‘Here to Help Hotline’ Leads to Greener Pastures for Rescued Mare

By DARLA M. YOUNGS
COOPERSTOWN

For years, a good Samaritan watched two horses living in a pasture visible from his property, offering to help in any way he could when their owner eventually passed away last fall. One of the horses, a stallion, was sold and reportedly did not survive the winter. The second horse, a malnourished blind mare, found her way to the good Samaritan’s home, where she was fed and nursed back to health over the winter months.

As the kind-hearted man prepared to sell his farm and realized he would be unable to keep the mare—whose name is Buttercup, and who the good Samaritan later discovered to be pregnant—he sought help in turn from the Susquehanna Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

“He reached out via our Here to Help Hotline and ultimately decided to surrender Buttercup to us, knowing we have the expertise and resources to see that she is properly cared for until she can be placed in her forever home,” said Stacie Haynes, SQSPCA executive director.

One of those resources is a national network of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition—the ASPCA Right Horse program, of which the SQSPCA is a member. According to the Right Horse website, the program’s goal is “to massively increase horse adoption in the United States.”

“Buttercup is being boarded with Leatherstocking Equine Center in New Berlin until she has her foal, which we expect will be about a month from now,” Haynes explained. “After that, staff will assess adoption possibilities and, if there is no local match able to handle Buttercup’s medical needs, the SQSPCA will work through the Right Horse Program to place her.”

Buttercup has been diagnosed by Leatherstocking as having severe non-ulcerative keratitis, a degenerative disease which has resulted in blindness in both her eyes.

“She is extremely sweet, and once ready to leave the vet clinic, will need a very special owner who can manage her visual impairment,” Haynes said of the mare.

In the meantime, the SQSPCA is seeking contributions to assist in covering Buttercup’s boarding fees and medical costs, which could total in excess of $3,000.00.

“We are grateful for all the wonderful community support we have received in recent years that has enabled us not only to rescue horses in distress, but also to learn equine standards and best practices. We are also very thankful for our network of local partners, including the SQSPCA Farm Friends volunteer group, Leatherstocking Veterinary Services, the Otsego County Sheriff’s Department, and regional equine experts,” continued Haynes.

In addition to the ASPCA Right Horse program, Haynes praised the Humane Society of the United States for its ongoing guidance, but pointed out that those organizations do not provide funds toward the care of rescued horses.

“This case is a wonderful example of how our Here to Help Hotline can assist people and animals before it’s too late. In this instance, we had the capacity to help right away. In other situations, if the SQSPCA is unable to help directly, we will network and do our very best to make sure whoever is reaching out for help is able to get it,” Haynes said.

Those wishing to contribute toward Buttercup’s boarding and medical expenses can do so at https://www.sqspca.org/donate/.