Sandy becomes cherished friend for nine-year-old girl after being saved from death
Each year hundreds of horses are slaughtered at Bouvry Exports Ltd. in Fort Macleod, Alberta.
Many of these horses are mature, sound animals but because their owners simply no longer want them, they often become the victims of neglect.
Produced by: Kourtney Tateson
Since 1999, a Calgary organization has given some of these horses a second chance.
Horsin Around, located close to Fish Creek Park in southwest Calgary, is owned and operated by Ron Thornhill. He says that he saves these horses when his friend who transports them to Fort Macleod stops at the stable.
“I can’t save all of them, but I choose the ones that are well mannered and would make good trail riding horses,” he said.
Over the last 12 years, Horsin Around has saved more than 100 horses.
One lucky horse named Sandy arrived at Horsin Around underweight and neglected. Yet she quickly became the apple of nine-year-old Sierra Inglis’ eye. Inglis attends riding camps and lessons at Horsin Around and says that she and a friend collected cans and bottles to help pay for Sandy’s feed.
After seeing the connection between Sierra and Sandy, Sierra’s parents, Lorie and Kevin Inglis, decided to make Sandy a part of the family and so they purchased the horse from Thornhill.
ktateson@cjournal.ca