Oh my Gosh, where to begin????!!!

First off:  A very important event happening tomorrow:  Saturday April 7, 2012      

  For all that can, please show your support and attend.

•Saturday, April 7th, 6-10 pm

•Ice House Café, Evergreen (next to the Little Bear Saloon)

Harmony for Horses

Received via email:

Monika’s Own Message:

RE: Story Evergreen Benefit Concert / Harmony for neglected horses

The story of “Little Big Man” and his herd who were starved was on Channel 7 News, and was published in 4 papers up here after I raised a campaign and am organizing the benefit concert.

My main incentive with this is to create awareness of the current economic hardships and/or skyrocketing hay prices which are most often the cause for such tragedies. I want people to learn and understand that help is available, one just has to ASK. Starving horses are everywhere…. the calls never stop.

I would appreciate your help to get this out down the hill – as my message and the reason why we are doing this concert are equally important to me as raising the funds.

I evacuated the little colt from the wild fire in Conifer on Tuesday. The first crisis in his young life was starvation, twice, then fire.

Local musicians are lending their talent to perform and it should be a good evening, next to the Little Bear !

Cheers,

Monika Courtney, Evergreen

Hello all,

We are organizing a benefit concert / silent auction in Evergreen for horses which were found in severe neglect and advanced starvation on a ranch in Bailey, in February. The story of these horses is a sad one, yet the surviving colt is an inspiring tribute - restoring faith in a community of horse people, veterinarians and other caring folks.

Slide show :http://pix.kg/p/416168114214%3A811361237/scl    February 16, 2012

http://www.theflume.com/news/first_five/article_f93970a6-6a3b-11e1-b70d-001a4bcf6878.html#user-comment-area    March 9/16, 2012

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/30486436/detail.html  February 17, 2012

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/30687423/detail.html  March 15, 2012

A 2 year old colt, Little Big Man, was found near death and too weak to lift his head. He was moved on slings to Dr. Ashleigh Olds, Aspen Creek Large Animal Clinic in Conifer, where he was rehabilitated for a month. He went to a loving adoptive home last week. For another horse help came too late. The remaining five are being nursed back to health, and I can only hope they will go to a better place and people who commit to their well being and happiness.

Local musicians have stepped up to lend their talents to raise funds for the vet care. This is an appeal to the equine community to come together and show support. We may never know for what reasons these horses had to suffer to such great lengths. But what we do know as responsible horse folks - this is not acceptable, it is a travesty and can be prevented, if one only asks for help. The claimed “mystery condition” causing their weight loss mysteriously disappeared when the horses were fed. With skyrocketing hay prices and challenging economic times, hardships or crisis can strike any of us. Yet to subject defenseless animals to such cruelty is a black mark against humanity, especially when horses, on whose back this nation was built, are the victims.

The little colt, now called Spencer, is a testimony to the attributes of those who cared and intervened in just the nick of time. He is a symbol of hope; a reminder that animals are fellow creatures who deserve our respect and contribution. When human err, failure or ignorance are the cause of unspeakable suffering such as what this colt and his herd had to endure – there is something seriously wrong.

It is my hope that you will come to our concert, check out our silent auction and meet other like minded people. It is my wish, that this tragic situation in Bailey will set a precedent of consciousness in our equine communities to prevent other horses from such suffering, that help is available in form of local rescues, vets, hay banks and a strong network of horse folks. Info will be available at event.

We can remain vigilant, learn from the past and move forward to a better world for horses when we refuse to accept this kind of pattern and mind set. And we must speak up and take action, when those responsible or assigned to protect animals in dire need fail to do their job in a timely manner.

I hope to see you at our concert. If you wish to donate, please see our facebook invite page for contact (paypal Harmony Horseworks, mention Bailey horses) or to donate to our silent auction. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Monika Courtney

http://www.hightimbertimes.com/content/concert-help-neglected-horses

Concert to help neglected horses

Funds to be used for veterinary fees

By Gabrielle Porter

Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 9:03 am

” An Evergreen animal rescuer is putting on a benefit concert to cover the veterinary bills of six emaciated horses seized in February in the Bailey area by Park County authorities.”

Chance was one of six horses taken from Echo Valley Ranch in Bailey to an undisclosed location.

Evergreen resident Monika Courtney’s April 7 event already has garnered feedback from a community wanting to help, she said.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/30687423/detail.html  March 15, 2012

A 2 year old colt, Little Big Man, was found near death and too weak to lift his head. He was moved on slings to Dr. Ashleigh Olds, Aspen Creek Large Animal Clinic in Conifer, where he was rehabilitated for a month. He went to a loving adoptive home last week. For another horse help came too late. The remaining five are being nursed back to health, and I can only hope they will go to a better place and people who commit to their well being and happiness.

“So far the interest is pretty amazing,” Courtney said. “It’s been a very good response.”
Musicians including Streams of Eden, Steve Stoddard and 3 Legged Dog will perform, and a silent auction will help raise funds to pay the horses’ medical bills. The event starts at 6 p.m. April 7 at the Ice House in downtown Evergreen. Suggested donation is $10.

Emaciated horses at Echo Valley Ranch
The six horses were taken from Echo Valley Ranch in Bailey on Feb. 23 after Routt County authorities called the Park County Sheriff’s Office, said Park County Undersheriff Monte Gore.
Horse owners Ron Swift and Randal Hatlee have each been charged with three counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty and will appear in Park County Court, Gore said.
Routt County officers were checking on a previously abused horse they had sent to the ranch and were concerned about the gaunt appearance of several horses. Park County sent code enforcement officers to investigate.
While other horses on the property looked healthy, six appeared to be underfed, according to Gore.
Since being taken into custody at undisclosed clinics, the horses have been doing well. They each gained anywhere from 10 to 72 pounds in 15 days, which points to the theory that they were underfed, Gore said.
“At this point (the horses) appear to be malnourished,” Gore said. “As we feed them and care for them, they are putting on weight.”

Any amount helps
Courtney said she doesn’t know how much the horses’ veterinarian fees will be, but she knows they will be substantial.
“I don’t know what the situation was and why they were in such bad shape … but I just want to reach out to the community and say, ‘Hey, this happens more often than not,’ ” Courtney said. “No animal should be compromised like this. We have a responsibility.”

Benefit concert
6 p.m. Saturday, April 7, at the Ice House in downtown Evergreen
Local musicians, coffee and a silent auction
$10 donation suggested

Contact Gabrielle Porter at Gabrielle@evergreenco.com or 303-350-1043. Check www.HighTimberTimes.com for updates.