And the name for Irish's Filly is....
Luck of the Irish.
We had several people suggest Luck of the Irish or variations on this name, but the earliest entry was on July 2nd by Connie Rademacher. So a congratulation whinny goes out to Connie. We would like to to thank everyone who submitted a name for Irish's foal.
CANTER has a baby!!
Updated September 17, 2007, scroll down for update
By Irish Open, out of a Shecky Greene mare, she was successful at 3 different tracks in the Midwest, accumulating ten wins, one 2nd, and three 3rds from 45 starts. Each time she stepped onto the track, her big heart propelled the legs of her little, plain bay body. She was an honest mare and gave her all every time.
Her last race was at Great Lakes Downs in Muskegon, Michigan in 2001. At the age of 8, the nicely-bred "Irish" left the race track for the final time. Her owner, not having a farm or a place to put her, made the decision to lease her out as a broodmare. Her downward spiral had begun..
She had difficulty getting in foal and quickly became "unwanted", prompting the move to yet another farm. She was moved 3 times in 5 short years, and we could find record of only 1 live birth during that time. At the third and final farm, denied even the most basic care, her physical condition deteriorated. Fortunately for Irish, her owner decided to donate her to CANTER. Sensing the urgency, we picked her up on May 6, only one day after we received the call to "come and get her!".
Led out to us with just a rope around her neck by the man who had been her caretaker for the last 2 years, our hearts broke as we looked in silence at the little mare before us...200 pounds underweight, with ribs, hips, and backbone protruding, severely cracked and overgrown hooves, a swollen belly, and infested with lice. She had large scattered areas of missing hair coat, and just stroking her made the dull, remaining hairs come off in our hands.
She had no halter, and when the man said he would wrap baler twine around her face and head instead, he was quickly paid $20 for one he then removed from a horse in a nearby paddock. We winced as we observed him yanking the halter off the horse's head, envisioning that same rough treatment to Irish.
Irish was now safe at a CANTER board member's farm, and her road to recovery began immediately. Within only a few days from her arrival there, what we suspected was confirmed...she was in foal!
Two weeks to the day of her rescue, late on an unseasonably cold May night, Irish delivered a tiny bay filly. It is very likely that both Irish and her foal would not have survived that night had she not been taken in by CANTER. Several caring people spent hours getting the foal to stand and nurse successfully, and Irish required veterinary care for a retained placenta.
Currently, Irish is gaining weight...close to 100 pounds now...her hair coat is growing and gleaming, and her eyes are bright and alive! Her foster mom says she is gentle and kind, and although she has experienced neglect and harsh treatment by humans, she continues to trust and willingly accept love and attention.
The filly, a bay without a white hair on her- exactly like her mother! - is healthy and strong! She runs, bucks, and plays under the watchful eyes of both equine and human mothers!
July 8, 2007
CANTER's filly is now 7 weeks old today. Irish is slowly gaining weight and looks wonderful. They are both out daily. The filly is becoming very inquisitive. She is slowly gaining her trust in humans. She wears a halter daily and is learning how to lead with different people. Below on the left she is with Lance Surdey. She even had her feet trimmed yesterday for the first time with Ammon Mast the ferrier. Suggested names are coming in daily for her. Check back with the website to see how you can vote on the filly's name after the September 1st deadline.
September 17, 20077
Irish's foal is now almost 4 months old. She is growing big and strong. She recently received naval hernia surgery with the help of donations to CANTER and is recuperating at her foster home. Little one is learning to lead and seems to enjoy it. She is spending short periods away from mom in preparation for weaning. Both are doing great!
