Welcome Home Miracle

Today Miracle had an ending and a beginning. Her time at Sunkissed Acres came to an end today. Lori, the founder of Sunkissed Acres Rescue, did an amazing job of rehabilitating Miracle and getting her healthy and strong enough to move on to her new life. When one chapter ends a new one begins, and today was the beginning of Miracle's new life with us.


The big question Jason and I wrestled with was which trailer to take? The Featherlite stock trailer or the 2 horse straight load? There were certainly pros and cons to each one. In the end we took the stock trailer and I'm glad we did as she seemed to travel well in it.

Jason and Miracle meeting each other today

This morning Jason and I had the pleasure of meeting Miracle in person for the first time. Lori had told us she was turning into quite the little diva and boy was she right. Miracle assumes that everyone who drives into Sunkissed Acres is there to see her, and as soon as we got out of the truck she was at the gate whinnying and trying to get our attention. Of course we obliged her and immediately went over to say hello. Miracle is quickly forgetting her humble beginnings and trotted and pranced around her paddock, tossing her head and showing off. Then she would come over to Lori, Jason and I and demand more scratches. Lori has already spoiled her rotten!

One of the other residents at Sunkissed, Heart, wandered over and hung out with Miracle on the other side of the gate. They mouthed each other and exchanged hellos, and then hung out together for awhile. Heart then wandered away and Miracle went back to strutting her stuff in the paddock.

As we watched her it was hard to believe that a couple of months ago she was so starved, weak and abused she could not stand up on her own. This was the horse that had to be drug onto a piece of plywood and then slid onto the trailer. I remember Lori posting on her website that they were going to give Miracle two days to make a significant turnaround or she would be euthanized. She wanted to give her a shot at life but also not make her suffer for nothing.

Miracle is a fighter and she chose life. Thank you to Mr. Gurley for responding to the ad for a "kid broke" horse for $150. He was the one who started Miracle on her road from hell to heaven. When he saw Miracle he convinced the owners to just give her to him so he could give her a decent burial. Then he slid her onto the board and onto his trailer.

Endless thank yous to Lori, not only for nursing Miracle back to life but for saving so many others. So many heartbreaking stories are walking around at Sunkissed Acres. Where would these animals be if Lori had not been there willing to give them a chance?

Although we don't know exactly how old Miracle is she is very young, Lori's vet guesses about 10 months. It is possible she may have spinal cord damage since she has already been ridden literally into the ground. But then again she might not. Thanks to her rough start in life early onset arthritis is certainly a possibility as well. Her growth may be stunted due to her extreme starvation. Or she may be lucky and have no lasting effects from her horrendous start in life. Only time will tell. For now her job is to enjoy life and have fun.

Welcome home Miracle!

Below is a collection of pictures, starting with Miracle's life in the stock trailer, unable to stand, and ending with pictures from today. Enjoy!

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The beginning. Miracle lived in the stock trailer for two days before Lori and Mr. Gurley felt comfortable trying to get her out. She could not stand on her own.

Starved and abused with horrible wounds and so close to death

A couple of days later in her makeshift sling courtesy of the engine hoist in Mr. Gurley's garage.

Mr. Gurley and Miracle at Sunkissed Acres. She was able to move from the Gurley's garage to Sunkissed Acres after a couple of weeks.
In a stall at Sunkissed Acres
Enjoying some turnout at Sunkissed Acres
Napping at Sunkissed Acres
Miracle still had a lot of recovering to do. She was so weak and atrophied that there were still days where she could not get up on her own and needed help.
One day some nice guys from the Chattooga County Water Dept. came to Sunkissed to help Lori get Miracle on her feet. Lori said they came saying they didn't know anything about horses and they left saying "you can do it Miracle, and we'll be back to help you anytime."
Taken this morning at Sunkissed Acres. Miracle making her pointy-nosed "I like scratches" face
Heart the Hinney, a resident at Sunkissed since 2008, was one of Miracle's self appointed babysitters. Jason and I watched as she went over to hang out with Miracle and provide her with some company. Heart is another sad story. She was left chained to a tree in the woods and abandoned without food or water. When she became to weak to stand or defend herself some dogs started to eat her while she was still alive. She was covered in maggots. Three years later Heart has the run of Sunkissed Acres, and she lets newcomers like Miracle know that she has finally made it to a good place.
Miracle loaded on the trailer and ready to travel today in her new Quillin's halter and a fly mask
Jason and Lori are fellow Canadians so we paused for some "Oh Canada" pictures. One in front of the Canadian flag on our truck . . .
. . . and one in front of Lori's golf cart that sports a Canadian flag
Lori giving Miracle a last pat goodbye
We stopped for a quick bite to eat at Burger King about halfway home. We ate by the trailer with Miracle and Jason shared some of his french fries with her. She ate each one he offered her. After the third one I told him not to feed her any more french fries!
Miracle stretching her legs in a paddock after her trip home today