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Horse To Human Adopts Kleo

Horse To Human Adopts Kleo

by Mirabelle Lindemann

AVI USA received updates from Auroville’s wonderful horse therapy sanctuary, Horse To Human, from Mirabelle, the project leader. Among the updates, she sent us the beautiful story of Kleo, which we are sharing with you today.

Here, at HorsetoHuman, we are determined to rewrite Kleo’s story. She will no longer be defined by the cruelty of her past but by the love, care, and respect she will find here. We will nurture her back to health, providing the peace and security she desperately needs to bring her foal into this world safely.

Kleo came to us from a riding school over 400 kilometers away, where she was overlooked and mistreated because she didn’t fit their image of a “good” horse. Instead of being in a stable or paddock, she spent her days tied up behind a shack, her spirits broken, her body starved. What made me the most alarmed/angry/alarmed was that she was allowed to drink one bucket only once a day. A close friend, with whom we had been in regular contact, expressed their deep concern for Kleo and hoped we could rescue her and bring her to HorsetoHuman. Though the idea was daunting-especially with finances being tight-it felt right, so we got to work. We began work on the 7th and she arrived on the 11th of August at 8 am.

In just four intense days, we scrambled to build her a stable: floor, roof structure, and paddock fencing. The night of her arrival, I stayed up all night in constant contact with the transport driver to make sure he didn’t get lost on the long journey, and to get regular updates on Kleo’s wellbeing. The gate to her paddock was installed after her arrival, but we did it-Kleo was finally home, now we could all breathe. Nothing prepared us for how skinny she was.The wounds on her body and the fear in her eyes suggest she was likely beaten, her spirit wounded by cruelty. On top of it all we were informed she may be pregnant! We got straight to work: gave her a bath and set up a specific re-feeding plan with our vet.

1. Custom Diet Plan: With Kleo arriving underweight, designing a balanced nutrition plan is essential to rebuilding her strength, supporting her pregnancy, and helping her heal fully. This plan will be tailored to her specific needs and monitored closely.

2. Dietary Supplements: High-quality supplements will play a critical role in supporting her recovery and ensuring she has enough nutrients to sustain a healthy pregnancy without further depleting her energy reserves.

Kleo Day 12

Kleo Day 1

3. Outdoor Time & Long Walks: Daily time outside, including peaceful walks, will help Kleo develop trust in humans again. Offering her unconditional love and care is key to creating new positive associations with people.

4. Natural Hoof Care: Transitioning Kleo to barefoot will promote long-term comfort, improved mobility, and a more natural connection to the ground. Regular maintenance will ensure she adjusts smoothly.

5. Trust-Building & Discovering her Personality: Initial sessions focused on strengthening the bond between Kleo and her caretakers. These sessions aim to build trust, help her rediscover her personality, and develop her confidence, discovering her voice.

Kleo After 2 Months

KLEO ‘S UPCOMING MILESTONES TO A HEALTHY FUTURE

1. Dental Care Schedule dental check-up and teeth floating if necessary.

2. Pregnancy Scan: veterinary ultrasound to monitor her pregnancy progress.

3. Herd Integration: Gradually introduce Kleo to the herd for socialization and companionship.

4. Increasing Her Feed: Adjust her diet with higher quality hay and additional supplements to support her nutritional needs during pregnancy.

5. Hoof Care: Regular trimming and check-ups to ensure healthy hoof growth.

6. Health Monitoring: Keep track of her weight and overall health, with vet check-ups as needed.

7. Mental Stimulation: Introduce gentle training exercises and interaction to keep her engaged.

Kleo’s healing journey depends on us and the support of people like you, our guardian angels, empowering us-the team at HorsetoHuman-to maintain and constantly improve the quality of life for both Kleo and the entire herd. Whether through sponsorship or a donation, your contribution-no matter the size-will directly impact their care and welI-being.