Our first rescue horse up for adoption to find a new home is Lily, who left this afternoon for her journey home. 
Lily was a ‘dogger’, set for the meatworks, one of the riding school horses that was just shipped off to the saleyards. She had number 18 stamped on her rump in a manner that is chillingly akin to stamping slaves or prisoners of war. She was saddled and bridled in the yard and had a terrible big wound on her back leg.
Her new person, Vivienne, loves her already and said that Lily is exactly what she would have called her. She wanted a nice quiet, steady horse to go for pleasure rides on. The family has other horses already and a lot of experience to draw upon.
It was only when we had Lily out and walking around that we could see that she must be a Thoroughbred, ex-racehorse. After the indignity and trauma that she’d been through, it was difficult to see past the ribs, dirt and injuries at first, but we could all see her radiate an beautiful dignity once more, and we could see the wisps of the proud history she must have had.
Lily loaded into the float like a pro and settled in to munch on hay, obviously happy to be going ‘home’. There are big smiles all round and this feeling is the best healer for the stress we went through to get her. And from the look on her face, I think she feels the same way. God bless you Lily for a long and peaceful life.
