Love & Healing — commonplace at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch
by Marian Rein

When I arrived at 7 a.m. on Sunday morning, restlessness filled the barns. Horses and donkeys were pacing in their stalls as they anticipated feeding time. Mama Llama, who was lying down when I arrived, moved to a sitting position — my clue that she, too, was anticipating breakfast. Whinnying could be heard down the three alley ways of the Learning Center — a chorus of energetic voices that always make me smile. At that moment, there was not another place on earth I would rather have been.
     

Despite the often severe circumstances of abuse and neglect that bring animals to the ranch, the Humane Society of Missouri Longmeadow Rescue Ranch, located near Union, Mo., is a peaceful ranch where healing and love are just commonplace.
           

After every animal had been fed, it was time to begin haltering and walking them from their stalls to the many corrals where they are turned out for exercise and play. I stopped to pet Willy and wondered if he remembered the tragic accident that brought him to Longmeadow, or if the many loving hands that regularly touch him have helped make his memory fade from of the trauma he experienced nearly three years ago. You see Willy was one of 42 horses being trailored to their death at a slaughterhouse in September, 2006 when the tractor trailer overturned on I-44 in St. Clair, Missouri. For 16 of the horses, the accident brought them to their death slightly ahead of schedule. As staff from Longmeadow worked to rescue the surviving horses, one small horse, thought to be dead as he lay beneath two dead horses, blinked his eyes. Willy was alive.
           

And on April 18, 2007, one of those horses rescued from that accident gave birth to a healthy, beautiful colt, aptly named Twist of Fate.
          

As I walked away from Willy’s stall, thinking about his life, I felt a mixture of compassion and gladness for this resilient little horse. He’s in a safe place where he will live peacefully for the rest of his life.
           

One might think being at a ranch that rehabilitates abused and neglected farm animals, some of whom have endured unspeakable cruelty, would spur feelings of sadness in me — an ardent animal lover. At times I experience sadness, but mostly I feel gratitude that Longmeadow exists.
           

With many of the stalls temporarily vacated, several employees and volunteers began the long process of mucking stalls. Since only the mares were turned out that morning, the geldings and stallions were still in their stalls, giving me the opportunity to interact with them.
           

While I love all of the animals, I do have my favorites. Rowdi, a miniature horse, has captured my heart, so I’m always eager to clean his stall. In the same way that certain people are attracted to each other as friends, I believe it’s a cross-species occurrence. Rowdi and I have developed the ritual of happily greeting each other as he snuggles his nose under my arm and calmly keeps it there as I pet his neck. Does he really know me and enjoy our affectionate encounters? I enjoy believing that he does.
           

We began cleaning in Rest Well, one of the six barns at the ranch. There resides a horse that, to me, seems larger than life. Ranger is a beautiful seven-year-old gelding that has been at Longmeadow since the first of the year. He’s a large Quarter Horse with kind eyes that quickly caught my attention. Ranger is quite young to have arthritis, which makes me wonder about the circumstances that brought him to the ranch. The staff turns him out into a coral every evening, giving him gentle movement of his hips and legs as well as play with other horses. Ranger can be ridden at a walk and trot, but feels discomfort at a canter. 
           

Some horses are natural-born leaders, and Ranger is one of them. As a leader, he’s smart, bright and requires quiet leadership from his human friends in order to gain his trust. And once they do, it becomes clear to them that Ranger is a kind horse, one that would be a perfect companion for a confident, gentle and kind-hearted human. There’s something beyond his beauty and kind eyes that attracts me to him. Perhaps it’s just one of those things that can’t be explained. Whatever it is, I could spend hours upon hours in the presence of this majestic horse.
           

Kristine Hunt, retired University City police officer, has been a volunteer at Longmeadow for nearly two years. She arrives early every Sunday morning and is one of the last people to leave at the end of the day. “There are many things I like about the ranch,” said Hunt. “The peacefulness, the animals and the people. I also get satisfaction from knowing that some of the animals heal both physically and mentally and that maybe I had a small part in that process.”
           

Also residing at Rest Well is a miniature donkey named Cypress and her baby who is yet to be named. There’s not a sweeter foal on this planet. Ask staff member Andy Aichholz about the foals at Longmeadow and watch his face light up. “My favorite thing about Longmeadow are the foals. They’re so cute and they’re just completely innocent,” said Aichholz, whose job is to ensure that the animals have food, water and a clean and safe environment. He grew up at Oakwood Farm, a Thoroughbred breeding farm where there were horses, ducks, cows, chickens, pigs, peacocks, dogs, cats and even a parrot. “The best thing about Longmeadow is what we do,” said Aichholz. “We provide a safe environment for abused animals, whether it be neglect or physical abuse. We provide the best care available in this area — possibly all of the midwest. All of the workers have a love for animals greater than the average person. One day of volunteering or just coming out to visit and you will notice the love of the animals.”
           

From Rest Well we moved to the Learning Center, where my main love—Koty—resides. He’s a fabulous young Thoroughbred and one of the most affectionate horses I have ever known. When it comes to horses, it’s usually best to establish oneself as a quiet, respectful leader before becoming too affectionate with them. Well, I broke that rule with Koty. This extraordinary horse greets me at his stall door, keeping his head low in an approachable fashion as he loves attention. I wonder what it must feel like to the horses who are passed from one home to another like an inanimate object. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of him—I have often dreamed of owning a horse like Koty. And lately, I dream of owning Koty. If that day never comes, I hope that he’s adopted by a family that will give him an exceptionally loving, forever home. For now, I rise at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings to be with Koty and all the other animals at Longmeadow.
           

From the Learning Center we moved to Safe Stay barn and then to Healing Bay barn. There, horses and donkeys new to Longmeadow spend a couple of weeks, or longer, healing and in observation. In May of this year, 17 horses were rescued from one source. Being in their presence is the closest I have ever been to severe malnutrition. With numbers painted on their rumps for identification, these horses embarked on a journey of healing that will bring many of them back to good health. While still thin, most of these rescued horses are moving about more easily and seem to be more engaged with the humans that care for them. Their nutrition is carefully monitored since their systems have not yet fully adjusted to normal feedings. All of these horses have now been named. 
           

Bruenor, a very tall, black horse and the thinnest of the bunch had limited movement when he first arrived. Now, after a few weeks, he’s becoming more active and even whinnies from time to time. It’s sometimes hard for me to look at him, but I feel more hope than sadness. At the loving hands of the staff and volunteers, many of these horses with rain-rot on their backs and bones protruding will recover—some may not.
       
   
Shortly after this group of horses arrived, more abused and neglected horses were rescued. Now that he’s at Longmeadow, one small horse spends much of his time lying down as his hooves are badly damaged. His clean stall with comfortable bedding provides him the physical and emotional rest that he needs, but because of his hooves, it’s not yet known whether he will fully recover. The abuse that many animals endure, whether out of ignorance or cruelty, evokes a sadness in me not only for the animals, but for the perpetrators as well. A person who was brought up with the absence of  love and compassion for animals, to me, speaks of an impoverished life.
        

And what ranch would be complete without a barn called the Play House? Longmeadow has one, and it’s home to pigs, goats, sheep and ducks. Occasionally during the day, Petey, Olivia and Elvis, three of the Potbelly Pigs at the ranch, come up to the Learning Center for a visit. Their presence gives the barn an almost whimsical feel as the three pals hang out together.
           

The training of horses at Longmeadow is based on something called natural horsemanship. Four years ago, my son, Sam, and I spent three months on a horse ranch in Arkansas, learning about natural horsemanship. I learned about the nature of horses, that they are social (pack) animals and have evolved with the ability to escape predators — including humans. They have a highly developed ability to communicate, primarily through body language. Practitioners of natural horsemanship teach without the use of pain and fear, and develop relationships with horses that are beneficial to both the horse and the handler. With love and patience, a strong, trusting relationship can be forged between horse and human. But when that otherwise fragile relationship is severely damaged, deep scars no doubt remain. 
           

With the animals fed, stalls clean, buckets washed and everyone comfortable, I took a few minutes to observe training activities in the arena, located in the Learning Center. Scott Jaycox, staff horse trainer, has been at Longmeadow for two years. He is a practitioner of natural horsemanship, and it’s a pleasure to watch him work with the horses, some of whom have had very little positive interaction with humans. 
           

In natural horsemanship, horses are not forced to undergo training, rather they choose to work with the trainer because of the trust and kind leadership that the trainer/handler offers them. With patience and kindness, Scott takes unmanageable horses to a point where they are not only adoptable, but often suitable for young, beginner riders. Scott’s training includes more than training horses for adoption — it helps adoptive horse owners understand the particular personalities of their new horses and how to work with them. “Sometimes what people think is a bad horse is just one that has not been handled correctly,” said Scott. “My role at Longmeadow is to help horses and at the same time teach people to be better horse people, to communicate with horses in a way they can understand. Horses all have different personalities. We try to marry the right horse with the right person.”
           

From the open window of the arena I observed the sky darkening as a storm approached. I was asked to close the stall windows in the Learning Center, which swing open and latch on the outside of the barn. After I closed all of the windows, turning the handles to latch them securely, I looked back and noticed that one window was still open. After closing it a second time, it popped open. I closed it a third time, then waited. I watched the handle slowly turn — someone was turning it from the inside of the stall. Then the window popped open, again. And the culprit was — Willy! I laughed and was delighted to witness this indication that Willy is not depressed and idly living his life. Rather, he is playful and he is loved!
           

As I shut the window for the fourth time, I assured Willy that I would hurry to the front of his stall to spend a few moments with him (humans at Longmeadow believe that English is the horses’ second language). He must have understood because the window did not open again, and when I went through the barn to the front of his stall, Willy was there, seemingly awaiting my arrival. 
           

I have yet to understand the nature of geese. A resident gander named Binks has me perplexed. Does he mindlessly wander the grounds of 
Longmeadow, squawking just because it’s what ganders do, or is there a reason for his vocalizations? As I filled a small plastic swimming pool with a hose so that the ducks, chickens and Binks could drink, splash and swim, he began squawking, moving closer and closer to me. I wondered if I was doing something to upset his routine or if he was simply eager to get into the pool. An idea popped into my mind that he might be interested in the water coming from the hose. So I covered the end of the hose with my thumb and shot the water up into an arch, creating a raining effect on Binks. He didn’t move away from it. Instead, he moved closer to me, still squawking. So I lowered the spray until it was hitting him full blast. Yes, that was what he wanted. He stopped squawking and danced in circles in the spray. I stopped spraying and he immediately began squawking. I’m still wondering about the nature of geese, but I have learned that Binks is more than mindless.
           

Darlene Brewer has been a dedicated volunteer at Longmeadow for two years. She has developed a gentle rapport with the animals at the ranch, including Binks. When I asked about her thoughts on Longmeadow, without hesitation she said, “It’s ALL about the animals.”

The 165-acre property that is Longmeadow Rescue Ranch was acquired in 1988, made possible by a generous bequest from George Packwood, Jr. It’s aptly named Longmeadow because of the very long and narrow meadow in which many of the horses reside and are fed there twice a day. Horses that are ill, crippled, old or undergoing training for adoptability, as well as other small animals, are cared for in the barns and turned out for exercise during the day.
           

In addition to skilled care, Longmeadow is dedicated to education. School children have the opportunity to meet the animals and learn how to care for and protect them in the Learning Center. 
           

Adopting animals from Longmeadow Rescue Ranch requires a life-long commitment to their care. Adoptive families cannot sell, give away, slaughter or use animals in any research study.
         
 
Potential adoptive families may wonder about the health of the animals that are available for adoption. Do they all have emotional and physical limitations? Absolutely not. The majority of the horses are beautiful in stature and personality. But most of the animals did not arrive as the physical beauties that many are today. It is the care and gentle handling that allow these creatures to blossom with God’s intended grace. And like all others, they deserve a loving home with people who will appreciate them. If they are not adopted, these animals will live out their lives in relative comfort at the ranch.
           

There are approximately 160 animals residing at Longmeadow. To the horses, cows, donkeys, pigs, geese, ducks, chickens, llama, goats, sheep, rabbits and more, hundreds pounds of food were doled out on this one day in late June. Several truckloads of waste were removed and countless pounds of fresh bedding laid. It takes much time and effort to keep Longmeadow running. In addition to the staff and volunteers who feed, water, train and clean stalls, there are veterinarians, farriers and the administrative staff who all work to keep the animals happy and healthy.
           

Sunday is my day at Longmeadow, and if I could be there more often to lend a helping hand, I would. The ranch is an hour drive from my house, and I enjoy every minute of it as I anticipate being with my animal and human friends. Koty, Ranger, Willy, Rowdi, Mama Llama, Twister, Cypress, Olivia, Petey, Elvis, Binks and all the others — I’m grateful to all of these sweet souls for giving me the opportunity to serve them and to learn more about caring for animals. 
     
     
I arrived the following Sunday full of anticipation — I had been waiting all week to see Koty. By then, most of this story had been written. It was 7:00 a.m. when I turned onto the long gravel road that ends at the ranch. I turned off my car,  jumped out, ran to the door of the Learning Center and hurried down the center alleyway toward Koty’s stall. Then suddenly everything in my field of vision faded except one small green sign with bold letters that hung from Koty’s stall door. It read, “Adopted.”
           

Many people at Longmeadow have had the same experience of falling in love with an animal then arriving one day to find the green sign. It’s the same feeling of loss that one experiences when a good friend moves away. Love gives these animals life — sometimes love hurts. 
           

For Koty, his new life is just beginning. I dried my tears and walked back to his stall. He greeted me at his door with his head held low as I hugged his neck. He gently rested his head next to my body. That was the last time I saw Koty. Everyone at Longmeadow hopes that the animals be adopted by loving families, and for the most part it’s a happy time when those days arrive.
           

Koty left Longmeadow. And we’re still there — the staff and volunteers who are blessed to serve our animal friends. And you never know—someday I might be a Longmeadow volunteer who adopts a loving horse, one just like my friend Koty.

The Humane Society of Missouri 
Longmeadow Rescue Ranch

To arrange a tour:  (314) 646-5686
To adopt: (314) 646-5685
To report animal abuse or neglect: 
(314) 647-4400 www.longmeadowrescueranch.org.