After 7 years at Last Chance Ranch (LCR), Annie, a 20-year-old Trakehner horse, is going to her forever home and her story is a unique one!
Leslie brought Annie and several other barn animals to LCR from New York due to tragically losing her sister (Pam) to cancer. With this loss, came the responsibility of finding homes for all her animals because Leslie could not afford to keep her sister’s farm.
Leslie and Annie
Pam had bred Annie at her farm and raised her from a foal, so there was a very special connection between them. Leslie felt she owed it to her sister to find a distinctive home for Annie. With her sister’s farm in the process of being sold, Leslie was desperate to find Annie a home and wanted to keep all the animals together because she knew that would be what Pam wanted. Annie is also prone to founder which means she cannot eat grass and as a result, made finding a home difficult.
After a diligent search, Leslie found LCR and was relieved because they would take all her sister’s animals! She was drawn to LCR because of its mission to rehabilitate all barn yard animals and place them into homes where they receive the love, attention and care they deserve. LCR also sponsors follow up programs, educational seminars, and clinics to ensure their continued wellbeing.
During this journey, Leslie decided to volunteer at LCR to keep an eye on Annie. Annie’s transition was not an easy one. She would get very attached to a companion horse and did not like to be independent or stay by herself. At times, she was difficult to handle because of her emotional state and insecurity.
The LCR staff tried many things to acclimate Annie and only the experienced volunteers handled her. She needed lots of patience and a safe, healthy environment to instill confidence.
Last year, Annie met the right person. Gina has volunteered at LCR for over 20 years and is the special horse person that Annie needed! Gina met the founder of LCR in 1999 at the Allentown Fair where LCR had a booth. Gina said she wanted to volunteer, and the LCR team said, “you can come to the farm to volunteer, but we need you to work hard, not just pet the horses.” Twenty years later, Gina is still a valuable member of the LCR equine volunteer team!
Gina and Annie
Annie is the second horse Gina has rescued and she feels she is extremely intelligent and willing to learn. Annie is now understanding how to think things through and handle the stress of being a horse.
Watching them interact it’s easy to see they are meant to be together. As a result of hours of hard work, they have established a love, connection and communication that is their own.
Gina, Annie and Leslie
Even though Annie is now in her forever home, Leslie will be continuing to volunteer and the LCR staff is grateful for her continued commitment!
Please check out our website to learn more about our mission, beginnings, staff, and animal adoption! https://www.lastchanceranch.org/#
Posted: March 25, 2022 by Jill Roggio