New life for rescued Hope
If you love horses and charity, you have to visit the Happy Hooves Horse Orphanage just outside Krugersdorp.
Meet Hope and Ruby, the newest edition to the Happy Hooves Horse Haven, an orphanage for retired, abused, abandoned, neglected and unwanted horses.
It was not the best day for Hope when the News visited the haven on 24 February, as she had miscarried earlier that morning.
Annerie Graham, managing member of the nonprofit organisation, told the News Hope had been in such a neglected state that they did not even know she was pregnant.
Happy Hooves was started by Annerie and her husband five years ago, and has since grown to the point where Annerie left her job to take care of the horses on a full-time basis.Since the early days of the horse orphanage, the pair have opened a charity shop on the plot and a sewing centre. Fly masks, horse blankets and day sheets are among the items the sewing centre makes to generate extra income for the horses. “This is our passion, it is all about the horses.”
Hope and Ruby were rescued from a farm in Mooinooi after they were neglected severely by the owner.
Days later a significant change in the horses’ attitudes and their bony bodies became visible. It takes up to six weeks for them to recover fully.
“It is incredible how much trust both Hope and Ruby have built with us in a matter of days,” said Annerie as she strokes Hope.
Tracey Rob, one of the Happy Hooves volunteers, told the News how well the two horses were responding to humans.
The haven currently houses a total of 28 rescued horses whom they love and care for out of their own pockets.
A cute little guy, a mini-horse – not a pony – who goes by the name of Hooligan, was camera shy as he kept hiding behind his two friends.
Tracey who has been spending a lot of time at Happy Hooves told the News that had it not been for Annerie and her husband, the horses would have been dead by now.
Although Hope lost a foal, she has been showing signs of recovery and was playing a carrot game with the Tracey.
Amazed by the horse’s intelligence, the news watched as Hope kept picking the hand holding the carrot.
While playing with Hope, Ruby sneaked into the stable and got hold of the bag of carrots next to Tracey.
“Ruby you naughty girl,” laughed Annerie.
For more information about the horse haven visit www.facebook.com/happyhooveshorsehaven or contact Annerie on 078 740 2696.
