LOWER LAKE — Lavender Horse Farm is the new home of 41 horses that were recently rescued from a ranch in Lower Lake. The rescue operation is being led by two private citizens whose love for horses spurred them into action for fear of possible slaughter.
Debra Rodrigue and Bonnie Bishop are seeking assistance in the continued care and placement of the animals. Volunteers as well as supplies are needed.
Rodrigue said she and Bishop spent two and half months rescuing the horses, which were previously housed at Classic Sport Horse Ranch on Seigler Canyon Road in Lower Lake. She said unforeseeable circumstances had forced the ranch owner to liquidate the stock.
“After three truck loads of horses going out at $40 a head, we stepped in to rescue 41 of them,” Rodrigue said. “We are taking them because in my heart, I felt they were going to slaughter.”
The women, with the help of a handful of volunteers, have been tending to horses preparing them for adoption. Many of the animals have little or no training and must be handled in order to find proper placement. “Our goal is to downsize the herd and give them or sale them to people who will provide them good homes,” Bishop said. “Right now we have to start training these horses so they can go to good homes.”
The women said that they have found some support within the community. “We have three ferriers who have been coming out consistently to trim the horses” hooves. Plus we have a few horse handlers who have been helping on the ferrier days,” Rodrigue said. “These are vital to horse health. That has been a big part of this; just getting the horses handled and tending to their hooves.”
Rodrigue said in January the National Humane Society is sending Eric Davis, DVM and his veterinary staff to geld about eight horses, provide some dental care and vaccinate for rabies. “To do that for 41 horses is a lot of money and they doing it for free,” Rodrigue said.
Tom Reedy Work Skills for Enhanced Living clients have been helping out at the farm as well. The clients are assisting with grooming and other activities. Some are earning money, Reedy said, while others are simply enhancing their lives.
“They have a lot of fun when they are out here,” Rodrigue said.
Not only is caring for 41 horses a hefty choir, the feed bill is beginning to soar, Rodrigue said. “The feed bill for this amount of horses is $3,000 a month and now we need help,” she said, adding that even a couple bales of hay or bag of oats would help.”
Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks such as installing hot wire fencing, building shelters, tending to horse health and handling, grooming and exercising the animals. Bishop said they are under pressure to complete needed improvements at the horse farm, which is located on Spruce Grove Road in Lower Lake. “We are under pressure from Animal Control to get the shelters constructed so we can be in compliance with their demands,” she said.
Lavender Horse Farm is currently working toward non-profit status. For more information regarding the organization or providing assistance, contact Debra Rodrigue at 995-2716.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
