The most challenging horse to relocate came to Kings Bridge at the beginning of August, 1997. Daisy, a 20 year old Appaloosa mare, after many years of faithful service at a New York state dude ranch, was slated to be offered at auction after her failing eyesight was determined to be a potential liability. Two young women from Western Massachusetts who had ridden Daisy many times during their vacations at the dude ranch found themselves coming to Daisy's rescue. They feared she would end up at slaughter when her vision loss was realized at the auction house. The women gathered funds from friends and family to bring Daisy to Massachusetts. Thereafter, they relocated Daisy to a farm in a neighboring state. Her stay was shortlived, however, when the farm's owner decided to specialize in a particular breed and Daisy needed to leave to make room for the new horses arriving. Kings Bridge was contacted by the two local women about giving Daisy a place to live while a new home could be found for her.
When Daisy arrived, it was clearly evident her eyesight was very poor. Our veterinarian determined Daisy had been suffering with on-going bouts of periodic opthalmia for quite some time and recommended she be seen by Dr. Rachel Ring, the state's most reknown opthamologist for large animals at Rowley Hospital in Springfield, MA to determine whether or not Daisy would be a surgical candidate for partial sight restoration. Along the way, the president of Milton Bradley Company, E. David Wilson, took Daisy's plight to heart and offered to pay for surgical expenses if it was determined Daisy would benefit from such an operation. Dr. Ring's diagnosis was final. Daisy was completely blind and surgery would be of no value. Daisy remained at Kings Bridge with the hopes a new home as a companion might be found for her.
Other than her eyesight, Daisy was in excellent health and condition. She was amazingly trusting with us as we handled her each day at the facility. She did not have a mean bone in her body and was as gentle as could be particularly around young children. In the following months, many people heard about Daisy through newspaper articles and came to visit her but no one was willing to give her a home. Her blindness made people uncomfortable and sometimes clearly worried about the possibility she would hurt someone unintentionally if she were to panic and couldn't see them in her path.
Daisy remained at Kings Bridge all the while. Our organization tried many options in placing her. One of our contacts was with "Popcorn Park" operated by the Humane Society of New Jersey whose sanctuary provids lifetime care for animals of all kinds suffering from severe, uncureable problems or disabilities. They did not have space for Daisy but would eventually consider providing her with a permanent home if none of our other options worked out. Just before Christmas of 1997, an unknown (at the time) friend of Kings Bridge posted Daisy's story to an Internet bulletin board and we received a telephone call from Angela Beatty of Manassa, VA inquiring about her. After a week of phone calls and photos sent to the Beatty family, they offered her a home with them. The cost of transporting Daisy to Virginia was home borne by Mr. Wilson who was delighted with the outcome.
Angie keeps in constant contact with us about Daisy and her progress since moving to Virginia. Although Daisy has suffered bouts of allergies since her move, she remains in good health and great spirits. Many great stories keep coming our way about how wonderful a horse Daisy is. The most memorable is how Daisy participated in a barrel racing contest after Angie realized Daisy just knew what she was doing without urging. With simple leg and voice command, Daisy took the third place ribbon in the race consisting of seven horses all the while spectators had no idea of her blindness. Shortly afterwards, Daisy took a blue ribbon in "flags." The Beatty family pampers Daisy to no end and writes to us that she is wonderful under saddle for trail and mountain rides for Angie and her daughters, and, Angie's daughters are considering using her for halter classes this year. Angie says, "Daisy has been a treasure to us. I get many compliments on her about how good of a horse she is, her personality and the trust between us to be able to do what we do. You've made a happy family in us by letting us adopt Daisy." The Beatty's have made Kings Bridge very happy in their willingness, without a second thought to her blindness, in giving Daisy such a marvelous home with so much love and attention.
On Thursday, November 16, 2000, Daisy was humanely euthanized in Cattlett, Virginia due to complications related to old age. In her last weeks, Daisy began to fail and lost weight that she was unable to recover. Her adopting owner, Angie Beatty, remained with Daisy thru her passing. Daisy left this earth in peace and with dignity. The Beatty family gave Daisy a wonderful home and life with them unconcerned with her blindness. Daisy was an amazing mare. She will be sorely missed by the Beatty's and by everyone here at Kings Bridge who had the honor of meeting her and caring for her during her stay with us.
