SUMMER GOLD By Pebbles There he stood helpless and pleading in a dusty Texas corral. His dappled gold coat was striking in the baking July sun. This yearling colt was tethered to the tall steel fence. His wide-set dark brown eyes cried out for help to release him from this slaughter pen teaming with horses of all shapes and sizes. “Heather, we must not leave him there, we must intervene on his behalf,” I demanded. Jennifer Demyanovich, a staunch HERD supporter, and my caretaker set about raising the money to buy the young golden horse’s freedom ride to safety. We three decided with his dazzling colored coat, Oro, which translates to gold in Spanish, was the perfect new name
66
for our latest treasure. It turns out he was a registered quarter horse with his AQHA papers sporting the name Bandit Rhomey. Our new Oro had been sold by his breeder because he was a cryptorchid, making him more difficult to geld and unacceptable for becoming a producing stallion. Melanie Lemmond, who manages a sister 501c3 horse rescue not far from where Oro was captive, drove her horse trailer to pick him up for quarantine at her expansive ranch. She reported back to us with photos that Oro loaded well and was a very friendly with people and horses. He was also in need of some nutritious groceries. The colt would remain in
LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS
July 2019 SAVE.indd 66
6/28/19 12:51 PM