The Escambia Five
In December 2007, these five horses were rescued out of a group of 14 horses. These were the worst. Four more were boarded there and the owner has picked them up.
Rolla and Pretty Boy are Standardbreds that were once raced on the track (pulling a cart). The other are Tennessee Walkers. There are still five horses left and they are being monitored very closely by PER investigators.
The owner of these horses voluntarily surrendered the five to avoid going to court and possibly losing the others. We feel that he had too many horses to be able to give them all the care they needed because of a financial hardship and not having enough barn space and turnout.
We hope that by working with him, he'll be able to keep the ones he has left. Time will tell.
03/31/08 Update: Pretty Boy was adopted by L. Barden of Pensacola.
06/22/08 Update: Junior has been adopted by A. Harris of Cantonment, FL.
10/22/08 Update: Rolla has been adopted by the Radcliff's of Molino, FL.
12/08 Update: Firecracker was adopted by the DeGraafs of Cantonment, FL.
From Panhandle Equine Rescue --the story of "Firecracker" from his foster parent, Cindy, who volunteers her time and talents to foster and train Panhandle Equine Rescue horses: "A lot of people ask me about Firecracker every week since he came into my life. Firecracker was not my first rescue horse, nor will he be my last. To all of you who ask me about him and wonder what has become of him, I want you to know that today he went to his new home. He has been under the care of the rescue since December 2007. He is one of their greatest success stories and was even on the news in October. When I said goodbye to him ("The Dude", as I have been calling him for some time now), and Diane said thanks so much for taking him, I got to thinking: it is great what we can do for these animals, but beyond that, what he has done for me.. So to anyone who has ever loved an animal, this is for you. Tonight, as I feed my girls, there is an empty spot in my barn. I listen to their soft nickers and I realize someone is missing. The tears I feel forming are not of sadness but of joy. Firecracker has finally found his forever home. Thanks so very much, Mike and Carol, because I know you love him. Like so many other rescue horses that will come, and to those that have already gone, Firecracker will always hold a special place in my heart. Of course, much thanks to Panhandle Equine Rescue and Diane Lowery for giving the little starved stallion a second chance."
Pictures below show Firecracker on 11/20/07.
Pictures below show Firecracker on 12/21/08.
