The Sinking of the Skokka is part of the long running legendary story of the famous St. Leger’s Rescue Horse. For more than twenty years, St. Leger’s rescued horses have been neglected, mistreated, and forced to compete in race after race in the Carolinas and New Jersey. Then, the owners of the horses went bankrupt and the horses were sent to pasture. There, they languished, living out their days on the pasture or the swimming pool. Then, fate struck…a local veterinarian who saw the neglected horses and realized they had a chance at being saved, devised a plan that would change the lives of the poor horses for good.
The rescue group first went to the horses’ pastures to see if the owners had any ideas on how to care for them. They found that each of the horses was so abused, they had no desire to be ridden again. Then they began work trying to raise the money to buy the animals. By the time the group got its money, the St. Leger’s Rescue Horse had been adopted, and the horses found a new home at an animal shelter in Scotch Plains, New Jersey.
When the group started out their rescue mission, it had just two full-time employees. As word of the organization’s work spread, more people were helping to give these poor horses a second chance. Today, the group has expanded to over thirty-nine people dedicated solely to caring for the animals. They have also added support staffs to handle requests for help as well as to answer questions that new volunteers may have.
If you want to volunteer with the St. Leger’s rescue team, you are encouraged to get as much information about the animals as possible. You can learn about the history of the rescue, how the horses were rescued, and what the requirements are for adoption. You can also sign up online to be informed of events and upcoming fund raisers. Once you complete the application packet, you will be mailed your rescue card.
When you adopt a horse from the St. Leger’s program, you will be given paperwork that will allow you access to the horses. The paperwork includes the name of the animal, address, and contact details. You will also receive a sheet of the horse’s history, including any veterinary treatment. The shelter will ask that you pay a minimal fee to join the rescue team, but this fee is waived if you bring the animal directly to the shelter. Even then, the fee will go towards the ongoing care of the horse.
To care for the St. Leger’s horses, the rescue team will supply you with all of the equipment that you will need to care for the animals. These include blankets, food and water dishes, shoes, harnesses, lunches, and feed. Because they live so far away from their families, most rescue horses do not have any toys or special treats. In order for them to be happy and healthy, you must provide them with plenty of horse-related activities, like riding time, play time, and exercise time. These activities build up their muscles and tendons. The more of these you provide to your horse rescue, the more quickly you will see the results.
Before you adopt a horse from the St. Leger’s program, you should visit the farm where it is located. This will give you a better sense of whether or not the environment is suitable for a horse. The horses are fed at the rescue barn, so you should find a clean space. The location should also be free of insects and ticks.
The care for the animals at the St. Leger’s shelter is excellent. They provide vaccinations on a regular basis, and they treat the animals gently. They keep their living areas clean and free of clutter. Anyone who adopts a horse at the shelter is called a foster parent. Their job is to look after the horses while you are away. If you are able to make it to the rescue when you visit, you may want to consider adopting a horse from them.