As hundreds of cyclists poured through the Summit City, there was hope that the event would not only bring some exercise and entertainment to the participants but hopefully a changed view of the community in general.
The brown pony is agitated as it alternately tiptoes and stomps outside its stall, but the volunteer’s voice is as soft as the ground in the spring-wet pastures outside.
“I’m going to get a brush and give you some attention, OK?” she soothes. Even in its shaggy winter coat, a visitor can count the horse’s bones under its skin.
This pony, like the 38 other horses here at Shadarobah Horse Rescue halfway between Fort Wayne and Churubusco, was rescued from a life of neglect or abuse, or it was facing slaughter.
Here at Shadarobah – officials say it’s an American Indian word for “may the future be better than the past” – he’s being nursed back to health, physically and mentally.
Though it varies by horse, the healing power of good nutrition and tender-loving care are amazing, Shadarobah owner Michelle Heitz says.
“They’re so grateful,” Heitz says. “We’ve had wonderful, wonderful, wonderful turnarounds.”
Of course, paying for good nutrition and TLC is another matter.
So the horses had lots of company from dozens of people attending Saturday’s Easter benefit for the rescue operation.
The event featured an Easter egg hunt, egg coloring, face painting, temporary tattoos, games, food and – of course – horse and pony rides.
Ian Kirk, 5, was so excited to be riding Shadowfax that he didn’t even mind wearing the pink helmet.
He was all grins as he waved to imaginary crowds lining the route of the imaginary parade in which he was riding (actually laps around the large pen in the horse barn).
“Awesome!” he declared afterward, with a fist thrust to the air for emphasis.
Ian’s mother, Danielle Kirk, said she was amazed by the Shadarobah operation, even more so by the number of horses that need help.
“I am so glad there’s a place for them to go,” Kirk said.
The economy has made the need even greater, Heitz said, as people’s income drops and they’re faced with the cost of caring for a horse, estimated at $200 a month.
“One little guy was so weak they had to pick him up and carry him off the trailer,” she said. “He couldn’t even stand. … We’re riding him now – he’s beautiful.”
After the horses are healthy again, they can be adopted by loving homes.
Until then, there’s the love of volunteers such as Nicole Maki, 18, who has almost no free time but still manages to spend a few hours at Shadarobah at least every couple of weekends.
“Yeah, I love horses,” she said, her pink rubber boots bright as she tried to calm a nervous Lucky, who wasn’t happy about other horses coming through his stall and a barn full of visitors.
“Good boy,” Maki soothed. “Such a good boy.” Lucky’s ribs are still visible, but he’s doing much better. “He came here in pretty bad shape,” Maki explained as the horse pushed back against her gentle nudges.
Nearby, ponies Zeke and Eli poked their heads out of their stall, sticking their noses out between the bars as if to say hello.
Their big brown eyes twinkled over the sign on their door: “Adopt me. We are looking for our forever home.”
