Gerda

Gerda is a Chestnut Quarter Horse Mare whose estimated birth year is 2000. In January of 2023, we joined a group of organizations to help rescue 21 former rodeo bucking horses who had been sold and shipped from a Las Vegas rodeo outfit to a Pennsylvania killer buyer. The good news is that all 21 horses were saved and we took in Gerda, who reportedly was used as a broodmare after her cruel rodeo days were over. She spent more than 30 days in a quarantine facility where she was diagnosed with Strangles, a contagious disease that she picked up in the kill pen. When she left quarantine, she was shipped to Cornell University Hospital for Animals and spent nearly a week in an isolation unit. After recovering and finally testing negative for Strangles, she was moved to the main part of the hospital. She arrived at Equine Advocates Rescue & Sanctuary on February 26, 2023. We will celebrate her “Re-Birth-Day” on that day every year.

Not surprisingly, Gerda has some health and soundness issues, some of which are the direct result of the neglect she suffered in her past life, including low body weight, long hooves on all four of her feet, badly neglected teeth, and other issues. According to the veterinarians who treated her at Cornell, there was evidence of previous laminitis with mild right front coffin bone rotation. She was examined and evaluated thoroughly at the hospital and while there might not be a permanent cure for some of her health issues, we will be managing them for the rest of her life so she is as comfortable and sound as possible. Gerda was named for the wonderful horse rescuer Gerda Silver in honor of her 80th birthday.

Gerda is proudly sponsored by supporters from South Bend, Indiana; Wynantskill, New York and East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

More Sponsors Welcome!

Photo credit: Alex Valverde