WECOME TO EPONA's STORY: EQUINE PROTECTON OF NORTH AMERICA

Photos taken by Carole Shaw visiting E.P.O.N.A. on Saturday October 7, 2006

Meet THOR (most recent rescue) and Annie Surman, one EPONA's dedicated Horse Volunteers taking care of many other horses with Pat who also volunteers on weekends. Here Thor is being led from his paddock over to spend his Saturday evening ritual with Katie (21 yr-old thoroughbred) also rescued with Thor after the family they were with voluntarily surrendered their care over to EPONA's loving arms. One of the new four rescues (and it might have been Katie) was found wondering down the road and that is how the other three were found in need of rescuing as they were not being properly fed, watered, and cared for as needed. First time out seeing Thor, he was rather lethargic or may have been tired and bored. But second time out two weeks later, seeing him again and photographing him was quite a different experience. He was very lively, alert, BARBARO-like, and actually recognized me with treats and camera in-hand and stomped at the paddock gate with my coming and leaving.

THOR's attention is momentarily captured by the playfulness of Petey and Guy, EPONA's two two year old thoroughbreds. GUY who is AKA JAKE due to a name error is the black premarin mare's colt in the J.E.R.O.N.A. (Joint Equine Rescue Operations of North America) you see at the very end. To see the enlarged full screen version, please visit our BARBARO AMBASSADORs GROUP PAGE and scroll one-third down to see THOR's PHOTO. Just click on the link under his photo and ENJOY. Please note, the page there is under construction and it may require a complete separate link as it expands. We ask all our BARBARO ambassadors who sponsor, adopt, or volunteer working with horses in all capacities to donate/contribute to the development of this new project. We need to be ready to deal with passage of S. 1915 and ensuring all rescue operations work together funding, sponsoring, and finding new homes for the saved horses.

THOR (EPONA's newest 16-year-old Artic White PERCHERON gelding enjoys snorting leaves away as he grazes on some grass in his paddock after feeding time. For now, due to severe nutrition he is on three small meals which includes soaked grains, beet pulp, small carrots, and cut-up apple slices. But he really loves those flex cookies. He gets them with his morning meals.

Photos & Design by Cle Shaw

We decided on sponsoring THOR because of my grandfather's farm of 100 acres in Hilltown, Pennsylvania had a couple of Percheron Drafts which they used to for plowing and work on a farm with no tractor. Although, they were brown and couple of others were black, still fell for THOR...maybe because of our Norwegian and English heritage. According to my father, he preferred having a horse named after him as it's easier to remember. He does remember Belgian draft horses, a couple of Stallions and Thoroughbreds thrown into the mix of cows and chickens plus 150 pigs after speaking with him tonight. He did say that they always made sure the horses and other animals were well-fed and loved and they never sent to slaugther any of their horses. That's a good memory at 88 years-old. He also said that he was very happy we sponsored THOR. White Percherons like THOR can be seen at Betsy LaMere Photography-Draft Horses.