Sad News from The Ranch...

Dearest Volunteers -

It is with heavy hearts that we must share news from yesterday at the ranch.  

As the herd bore witness and the eagles flew, two horses in our herd were laid to rest, Sonny and Carmel, and they were buried overlooking the river where they will forever be with us.

Sonny had been showing increasing signs of distress in his human interactions, alternately cuddling with and then lashing out at those in his corral.  Possibly the result of past trauma, or a brain injury or tumor, his anxiety existing in this world of people was becoming increasingly difficult for him.  Training and health care efforts in the time he was in our care only exacerbated his symptoms, and we chose instead to allow this senior gentleman to find the peace he likely had not had in his life in quite some time.

Carmel was suffering from increasing immobility and pain in her hind legs, which was beginning to make it difficult for her to get up after lying down. With snow and ice imminent, we felt it important to let Carmel leave this world with the energy and nobility she carried every day, rather than let her suffer undignified struggles in even more challenging conditions. 

These decisions are never easy, but we rest assured knowing that these two incredible animals are no longer battling their respective challenges just to get thru another day. They now run free of any kind of pain, a part of an incredible herd of horses that MVHR is honored to have known and cared for. 

With gratitude for all that each of you do for all of the horses while they are in MVHR care, and with sorrow at having to share this news…

Best,

Shana M Devins
Mountain Valley Horse Rescue
(970)376-1743

Carmel

Sonny