thoroughbred expertise to calm them and find them homes. Maybe I'd even bring some home with me. The most horrific and least likely to find homes. My facilities could easily take in the extra mouths, even the ones that couldn't do much else other then live out the rest of their lives in peace.

Then I rounded the corner.

The smell was the first thing I noticed. It smelled of old flesh and manure, but what blanketed even those was the smell of death. Not only of the actual animals that had passed on, but the feeling of many of these poor creatures just waiting for death. You could see it in their eyes, how they carried themselves, and how their heads seemed too heavy for their fragile frames. Even those being rescued looked like they didn't care.

That was what hurt the most. Like an icy shard that had driven itself deep into my heart. I quickly shook my head, trying to clear the fog that had filled it. There was a reason I was here, and it certainly wasn't just so I could sit and watch. That's when my feet took me right to the barn.

The sight was horrendous. The walls were bent outwards and there were pockets of the roof that had crashed down into stalls. Those horses had been taken out first, if they weren’t already dead. The roof sagged down and I couldn’t help but think it was because someone had opted for the cheap out, causing the roof to absorb water and slowly get closer to collapse with every rainstorm.

Suddenly a weak nicker came from the far corner. No one was around so I ran over quickly. Under a large wooden board was a foal’s leg, its owner trembling and weak. Tears rushed into my eyes and started to fall as I threw the wood off of the poor form and picked them up. They were tiny, clearly not old enough to be without a mother. That’s when I turned. His mother was to my right, and not breathing. I had to force myself not to throw up as I pulled the foal closer to my chest and ran them over to the nearest vet. {five-hundred and three words}

[Kosciusko]

Username;; Kosciusko
Barn Link;; N/A
Write or draw about your experience coming to rescue;; If a horse is in dire need, I'm practically bound. I simply could not stay away from Fallen Oaks. Pulling into Fallen Oaks Farm, I was instantly hit with the horror. Dams, foals, and stallions spewed out of the run down barn. Handlers rushing around in a desperate attempt to get terrified horses to safety. Just as I was getting out of the car, someone rushed me, hauling a lead rope at me. It wasn't until then it became clear to me that this wasn't like anything I'd ever seen before. I headed into the barn where the cries only got louder. I shuttered at the sight of them. Eight assorted foals crammed into one dank dark stall. It was there where I spotted him. A little scarlet coated colt. I knew he was the one. I waited as a cream filly was carried out of the stall, and a small colt reared in fear upon being caught. Soon it would be my turn. Stallion's squealed, as mares bellowed for their young. With all but one left, I gingerly approached the distracted colt, lulling to him so he knew that I was present. I placed a hand on his wither, and he softened to my touch.

[Cinxer]

Username;; babypizza
Barn Link;; N/A
Write or draw about your experience coming to rescue;;

James could feel his heart pounding so hard it felt it would break through his chest. His palms sweaty and clenched; how could anyone do this to these poor animals?
After hearing the news report on his car radio james rushed to the scene. As james stepped out of his 2001 like green mustang his nose was hit immediately with the putrid stench of what could only be described as rotting flesh. Flies were thick in the air making it even harder to see. He didnt quite know what to expect, but after one look at a mare being taken from its foal he knew he had to do something.
The winnies of tens, maybe even hundreds of neglected horses, pierced the cold night air. Everywhere he turned he saw the fearful eyes of horses being lead to safety. If only they knew the people were there to help end their suffering.
James grabbed a harness he kept in case of emergencies and proceeded to where it seemed several other volunteers were gathered. One thought running through his mind over and over again
"I want to help them all. What about the ones left behined?"
No. He wouldnt let any horse be left in this cruel environment.

207 words

[certified]

Username;;
certified
Barn Link;;
I have a barn, but I am a nonowner.
Write or draw about your experience coming to rescue;;
It was like any other day. I had gotten up, started coffee and turned on the news. I had just sat down and taken a sip when something had caught my attention. An illegal Euphorian Thoroughbred operation busted. The footage had shown police struggling to keep frantic mares and frightened foals calm. The next part had me jumping for the door. it read "Help needed" with an address. My trailer was already attached to my truck, as I had been checking out some horses, just a few days ago, arranging to pick one up. Lucky me, I thought as I grabbed a hair tie, and ran out the door.
As I arrived, I realized how much worse it was in person. I surveyed the area. Mares were frantic to find their foals, stallions were frantic to just get out of the chaos, a police officer had been kicked and was being hauled away in an ambulance while hundreds of people were rushing to try to fill out forms and help whatever horses they could.
I found the first person I saw, introduced myself quickly and asked what I could do to help. "Here," they handed me a piece of paper to fill out. An adoption form. handed it back after filling everything out.
I went and took my place, as people were directing horses every which direction, people loading their new, extremely dirty, tired, hungry horses up into trailers.

[ExVenor]

Username;; Half Tree
Barn Link;; n/a
Write or draw about your experience coming to rescue;: Tara drummed her fingers on the steering wheel in impatience, watching as someone clearly unused to a trailer tried to park while blocking everyone coming into the area. She was already annoyed at being late but her fiance was still recovering from a fall and she needed to find someone to help him care for their horses. Her mastiffs sat in the back Chacha quietly snoring while Oslo sat up and watched with attention. She hadn't needed to bring them along but felt that she needed some form of companion for the long drive in another country. Plus they were good guard dogs in an unfamiliar place they would guard the trailer on the drive back so no one felt tempted to take a peek inside.

When the dirty trailer finally pulled away to find a new spot to park out of the way she took a moment to stare on in surprise at the mayhem. Even being days behind the others there were still a lot of horses covered in mud and emaciated. Her chest hurt like her heart was suddenly pounds heavier with the despair permeating the air. Even sleepy Chacha sat up and took note of the change of mood.

Tara absently spins her engagement ring with her thumb once she is parked and watched for a few moments. People are crying, some looking the horses over with clear disgust at the conditions, but all of them are here for the same reason. A few drops of rain patter on the windshield as she goes to open the door and let the dogs out. They needed some time to stretch their legs while she figured out where to start helping.

She watches them run over to some grass for a moment before stepping into the front of the trailer. The little tack/feed room always had spare leads and halters and if she didn't have a halter to fit she also kept spare rope so she could fashion one herself. Tara fashions the spare leads into a kind of sash around her body to be out of the way and uses carabiner clips to put a halter on both hips through the belt loops on her jeans. Ready to work she calls the dogs back to the truck, putting them into the spacious covered bed of the truck so they'd be out of the rain and slides the side windows open so they could stick their heads out. After one last fortifying breath she marches forward to find out what she can do and how to adopt some of these gorgeous horses.

[ThePonyQueen]

Username;; ThePonyQueen
Barn Link;; Starry Nights Stables
Write or draw about your experience coming to rescue;;

Starry Nights Farm is well known for being a functioning animal sanctuary specializing in horses, and we often receive calls about taking in animals in need of a home. One morning, we received a call regarding the thoroughbreds and their situation. It took us a few days to find the time to make the drive down to the stables, the three of us piling into the old green pickup and hitching the 4-horse trailer to the back. We sped our way down an old dirt road to the given address to see a run down farm surrounded by police tape and horse trailer. Everything was covered in dirt and grime, and the sounds of distress led us into the area where the horses were being held. The sheer amount of animals being kept in such a run down space was shocking, and we got to work in aiding volunteers with medical care and assessing the damage. There were a lot of people here to help, but in any way we could we wanted to ease their burden as much as possible.

While a bit late due to work, we're fully prepared to take in some of the remaining stragglers! No one should be left behind, and we'll always find a way to make space for those in need.

[Kassypen]

Username;; ThePonyQueen
Barn Link;; Starry Nights Stables
Write or draw about your experience coming to rescue;; -snip-

Username;; Kosciusko
Barn Link;; N/A
Write or draw about your experience coming to rescue;; -snip-

To adopt you both must raise your word count to at least 200!

[ThePonyQueen]

updated, sorry about that!