Saturday, September 04, 2010

Twin Peaks RESCUE!

DEAR READERS,
Palomino Armstrong, "mom" to Chilly Pepper the Miracle Mustang, puts her hands where her heart is. Today she's fighting Death for a foal from the Twin Peaks round-up.
Palomino & husband Matt were supposed to leave on their delayed honeymoon (the first one was spent saving Chilly Pepper)today. Instead, HONEY BANDIT is stealing their hearts. And their honeymoon fund. I will post Palomino's journal today & tomorrow. Terri
THURSDAY
3 a.m. Am I crazy getting up this early to drive to a roundup that I know is going to break my heart? At least my friend Jennifer is coming along.
4 a.m. Driving fast as I dare toward TWIN PEAKS, not wanting to get a ticket or take a chance on missing the round up. We fly down the highway, through the darkness, towards the unknown.
6 am We missed it. In the dark, we drove right past BLM's Litchfield facility, but a BLM staffer says we might be able to catch the "crew".
6:30 We see some of the most beautiful country in California. It's harsh beauty, stretching as far as we can and then some. A perfect place for wild horses -- but all that's left are the lonely echo of their footprints.
7:30 am Finally, we turn around and head back to Litchfield -- still feeling there's something we have to do here.
(time gets crazy after this)
I was out of the car for about 2 seconds when I heard something about a "foal". Office staff confirms there's a 1-2 month old whose mommy had dried up.
I had "gut feeling" that tells me every minute counts. Without going out to see the foal, I offered the help of Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang, Equine Rescue & More. That would be me.
Negotiations began.
"It seems like having someone who would put in the time to help that baby live is the most logical, solution to the problem," I coaxed BLM.
Quietly, Jennifer asked, "Don't you want to see it first?"
I just smiled and said, "Nope", because when you rescue you don't "choose"; you take which ever one needs you.
But BLM wanted me to take a look before I committed. Here's HONEYBANDIT --

--covered in bites from his head,down to his tail, and everywhere else, and emaciated. His eyes held the look of a baby who had known the worst kinds of evil and given up.
BLM staff said Honey Bandit had been rounded up 2 weeks ago. They figured his mother's milk had dried up -- but they couldn't find her to show me.
When he tried to nurse from other mares,their babies objected with bites and kicks.
Now, he was starving. And he was mine.
I called my husband and he was on his way. I helped Honey Bandit to the trailer. At first, it looked like things might be okay.

Labels: Honey Bandit, Palomino Valley, Twin Peaks

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Posted by Terri Farley @ 10:03 AM

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Comments: Wow Mrs. Farley,

That is such an amazing and heartfelt story. You put to words experiences that only mustang lovers up here, further in the states without a wild horse to be found,can dream of.

How I envy Honey's protectors and the work that they do. Now I shouldn't say envy, I should say I'm inspired to do the same some day.

Rach
  Your're a saint. You just amaze me every time you save a little heart.

That is why I'm moving to Nevada when I'm old enough. I agree with Rach, that down here where there is not a single wild horse to be found, we are inspired by what you do.

If I could just adopt all of them I would .

-Young At Heart
  I'm no saint, but my friend Palomino comes pretty close!
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