A second chance for Abby

Haircuts, chair massages, bake sales, lemonade stands -- even change found in couches -- have helped a group of horse lovers at Horseplay Ranch in Corcoran raise $4,500 to save a horse that otherwise would have been euthanized.

Instead, Abby, an 18-year-old white Percheron cross, will live comfortably at the ranch until she's fully recovered and can be placed with new owners.

In June, Abby mysteriously suffered a fracture in her left hind leg. Minor but expensive surgery was required. Abby's owner was unable to afford the medical care and recovery expenses of more than $4,500.

The day before Abby was scheduled to be euthanized, her owner went to visit Abby and clean out her stall one last time at her boarding facility at Horseplay Ranch.

Cindy Russell, another boarder at the ranch, was in the right place at the right time. "I think it was the grace of God that [Abby's owner] came out," said Russell, "because I rarely cross paths with her."

The two women started talking -- and crying -- in the barn. Then the owner of the ranch, Mary Soligney, came in.

"Mary said, 'I'll donate $300 right now and we can have a fundraiser," Russell recalled.

More horse-lovers got involved and grew to love "Sweet Abby" as well. Soligney, Russell and some of the other boarders at Horseplay Ranch started the Abby Rescue Committee and set up a foundation for Abby's surgery.

A website, www.save-abby-the-percheron.com, was created in Abby's name to keep everyone posted on her recovery and to help raise money.

On July 26, the committee organized a "hoedown, haircuttin', fundraisin', prize-winnin', Horseplay party" for Abby. The group met its goal of $4,500 to offset the cost of Abby's surgery. However, an additional $1,500 to $3,000 is still needed for Abby's rehabilitation and post-surgical care.

A rescue that almost wasn't

Before her chance meeting with Abby's owner at the ranch, Russell had heard about the horse's broken leg. Although Russell has been involved in animal rescue efforts in the past, she initially didn't give it much thought when she heard that Abby's owner would have to put her cherished companion down.

"I thought people would think that she's 18 and she's too old to go through surgery ... Everyone knows if you have a horse with a broken leg, it's done," Russell said. "Some of my peers might have thought I was a Pollyanna trying to rescue an old horse."

But Russell's 30-year-old son, Eli, knew it was out of character for his mother, so he questioned her take on the situation.

"By the way," he told her, "I looked it up in Wikipedia, and Percherons live until they're 25 or more. They're one of the healthiest breeds of draft horses."

Eli, who works in sales, went on to explain that if Abby lived to her 25th birthday, her surgery would have cost about $2 a day for her additional years of life. "You can't tell me people can't give up $2 to save this horse," he prodded.

That was all the encouragement Russell needed to approach Abby's owner the day before the scheduled euthanasia. Once Soligney, the owner of the ranch, got on board, Russell said she no longer felt like "some crazy horse rescue lady" trying to do the impossible.

Abby's recovery continues

More than a month has passed since Abby's surgery was performed at Anoka Equine, and "the gentle giant with loving dark eyes" is well on her way to recovery, her website reports. She is placed in an outside wash stall every morning while her stall is cleaned, and she's walked outside for 20 minutes each night.

In a few weeks, Abby's leg will be x-rayed again, and once she's pronounced sound by the veterinarian, she can begin conditioning and will ultimately be a good horse for light riding. Then, the Abby Rescue Committee will work to find her a new home.

"She's got the most beautiful eyes," Russell said. "She's got eyelashes that are like 3 inches long. She's just beautiful."

Aimée Blanchette • 612-673-1715