Helena Independent Record, December 3, 2004
Ranch has new vision thanks to blind horse
By MARTIN J. KIDSTON, IR Feature Writer - 12/03/04
OVANDO — Even in the end, Beauty, the blind horse, inspired
big dreams. The Kentucky mare that overcame adversity at the
Rolling Dog Ranch, located here in the mountains of Western
Montana, passed away this summer, leaving behind a horse-sized
legacy that continues to unfold.
Photos courtesy of Rolling Dog Ranch - ‘Beauty,' a Kentucky mare, passed away recently. However, her legacy lives on. She helped inspire a Web site that's quickly becoming a leading resource for the care of blind horses. She also helped launch a barn-building campaign at the Rolling Dog Ranch. |
"She had a stroke that left her disabled in her hind quarters," said Alayne Marker, who helped found the Rolling Dog Ranch with her husband, Steve Smith. "She was still trying to eat her apples and carrots, even when she was down in her stall."
Inspired by Beauty, the Rolling Dog Ranch launched a Web site focusing on the care of blind horses. The site includes information on eye diseases, inspirational stories, and a growing collection of articles submitted by veterinarians across the country.
Even Laura Hillenbrand, author of the New York Times bestseller, "Seabiscuit: An American Legend," has posted an article, "Leading the Blind."
"I think Beauty's story helped inspire people to write us, and we're amazed at how many letters we've gotten," Marker said. "We're becoming a resource for the care of blind horses. Blind horses can have quality of life — being blind is not a death sentence for a horse."
Aside from the Web site, the Rolling Dog Ranch has embarked on another lofty goal.
The Rolling Dog Ranch hopes to raise $82,000 for this new medically equipped barn, 'Beauty's Barn,' to aid in the care of blind horses. |
Marker and her husband hope to raise $82,000 to build a new medically equipped barn suited for the care of blind horses and other animals.
So far, $10,000 has been raised for the project. As news of the effort spreads, donations have increased.
Blueprints for "Beauty's Barn" call for seven stalls and two storage areas. Two of the stalls will be insulated and heated to fend off freezing temperatures. The facility will allow blind horses to remain at home for medical treatment, reducing the ranch's frequent trips to city veterinary clinics.
"We had to run IV fluids to Beauty for two weeks," Marker said. "We could do this because it was August. But in an unheated barn in the winter, the IV fluids would have frozen."
The Rolling Dog Ranch, which cares for more than 70 "unwanted" animals, is expecting its newest blind horse any day.
Already, the facility houses 11 blind horses, including Faith, who was saved from a Salt Lake City slaughterhouse, and Nikki, a young foal from New Jersey.
Like Beauty, Nikki's story is a dramatic one.
Displeased with having bred a blind horse, the owner looked to send Nikki to a medical research facility. A neighbor intervened and contacted a rescue group, which searched in vain to find the foal a new home. They finally contacted the Rolling Dog Ranch and asked for help.
"While we were working out transport, Nikki's owner grew impatient and gave us a week's ultimatum to get the four-month old foal off the property, or she'd go to medical research," Marker said. "A Pennsylvania horse-rescue stepped in, rushed to New Jersey to get Nikki, and cared for her until our transportation arrived."
Now, Marker said, the ranch is looking for a trainer, one willing to accept the challenge of working with Nikki.
Every horse at the Rolling Dog Ranch has a story. But it was Beauty who brought attention to the plight of blind horses around the country.
Taken from a neglectful owner, Beauty found residence at the Boone County Animal Shelter in Burlington, Kent. The horse spent six months at the shelter but was never adopted.
It was then that a story appeared in the Cincinnati Inquirer, telling how the Rolling Dog Ranch was willing to accept the horse if somebody could bring it west.
Mary Wolfe and her family read the story. They were due for a trip anyway, and had never been to Montana. When they came west, they brought Beauty with them.
The horse spent the next year living the good life at the Ovando ranch. That is, until her medical problems caught up to her. Even in the end, Marker said, Beauty continued to inspire.
"She loved it when people came to visit," Marker said. "She came alive and grew animated when the children came around. It really struck people how wonderful she was with kids. It made you wonder what her past was. She was always so gentle."
Marker added, "It's amazing the number of calls we get from people every week, asking if we can take their blind horse. I can really understand their concerns. It's nice to be able to write them back now, saying there's a resource for this. Look what Beauty helped us inspire."
