Emma

In February 2017, a vet reached out to us about a 3-yr. old quarter horse filly that had been shot while out grazing about three weeks before. There was nothing more the owners were able to do for her and the only option was to euthanize her. The vet did not want to do this and asked for our help. Theresa met this young filly and knew she was a survivor – she had life in her eyes and certainly deserved a chance. When the vet said “Beauty’s Haven is her last chance,” well, we just couldn’t walk away. Theresa named her Emma and she was taken to the rescue.

We had a surgeon, Dr. Lugo of Ocala Equine Hospital, review x-rays. He felt that with surgery to remove bullets and fragments, Emma would be able to live comfortably as a pasture pal. Once again, our supporters rallied together and donated the funds necessary to make this surgery happen. Following the surgery, we were very disturbed to learn the severity of the injuries that had been inflicted on her. She had a fractured splint bone, a bullet on her knee that fractured bone, multiple bullet fragments and debris were removed from her head and other parts of her body, a bullet fractured her first cervical vertebrae (C1), and she had partial facial nerve paralysis from a bullet.

Emma has thrived and while she will never be able to be ridden, she is ready to begin a new chapter in her life in a safe and loving forever home. She is a very sweet girl. Humans did this to her, and while we wish we could take back everything that was, or wasn’t, done to and for her, we can’t. We can only promise to make all of her tomorrows the best that they can be.

There is still a $7,000 reward offered (combined funds from Beauty’s Haven and the Humane Society of the United States) for information that leads to the arrest, and conviction, of the party(ies) who are responsible for shooing Emma. Anyone with information that may help solve this case should contact the Levy County Sheriff’s Department at 352-486-5111.