Happy Ending for Foals Rescued from Roundup
Four foals, affectionately known as the “Dry Creek quartet,” have been rescued from a perilous situation and are now thriving under the care of Dr. Lisa Jacobson, an experienced veterinarian in Northern Colorado.
These foals, named Maestro, Allegro, Cornet, and Piccolo by wild horse advocates, were separated from their mothers during a helicopter roundup conducted by BLM and State officials near Sheep Mountain in early March. The Cloud Foundation, a wild horse advocacy group, led the rescue after a compassionate stockyard owner identified the young horses among adults destined for slaughter.
Dr. Jacobson, a seasoned horse vet and advocate against horse slaughter, noted that some foals were very young when separated from their lactating mothers. “It was really staggering that they survived,” she said. “Some couldn’t have been more than days old at the time of the roundup. Even the oldest was no more than a few months old.”
Despite their ordeal, the foals were in good health upon arrival and continue to thrive. “If they were sick, we’d be seeing it by now, especially after all the stress they went through,” Jacobson remarked. “We’re not seeing any coughing or snotty noses. They are eating well and really thriving. At times they are even running, bucking, and playing.”
Stacy Newby, co-owner of the Worland Livestock Auction, noticed the foals among the adults about to be shipped to slaughter. Although she had never witnessed it firsthand, she was aware that foals, unwanted by slaughterhouses, often die during transport or are killed upon arrival. “I’ve never seen it myself, but I’ve heard that is what happens and my heart just wouldn’t let that happen,” Newby said. “I knew I could save them and I wanted to give them an opportunity to thrive.”
Newby decided to take the foals, stating, “I didn’t really ask, it was more like I just said I was taking them.” Her plan was to raise, tame, halter break, and eventually find homes for them. She convinced those in charge and secured the proper ownership documents, making her the legal owner.
Once word spread about the rescue, Newby received up to 50 calls a day from horse advocates nationwide wanting to adopt the foals. For several weeks, she cared for them with the help of her Australian shepherd dog, Lonesome, who watched over them protectively. “They had good muscle, a little skinny, but healthier than you would expect,” Newby said. “And once they figured out that I was the milk lady, feeding them became as simple as pie.”
Kim Michaels of Red Lodge, the Cloud Foundation’s Montana representative, contacted Newby along with other organization members. “I could tell these gals from the Cloud Foundation really wanted these colts,” Newby said. “They seemed very sincere so I let them take them.” Ownership was transferred to Michaels, and the foals were transported to Colorado, where they will remain until they are deemed adoptable.
“Lisa (Dr. Jacobson) might have them for up to a year,” Michaels said, now the legal owner of the foals. “This isn’t going to be quick,” Jacobson added. “They will need training to be comfortable around people and will need a lot of nourishment, and we’re going to be pretty picky about who adopts them.”
Meanwhile, the foals are flourishing and showing curiosity about their human caretakers. “Piccolo even nickered at me the other day,” Jacobson shared. “That’s the first sound I’ve heard out of them. It was as if she was saying ‘Hey you, open the gate, we want to go inside.’”
Ginger Kathrens, founder of the Cloud Foundation, expressed happiness over the rescue but was heartbroken that the organization couldn’t adopt the 40 horses sold to slaughter. The organization is seeking legal advice to prevent such actions in the future.
Originally Posted By The Greybull Standard