Sheba and Cherokee of the Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation

[Karen Bayerl]

The Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation, Inc. (MHWF), is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity dedicated to providing qualified homes for any horse in need. The goals are to make certain that every horse placed with MHWF is provided with all of the necessary ingredients for a safe and happy life, and also protected from those who would do harm. Each horse placed with MHWF will receive full efforts to ensure that the horse never ends up in the auction ring or on the slaughterhouse floor. MHWF promises to do their best to provide only the best homes with dedicated families for every animal they place. MHWF is also verified by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.

Above is the MHWF Mission Statement, but there are also a lot of promises that go along with that mission that are made directly to the equines with heartfelt sincerity. MHWF promises to look upon you as the beautiful creature you are, even if you came to us a skeleton of a horse. We see your beauty right through all of the bones and unhealthy hair that we know is only as a temporary situation that someone neglected you into. Our hearts beam watching you transform physically and emotionally into that beautiful creature that you are, by providing you with the basic necessities of your life, and watching you emotionally blossom into the self-assured and beautiful creature you are meant to be. When you are scared and unsure of yourself, maybe even not used to being around other horses, we promise that we will place you in a situation that best suits your needs and be with horses that will take you under their wings and let you know that all will be fine in a language that only horses understand. We will keep our watchful eye on you every day to be sure that you are happy and well adjusted. We promise that we will groom you and make sure that you are happy and well-adjusted, give you the loving attention that you crave and deserve. We promise we will be sure that your future is secured as a safe one, and most of all we promise to never forget you.

[Karen Bayerl]

While MHWF takes in a lot of severe neglect and abuse cases, they also work to take in horses before they get into dire straits, helping owners out before it becomes a really bad situation for equine and owner both. This organization is dedicated to helping equines and their owners, and will go to great lengths to help people keep their equines if they suffer a rough patch in life. MHWF works hard to educate people on horse ownership, horse care and training, and because of the wonderful supporters of this organization, are able to provide a network of people who are willing to help in any given situation. MHWF is also working towards providing gelding clinics in the future to help those who may not be able to afford to geld that colt and help keep situations from spiraling out of control, among many other community programs that may help equines and their people.

This story will highlight two horses who came to MHWF desperately needing a soft spot to land. Their names are Cherokee and Sheba. Cherokee is a coming 22-year-old sorrel Quarter Horse mare, and Sheba is a coming 29-year-old gray Arabian mare. Both horses came in to MHWF with their own sets of problems and needs in spring of 2013.

[Karen Bayerl]

Cherokee came to MHWF via a local sheriff’s department. The reports are that Cherokee was tied out to a clothes line in someone’s yard, skin and bones and barely able to walk around. Fortunately, Cherokee was anxious to walk onto that horse trailer to get her out of the situation she was in. I think she somehow understood much better things were in store for her future. Cherokee is a registered Quarter Horse and was once someone’s show horse and even has points on the AQHA circuit. MHWF works to keep any horse from winding up in the situation that Cherokee found herself in.

[Karen Bayerl]

Upon arrival and evaluation at MHWF, it was found that Cherokee had a metal buckle imbedded and grown into one of her front hooves that went unattended to, an unattended injury on the other front leg, an old injury on one of her back legs that went unattended to and caused severe lymphedema, and tendon damage on the other back leg. The poor girl could barely walk, and this pain she was enduring from neglect was in addition to the pain she was enduring from severe starvation. Her hooves were a disaster, and this was a long process of rehabilitating her injuries and hooves. Through all of the trimming, wearing boots, daily hoof soaks and boot changes, medications, teeth floating, etc., Cherokee remained happy and had a genuine will to live. She has been one of the most cooperative patients MHWF has ever seen, and one of the sweetest horses alive. While Cherokee will never be sound enough to ride, she is sound enough to be comfortable and happy living with her buddies in the pasture.

[Karen Bayerl]

Sheba came to MHWF via way of a Facebook post of someone looking for help for this poor mare. The network of amazing people that has become part of MHWF, as mentioned above, immediately sprung into action, made the phone calls and arrangements, and delivered Sheba here within a day of the posting on Facebook. Sheba did not have any physical injuries, but she was in very poor condition with a body score of about 1. It was also discovered that Sheba has cancer on her tail and in that area, but so far it is not advancing real quickly.

[Karen Bayerl]

Sheba was not intact emotionally and was very unsure of her surroundings and unsure of what was going on. She seemed to be a horse that was not handled much in her life, or possibly endured some unkindness at some point. All of the usual things were done for Sheba with diet and medical care including teeth floating, and she started gaining the weight she needed. Sheba was handled with kid gloves and shown nothing but kindness and consistency. After doing some research, we found out that Sheba was in fact registered and we were able to trace a few stories from Sheba’s past, that included her winding up in a rescue situation more than once in her life, unfortunately. This time is the last time Sheba will wind up in a bad situation in her life. Sheba has really come around mentally and emotionally, even though that took a very long time for her.

[Karen Bayerl]

Both Sheba and Cherokee have been with MHWF for a long time now, and even though they have been available for adoption, there has not been anyone interested in taking either one of them in. Sheba is almost 29 years old, has cancer and has led a really though life. Sheba is probably the happiest now than she has ever been in her whole life. Cherokee also has been with MHWF a long time, led a very rough life, has really bounced back from the severe neglect she endured and really likes her life at MHWF. Because of all of these things, it was felt that Sheba and Cherokee both have earned their right to stay right here at MHWF with each other and their buddies, so they are both now officially permanent residents of MHWF and will remain so until their last days.

[Karen Bayerl]

While it is the goal of MHWF to find homes for the equines that come to us, it is also the goal to do what is the very best for the equines, and I think all would agree that Sheba and Cherokee have found what is best for them.

Please visit the Midwest Horse Welfare website at http://www.equineadoption.com to learn more about the program and the horses that are available for adoption.

Karen, The transformation of these beautiful horses amazed me. What a wonderful organization. Your images really tell the story & are beautiful!

[Karen Bayerl]

Thank you so much Pat!