We went to Blue Star Equiculture Sunday to see how Sarge, the blind trail horse who came there a few days ago is doing. He is doing wonderfully, he shares a stable with Gulliver, another rescue horse and is getting used to the other horses on the farm.

Pamela Rickenbach says that Sarge is a leader, he is confident and at ease among the other horses, getting used to the noise, rhythyms and people on the farm.  The farm staff is socializing him, approaching him with words, treats, grooming and a special diet. The horses there are given attention, exercise and care daily, it is powerfully appealing place for people who love animals.

Sarge was about to be purchased by a kill (slaughterhouse) buyer when Dorset, Vt.  Equine Rescue decided to buy him, they outbid the kill buyer and got him for $525. He was taken to their facility in Vermont last August, and they have been looking for a home for him ever since.

The rescue farms they called never called Dorset Rescue back, and then they heard about Blue Star and called them. Pamela called  immediately and asked only one question: does he still have spirit? They said yes and Pamela agreed to take Sarge to Blue Star, a draft horse sanctuary and organic farming center.

Sarge is 90 percent blind on one eye, 100 percent blind in the other. He is expected to lose all of his sight shortly. He has a home at Blue Star for the rest of  his life, and last week, the farm started a gofundme crowdsourcing topic to help pay for the cost of caring for Sarge and having veterinary eye specialists come to see him. The fund is seeking $12,500, they have raised more than $6,000 in the past few days.

Blue Star is reluctant to ask for money for their horses, they do not ever want to exploit their animals for money, but they also want to do whatever possible to help the horses and guarantee them care for the rest of their lives. Horses are in a lot of trouble these days and they are very expensive to care for.

Blue Star has about 30 of them, many retired draft horses, others rescues.

Blue Star is unique. Money contributed to them does not go to administrators, fund-raisers, publicists, or marketers. It all goes to the horses. You can help here. I spent some more time with Sarge, I felt a strong connection to him. He is a sweet and generous soul, as described. And a brave soul also, I think. He is in no way bowed or broken. Pamela means to keep him that way.

I’ll put up some more photos tomorrow and later this week.