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Help the horses win up to $20,000!
For the fourth year in a row, The Pegasus Project will be taking part in the national celebration of ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) Help A Horse Day and competing for a chance to win grant money to assist with our efforts to protect horses. We were awarded $10,000 in each of the 2015, 2016 and 2017 "Help A Horse Day" contests. This year's contest has been expanded to include a total of
$110,000
in grant prizes. The 2018 contest is a two-month campaign focusing on increasing adoptions of rescue horses. To kick off our adoption crusade, we will host
Wings Over Pegasus, an airplane and equine extravaganza! The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 28 at the 95-acre Pegasus Ranch, located at 7111 FM 2339 in Murchison.
The entire family will enjoy a casual, carnival atmosphere featuring "The Raptor" airshow, skydivers and horses. Guests can visit with the Pegasus trainers and staff to meet, pet and learn about the horses and get information regarding adoption and sponsorship opportunities. The SPCA of East Texas will also be on-site with a variety of adoptable dogs.
You do not want to miss out on these amazing opportunities:
- EAA Young Eagles free airplane rides for kids 8-17
- Raffle drawing for two round-trip tickets on Southwest Airlines
- Photo opportunity with "Pegasito," the winged-donkey in his kissing booth
- Interactive Photo Booth
- Pony rides
- Paint A Horse
- Gourmet Food Trucks
- Face painting
- Helicopter Rides
- Horse Poop Roulette
- Amazing Silent Auction
Admission is $10/vehicle. Food, refreshments, and participation in activities and games are available for purchase, with all proceeds benefiting the horses of The Pegasus Project.
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Two-Eyed Mac (1984 - March 9, 2018)
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On March 9, 2018, we lost a horse that defined the Pegasus mission and symbolized true transformation. Mac had come to us in July of 2010 as an abused, 26-year-old stallion. With his owner dying of cancer, Mac was boarded at a stable in Tyler, Texas where he was severely mishandled. Over the course of five years, he had gone from a well-mannered gentleman to an aggressive danger.
We were contacted by authorities at Smith County to evaluate Mac following his attack of one of his caretakers. We quickly realized that a very fine horse had been reduced to a depressed and angry shell of himself. We agreed to accept Mac into our program, where his transformation began.
Because of his aggressive tendencies and his penchant for jumping fences, we made the decision to castrate him with the hope that he could live out his life as a happy herd animal in the company of other horses. We also reminded him what it felt like to be handled with love, skill and discipline. We healed his mind, body and spirit, and Mac became one of the most kind, gentle and loving horses we had ever known.
Due to his history, we placed Mac in our sanctuary program to live out his life on the Pegasus ranch. He spent eight wonderful years with us. His constant companion was Allyson DeCanio's Quarter Horse, Doc. Throughout the years, other horses shared space with Doc and Mac, and Mac became friends with them all. He relished his new life, and he loved us almost as much as we loved him.
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| Mac with his best friend, Doc |
On February 27, 2018, Mac experienced an episode of choke. Despite the best of veterinary care, his esophagus ruptured 10 days later while at the vet clinic, and we had to put him down. Few days have been more difficult than that day. The loss of this wise, fearless, majestic creature was almost more than we could bear. Our only comfort was knowing that he lived to the ripe old age of 34 in the midst of people who loved him. There shall never be another Mac. This bad-ass horse was truly one of a kind, and we miss his beautiful, dignified face every day.
We encourage you to take a look at Mac's journey at Pegasus. To read his full story and view his photo album, click here:
MAC.
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~Geronimo Is Back~
We first met Geronimo in April 2011 when he was a 2 year old stud colt. This young mustang was rescued by a caring couple in Van, Texas, who could not keep him long-term. They had seen him starving in a small pen in a neighbor's back yard and asked if they could take him to provide the care he needed. This couple was willing to foster Geronimo until Pegasus had a space for him. We got him neutered, trimmed, and vaccinated, and he was ready to roll.
Space opened up at Pegasus in June 2011, and Geronimo joined our herd. We immediately sent him to Bruce Logan to be started under saddle. After nine months with Bruce, Geronimo next went to complete his training with Lorna Russell, a Pegasus board member and accomplished horsewoman. She put some extra polish on him and showcased him at our Grand Opening/Benefit on June 2, 2012. Geronimo was such a lovely boy that after working with him, Lorna decided she would keep him. Lorna continued to work with Geronimo over the next five years, taking him to clinics and many trail rides. In December of 2017, Lorna decided to adopt a young gelding named Micah from Pegasus, and returned Geronimo to us to adopt out.
Geronimo is now 9 years old and stands about 15 hands tall. He has years of training and is well-mannered. Geronimo gets along well with other horses and loves the attention of people. He's a reliable and steady trail mount who can be a bit reactive to new things at times, but who responds beautifully to a confident rider providing leadership. We feel certain that this healthy, sturdy guy will make an excellent horse for the right adopter and provide a solid partnership for many years to come.
Please click
HERE to view Geronimo's photo album. If you are interested in adopting Geronimo, please review our
Adoption Process and then contact us.
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A Note from Allyson
Gia Update - Volume 2
We are pleased to report that Gia continues to improve. (For those of you unfamiliar with Gia's story, please refer to my column in our February 2018 and March 2018 newsletters. You can find links to our archived newsletters
HERE.)
At our last update, Gia was at Dr. Thoni's clinic receiving intensive treatment for her injured right eye. Dr. Thoni released her back to our care on March 2nd, and we have continued to administer antibiotic ointment to her eye twice per day. Miraculously, her eye is mostly healed now! She has a white spot of scar tissue in the center that will likely remain, but over time, it has continued to shrink. She has vision, and we fully expect that her eye will remain viable. She has a follow up appointment next week.
Regrettably, Gia's first 30 days of treatment for EPM was not effective. When we retested her blood, the titers for EPM were still quite high. We have changed medication and are administering another 28 days of treatment. She is mostly symptom-free, and so we remain optimistic regarding her
prognosis
. She moves about freely and loves trotting and cantering around her paddock.
Gia is now sharing space with our kind, 20-year-old mare, Bailey. Bailey's foal, CJ, had been weaned a few months prior, and so Bailey was pleased to take on another youngster to raise. All of Gia's skin wounds are healed, and she's shedding her matted, unhealthy coat. She's eating very well and is an excellent patient. Within the next few months, we are hoping all signs of her terrible neglect will be undetectable.
Stay tuned for continued Gia updates in future versions of this column.
If you would like to make a donation to help with
Gia's medical treatment, c
lick here and put "Gia" in your note: Donate
Allyson DeCanio
President, The Pegasus Project
For questions or comments, email: allyson@mypegasusproject.org
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Enter Raffle To Win
Two Roundtrip Tickets on
Southwest Airlines
GET YOURS TODAY!!
Airline tickets are good on any SWA flight within the U.S. and Puerto Rico
Drawing at Wings Over Pegasus on April 28, 2018
(need not be present to win)
1 raffle ticket for $20
-or-
3 raffle tickets for $50
-or-
7 raffle tickets for $100
All proceeds benefit the horses of
The Pegasus Project
Click here to purchase:
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PEGASUS PARTNERS
Thursday, April 19th
5:30 pm
DeCanios' Front Porch
Pegasus Ranch
Monthly, fun,
information-packed meetings for
Pegasus supporters at various locations throughout the year. All Pegasus Partners at the $25/month level and higher are Happy Hour members. Membership includes a car decal, a Pegasus hat or t-shirt, a Pegasus logo wine glass and an open invitation
to every meeting!
Discuss the latest Pegasus news and connect with other like-minded horse fans. (Your wine glass is free, but the wine isn't! We know how much you drink!)
Click here to join:
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DO YOU LOVE
WHAT WE DO? BECOME A PEGASUS PARTNER!
Did you know Pegasus relies entirely on private donations? Our regular monthly donors, known as
Pegasus Partners
, are our most treasured assets. For as little as $10/month you can help provide us with a predictable source of income at a much lower cost than any other fundraising method.
While we are very
appreciative of
one-time donations, the monthly donations of our
Pegasus Partners allow us to plan ahead.
Our ability to save these helpless horses, donkeys and mules depends on YOUR donations!
We cannot do this without you! Please consider making a monthly donation so we may continue to rescue horses that have no future without us.
Click here to join:
Pegasus Partners
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