A beautiful mare in the Scottish Borders has been given a second chance after suffering years of mistreatment and nearly ending up in a Slaughter house and potentially a foreign one at that!

The 'Lauder Lass', who is now under the care of Caroline, of 'Hooves Paws and Hands', is thought to have been traumatically abused by various methods, before being herded to a horse sale where she was bought by someone else.

The latest buyer struggled with her, as she would allow no one to touch her or even place a halter on her head. Her hind quarters were covered in marks from the front hooves of a stallion and she was extremely thin.

Not knowing what to do with her, her last owner turned to Caroline an animal behaviorist/therapist, who took on the challenge of checking the mare out, and devising a plan to help her overcome her serious fear/health issues.

She says "When she first came, she wouldn't let anyone near her, she jumped the fence in the yard, she was frightened of other horses. You couldn't even put a halter on, "she would literally jump up 2 feet in the air."

Caroline put all of her energy in to working with the mare, standing near her everyday, and offering tidbits, gradually trying to get closer. She wouldn't take anything from anyone, but eventually she allowed Caroline to stand by her side, although, initially, she had to keep her arms still for about an hour and a half  and be very quiet and slow before this re felt she could take even half a step closer. She also began to put on weight.

Not long after Caroline began work with the horse, her owner shockingly decided that she wanted to sell her, but she took Caroline's advice when she said it wouldn't be fair to sell her in the state she was in. Eventually the owner decided that she was going to sell her to the 'meat man'. It was arranged that the mare would be sent to slaughter, which could potentially have meant (because of the height and weight she had put on) that she could have been ported alive. Due to her nervous state and her being a nervous wreck, Caroline pleaded that this would be completely cruel on this individual, but insisted that if this was the road the owner wanted then she would have to be sedated before such transport, but because of legislation she could not be said the 'Meat man'.

Being sympathetic to this horses case, Caroline had taken no money from the owner for the time she had spent on her at Hooves, Paws and Hands or indeed for the bedding although the owner did drop off some feed at the beginning of the Mare's stay. Caroline pleaded with the owner to give the mare another couple of months but the day after this was agreed the owner reverted back to wanting her to go to the 'Meat man' so that she could recoup money spent on her. However she did add that if 'the Meat man' price could be met by someone else then she could go to them instead.

Having seen the improvement made in the short time that the mare had been with Hooves Paws and Hands, Caroline was distraught at the thought of her going through such trauma, and losing her second chance. She explained this Mare's story to a few local people and each of them came up with extremely positive suggestions inclusive of donations towards the price sought and suggestions of making an appeal or sponsorship for her so that it could go towards the Mare's winter care re feed bedding, Blacksmith fee's etc etc so that she could still receive the therapy being given by Caroline. After all this there is an Editor wanting to publish her story, the local people have given donations and spared time to sit with this Mare, which is one thing she desperately needs to realise that all humans aren't bad! The response has been absolutely heart-warming. 

The relief was huge, and now the "Lauder Lass", as she has been named by Caroline and members of the local community, shares her field with several other Horses and sheep. She was very shy around them to start with, but now has been accepted in to the herd.

Her recovery will be a long slow process.

Since purchasing her last week she, Lauder Lass has had at least 2 visitors a day and a diary is now being kept on their findings.

Caroline would be grateful for any donations to help with Lauder Lass food etc, as she pays for everything herself. She is even happy for locals to come by and spend time with her, to help with her rehabilitation, anything at all, to show her that not all humans want to harm her.

If you can give anything at all, please contact Caroline on 07900834919 hoovespawsandhands@tiscali.co.uk Thank you.