06/15/2026
Good morning farm family,
8 years ago an emaciated horse stepped off the trailer to her forever home here. She was so withdrawn and uninterested in anything but food. She had been starved for an extended period of time and at one point, had resorted to eating the actual lumber her shelter was made from. Her body score was barely a 2 out of 10, and she was in danger of organ failure as well as refeeding syndrome. Her skeleton was visible, she had sores, she needed her hooves trimmed and her teeth attended to and her mane and tail were matted in knots.
Summer had gone from a beloved member of the Statesman Farm herd in Woodstock MD, to Georgia to deliver her foal after her owner died in a tragic accident. From there she went to a farm in Virginia where sje was thought to ne cared for, bit instead she languished until help finally arrived and we were able to step in! We partnered with our veterinary team to evaluate her condition and build a plan to help her gain weight safely and return her to optimal health. We worked with the dentist to ensure her teeth were properly floated to allow her to eat comfortably and our farrier helped get her hooves in shape. Our volunteers worked tirelessly each and every day to support her recovery and show her the love she'd been missing. Our donors stepped up and helped fund one of the most amazing 👏 transformations we've accomplished to date!
Today, Summer is a beloved member of OUR herd, where she will remain for her life! She shines like a newly minted coin. She adores children and soaks up all of the attention you can give her. She participates in our education and outreach programs and she absolutely loves interacting with guests. She appears in many guest photos, usually with her bestie, Jewel. She now believes the world revolves around her and is quite the demanding diva! Her best friend is Jewel and she spends her days with food, friends and lots of love ❤️.
Summer's story didn't have just a simple happy ending. 7 years after her rescue, we found her grandson in North Carolina and were able to bring HIM to the sanctuary as well, keeping him safe for a lifetime 💙. He not only joins his grandma Summer, but also his cousin, Suzie. We are thrilled to be able to keep some of the family together 🥰.
We can make these amazing transformations and commit to the extraordinary care these animals need because of YOU and our community of care 💕. The donations you make enable us to fund these transformations and fuel their lifetime of care. We couldn't do it without you!
Happy Gotcha Day, Summer ☀️! Here's to many more! 🎉
Yours in love ❤️ and light ✨️,
Tara
