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Local horse rescue to hold fudraiser

Local horse-lovers will celebrate Valentine’s Day a little early…at the “Have a Heart 4 Horses” Fundraiser to help abused and neglected equines.  Tom Flanigan has the story.

The horse was Indie, short for Independence, since he’d been born on the Fourth of July.  The email was from Triple-R Horse Rescue to Lynn O’Connor. 

"The email came out and I looked at the pictures and I said, ‘You know, I cannot say no to these horses.  I have seven acres, I can take in a horse.  The horse did nothing wrong.’  He was skin and bones…very skittish…he wouldn’t lower his head to the ground, like…we said we didn’t know if he knew how to graze anymore.  His hip-bones and his backbone were just standing out, ribs everywhere.  He was in terrible shape." 

But within two weeks, says O’Connor…even the color of Indie’s coat had changed as he started getting enough to eat – as did his personality.  The email had come from Linda Kleindienst, one of Triple R’s founders.  The group started about three years ago, she says, and now has non-profit status.

"It started because a group of people realized that there was really no equine-only rescue in the Tallahassee area…that there was a lot of rescue opportunities for dogs and cats, but for horses, for big animals, that was another story – although a lot of individuals do do rescue on their own. "

Triple-R takes in horses from six counties and places them in foster homes.  The group also helps people who want to keep their horses but can’t afford to feed them.  Triple R needs donations and foster families, says Kleindienst, but above all, it needs people who can’t tolerate cruelty.

"If we can even have people who can help us take a look at horses that we’ve gotten calls about…just to drive by and report in and let us know.  And even people who are just…who don’t want to get involved with the organization but see something that they think is a little odd…We would appreciate it if they would contact us or contact their local animal control. "

Meanwhile, for Indie – still recovering at Lynn O’Connor’s – it’s a new life.

He’s great.  He loves people.  He’s very friendly.  He’s doing wonderful – he’s so handsome, he stands up and he’s proud…Hopefully we’ll find him a forever home pretty soon. 

Sunday, February 12th will be the first major fund-raiser by Triple-R Horse Rescue…“Have a Heart 4 Horses” runs at the Bradfordville Blues Club from 4 to 9 p.m.…with music by Tom and the Cats…food by Real Paella…a cash bar and a silent auction.  Tickets must be purchased in advance.  For more information, go to Triplerhorserescue.org.

Follow @flanigan_tom

Tom Flanigan has been with WFSU News since 2006, focusing on covering local personalities, issues, and organizations. He began his broadcast career more than 30 years before that and covered news for several radio stations in Florida, Texas, and his home state of Maryland.

Find complete bio, contact info, and more stories. here.