 A Miracle Amidst the Tragedy Tribute to the volunteers Recap of the Davison Rescue Pictures of the Davison Horses A Miracle Amidst the Tragedy ...................... Monday, February 16, 1998 was a very dark day for all of us involved in rescuing and caring for the 57 Davison horses. On that day a group of veterinarians and their assistants humanely euthanized 15 of the 57 horses rescued by Horses' Haven and the Michigan Anti-Cruelty Society. This action was taken only after a team of equine practitioners, farriers and orthopedic specialists concluded that these horses were in severe, chronic pain and had no reasonable hope for leading a pain free existence. The primary reason for this pain was the irreversible disfigurement of the bone structure in their feet and legs, that came about as a result of the long-term neglect they were subjected to prior to their seizure in late December. We knew there was no alternative, but that didn't make it any easier and the tears flowed on that dark day.
Her mom is only three, was undernourished when she came to us and laid down almost the whole first week she was with us. We didn't even know she was pregnant until she was treated for colic and the vet found the baby while doing an exam. She was overwhelmed by the whole experience of foaling, and wasn't sure at first what she was supposed to do. The filly was tiny and weak and didn't want to get up much at first to nurse, it was just too much effort. Dr. Engers and volunteers milked the mare and bottle-fed the foal the first hours, then started coming out every few hours round the clock to get the filly up to nurse. We did this for three days and two nights until the filly got her strength and started nursing regularly on her own.
She doesn't have an official name yet, but among the volunteers at the barn there is an unofficial "name the baby" contest going on to find a name that best suits her. She'll probably end up with several names, as everyone will have their own special name for her.
She came at one of our darkest moments and was truly a miracle for all of us, giving us something to hold onto and reaffirming the gift of life.
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Then our tears of sorrow turned to tears of joy when in the early hours of Tuesday, February 17th, Auntie Em gave birth to a beautiful little bay filly. She was tiny, but the light of joy she brought with her to a lot of heartbroken people was huge and bright.
She shows improvement every day and is even trying to eat big horse food now with mom. Her little personality is coming out and it is almost impossible to keep from spoiling her, she's such a cute little thing. She likes to run around her mom bucking, and even though she only gets a few inches off the ground with her long wobbly legs, she thinks she's hot stuff.
We know she wouldn't have had a chance if she had been born in the little shelterless, manure filled pen in which her mother had suffered at the farm in Davison. The specialized attention she required would have been ignored and her little spirit would never have been allowed to soar.