Dixie: In Loving Memory of a Precious Pony

Dixie just didn't come up to feed in the morning on Tuesday, February 3, and Ashley found her lying down in the pasture in a coma. The vet rushed there and gave her 3 IVs in the field. She never would try to stand even with all the meds they tried.

She was such a kind and gentle soul and it all happened so fast. She was eating her treats yesterday afternoon and now she is gone. She went to a horse show 3 days before as well. She was not in pain though she just was tired and laid down like it was her time to go. She will be missed and the barn will not be the same without her. Dixie was a great teacher.

We've had these last months of her life to care for her and be with her and she was such a good girl. Rest in peace sweet little Dixie, aka "Dixie Moon," aka "Mary Had a Woolly Lamb." We believe she was about 30 years old.

Please feel free to share your thoughts and memories with us.

Dixie: Harris Heights Pony Rescue

Dixie actually had an owner that cared about her enough to give her up. Dixie is a sweet, 30-something year old pony who came down with an ulcer and eye infection that is costly and time consuming to treat. Her owner did not have the funds or time to treat Dixie, plus it is hard to justify on such an old pony. Her owner contacted HHF and said she didn't know what to do and may have to put Dixie down because that would be cheaper than the treatment and Dixie would not suffer. Harris Heights Horse Farm took her in and, with the help of Dr.Vice at Dixie Equine, we treated the ulcer and infection and were able to save Dixie's eye. She has wonderful with helping young children to ride. She is a patient, forgiving and gentle soul. We all love Dixie and are so proud of her achievements at the horse shows.

UPDATE: DIXIE UNEXPECTEDLY PASSED AWAY ALTHOUGH WE TRIED VERY HARD TO SAVE HER. WE HAVE A DEDICATION POST FOR ALL THOSE WHO WISH TO PUT THEIR MEMORIES AND THOUGHTS ABOUT DIXIE ON THE SITE.

Go With the Flow: Harris Heights Horse Rescue

Harris Heights Horse Farm has taken in this Thoroughbred mare which was on a very nice Hunter Jumper farm being used as a broodmare. For the past two years, she has been unable to get pregnant so she was turned out to pasture. Sadly, she is now pregnant, skinny, and covered in rain rot. We plan to get her healthy and fat so she can have a healthy baby in late summer 2009. We will update her pictures as she progresses and when she has her foal.

Taylor: Harris Heights Pony Rescue

Taylor was a skinny, bug-eyed pony when we first got her. Putting weight and training into her turned her into a lovely, athletic, sleek hunter pony with a successful show career with children.

Got Milk?: Harris Heights Pony Rescue

Her Harris Heights Horse Farm barn name became "Millie" and she has an especially sad story. Millie was covered in crusty old manure when my friend found her in Kentucky. She took Millie home and began picking the caked on feces off, but as she pulled it off, she was pulling Millie's hair along with it. It was a very painful process. I took her home and as she gained weight and got healthier she turned into a beautiful milky white color! She is now a wonderful, beautiful show pony who knows her job well and has many champions to prove it.

Joy: Harris Heights Pony Rescue

Joy was another Harris Heights Horse Farm rescue of a skinny, bug-eyed pony. She was truly was a "joy" while I had her. As soon as she was healthy, though, someone in Ocala FL scooped her up! She is now at a top show barn there.

Panda Bear: Harris Heights Pony Rescue

Panda has one of the saddest stories I have heard. Again, my friend Cindy in Kentucky who has made it her mission to save ponies, was looking for lost souls. Horses ran past Cindy and until a little stocking legged pony placed its head right in her chest. She looked the skeleton of a body over and the green snot running from Panda's nose and the swollen lip that the pony couldn't even hold up. She thought this one was too far gone, but the pony place her head on Cindy. Four white legs, she thought, this pony could be cute. She couldn't take the sick pony home to her farm and had to take Panda elsewhere to be quarantined until it was safe to take it to her home. When she finally brought Panda home to fatten her up, her bottom lip was in such bad shape she could hardly eat. Panda Bear was made happy and healthy again at Harris Heights Horse Farm with her training as a sound children's hunter pony.

Lucky: Harris Heights Pony Rescue

In general, we at Harris Heights Horse Farm like to teach rescued ponies a skill and find them children to love them and make up for their early hard lives. There will be many more ponies pass through this farm to go to good home, but one special little guy that will stay here and retire on 70 acres of rolling, relaxing pastures is Lucky. We got him over a year ago, 20 yrs old, skin and bones, hooves turned up from neglect, and long dull hair. With a little senior feed, a good trimming and worming, and some good rubs to loosen the hair and voila! Lucky became a barn favorite and a wonderful teacher to our young walk/trotters. When he is unable to help teach children, he will retire on our place. He will never again have to worry about where his next meal will come from. Here are pictures of Lucky.

About Rescues, from Ashley Harris

Ashley Harris, Harris Heights Horse Farm owner and principal trainer, on her commitment to the rescue and rehabilitation of neglected and abused horses:

"I find them, or they find me, and I bring them back to health. Then, I train them for hunters so they will have a skill, find good homes, and never end up back where they were."

"Here's a letter from my dear friend and co-hort in rescue efforts:

'What we are doing is a good thing. There are too many good ponies and horses out there who need to find their way to someone who will not only save their lives, but work with them. I am happy to be able to try to find the ones with the right temperament and soundness, but it is your dedication and skill that give these ponies the credentials to have a life long job in a good home. For those ponies, it is a win-win situation. They have won the pony lottery!' --Cindy, Fox Run Farm, Kentucky

The poem below is about rescued horses and it melted my heart! Thank you again for your interest in all the good things happening here at Harris Heights."

Baggage
by Evelyn Colbath

Now that I'm home, bathed, settled and fed,
All nicely tucked into my warm new bed,
I would like to open my baggage,
Lest I forget
There is so much to carry -
So much to forget.

Hmm, Yes, here it is, right on the top -
Let's unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss,
And there by my halter hides Fear & Shame
As I look on these things I have tried so hard to leave-
I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.

I loved them, the others, the ones who left me,
But I wasn't good enough - for they didn't want me.
Will you add to my baggage?
Will you help me unpack?
Or will you just look at my things
And take me right back?

Do you have the time to help me unpack?
To put away my baggage,
To never re-pack?
I pray that you do - I'm so tired you see,
But I do come with baggage -
Will you still want me?


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We are passionate about saving abused and neglected horses and ponies. We've had so many success stories and want to spotlight some of our special friends here.