Episode 114
In Episode 113, Part 3 of our rescued horses from September 2024, we came home with an extra traveler who was a special situation. Another rescue group had rescued a Belgian Draft horse mare earlier in 2024. She was placed in quarantine and was set to go to a home with a new family. Until, the new owner abandoned her at quarantine because they could not afford medical care for the horse. The mare had eye cancer and the owner couldn’t afford medical. The quarantine facility was then told by the owner to take the horse back to Bowie to ship to slaughter.
The rescue group that originally rescued her found out what was happening and that the Belgian Draft horse mare was back to Bowie as few months later the other rescue group reached out to me to see if we could take her. When we found out she was back at Bowie for a second time and was scheduled to ship direct to slaughter we couldn’t let this poor horse suffer being at the kill pen for a second time!
So we brought her back to the farm with one of our pick ups from Bowie as an extra traveler! We named her Opal.
Opal was missing her right eye and after getting her to the veterinarian for much needed medical attention, the cancer in her left eye was already invading the bone leaving her in a lot of pain. The eye was also horribly infected and the cancer was eating away at her eyelid and surrounding area.
We gave Opal probably the best few weeks of her life filled with horse muffins, food, brushes, painting, love and kindness.
On October 7th, we set Opal free from pain with the last act of kindness.
Run Free sweet girl, you deserved so much more! This is Opal’s story and the time she spent on our farm getting everything she deserved.
As a growing horse rescue group, we rely on monetary donations to keep the organization moving forward. The Big Hoof Foundation will always be transparent with how your donations are used. 100% of the money we raise goes directly to the rescued horses’ bail fees, transport, feed, hay, medical bills, medications, alternative medical treatments, supplements, surgeries, etc. Every dollar raised is for the horses!
We have a fundraiser going for all the medical bills for the 54 equines we have rescued since the beginning of September. We could definitely use your support with this fundraiser. All the details of the fundraiser along with copies of the medical bills are at www.bighooffoundation.org
We hope you enjoy this video! Make sure you like, comments and subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss anything happening around the farm! Because it’s never a dull moment! Thank you for watching!
We have a Patreon account too! Please check it out as we will be posting exclusive content for members along with pictures, Q&A sessions and much more! Membership for exclusive daily content for our basic tier is only $5.00 per month! If you sign up for the “Liam” tier you will also get all the exclusive content plus daily content of Liam! No more Liam withdraw for his favorite fans!
https://patreon.com/FletcherFarmsAmarillo817
Another way to support us is with feed…the one item WE always need is FEED! If you would like to send a gift/donation of feed (Alfa Pro or beardless wheat) you can send that through our local feed store, HF & C Amarillo. When you call, tell them you are sending a gift to Fletcher Farms Amarillo/Big Hoof Foundation and they will add the gifts to our account.
We are feeding the herd round bales of beardless wheat and the horses go through about 6 bales every few days. A round bale of beardless wheat is $140. We also use small square bales of beardless wheat and can be purchased through HF&C Amarillo for $14.95 each. Our special needs horses also eat Alfa-Pro which is a complete pelleted alfalfa mixed with vitamins and minerals. Alfa-Pro is $17.45 per bag. They do offer a discount if you purchase by the pallet (40 – 50 pound bags) $16.95 per bag if purchased by the pallet.
HF&C Supply Amarillo
10410 I-27 Amarillo, TX, 79119
https://hfandc.com
Phone: (806) 622-9800
Mon – Fri: 8AM- 6PM (Central Time), Saturday: 8AM – 3PM, Sunday: CLOSED
The herd also eats fresh alfalfa and they eat 4 bales per day. If you would like to send the horses a gift of alfalfa you can do that through Mauls Feed and Seed. We use Mauls for alfalfa because it is grown locally here in Amarillo and they are priced the best in town.
Mauls Feed and Seed
11385 US-60, Pampa, TX 79065
Phone: (806) 665-5881
Mon – Fri: 8AM- 5PM (Central Time), Saturday: 8AM – 12:30PM, Sunday: CLOSED
We have created an Amazon wish list for other supplies we need.
Big Hoof Foundation Amazon Wishlist
https://a.co/0oGJ8y6
A HUGE Thank you to all of our subscribers and followers for your support, kindness and generosity! We are grateful for everything and don’t know what we would do without you!
©2025 Fletcher Farms Amarillo
All rights reserved
www.fletcherfarmsamarillo.com
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Please don’t kill horses for food. They are almost like us and have happy days, fear and love. Plus nowadays you never know when we will need them again. Friends to man for millennia’s ❤
I love your videos but I think it's important and necessary to show the good, bad, and ugly part about rescuing. Some people who want to start rescuing need to know about all parts because they will definitely have the love for the animals, but they might not have the heart to do the right and necessary hard part for the animals.
This is exactly why God put people like you on this earth. The compassion you all have is like no other. Thank you for the love you give these beautiful creatures. This kind of love isn't for everyone. You have that special love. I've rescued horse to years ago. I loved every minute of it.
Amish need to get a grip, come down to planet Earth 2025, have a clue and buy a tractor!!!!
I’m sorry but those stupid backwards Amish are the worse group of peoples that abuse horses. They need to buy tractors!!!!!!!!
Lovely to see the last time Opal spent on earth was filled with happiness and the greatest abundance of love. You are all angels on earth. 👼🏻👼🏻😇😇🪽🪽
You folks are wonderful. God bless you all. You gave Opal more love in a few weeks than she had her whole life. Thank you so much ❤
So sorry about Opal. It’s great that she had some wonderful days of loving care and lots of goodies. ❤️
You took care of her the best. Giving her a muffin.
So very sad to watch her constantly shake her head – you know she's just uncomfortable, even if not in pain. Bless you for giving her the rest she needed.
Thank you all for what you do
Poor sweet girl 💖💖💖
Such a beautiful horse… so sad nothing can be done for her. Thank you for everything you do!!❤
So happy you were making Opal so comfortable as long as you could. She is so beautiful.❤
Poor girl, so sad…she must have been in so much pain…how can people be so cruel…you gave her such a lot of love and pampering..she is with horse angels now…RIP
Thank you so much for your kindness and support to these magnificent horses!
They don’t deserve the abuse that they endure in their lives.
These horses truly are gentle giants. ❤
Rest well Opal. ❤ And much love to everyone at the farm.❤ Glad her time there was filled with so much love and respect.
So sorry for your loss. You treated her very well in the end of Opal's days. God Bless You All❤❤❤
I had a good cry watching how Opal herd came to say good bye and how they walk away with their heads down, So sad. I see you in heaven sweet Opal. I'm so sorry your past human failed to see your true worth
Instead of her last days and hours being full of terror, they were full of love, kindness and calm. Thank you.
Lots off love for you all, thank you so so much for wat you all do ❤❤❤
I have learned in life
That sometimes the only thing left to do to prove your love, is to let them go.
Beautiful and sad video. Opal was beautiful and looked so healthy except for her eye. I truly believe she was very happy at Fletcher Farms and thankful for you having saved her even if only for a short time. The love and care you show all your horses is so heartwarming. I was definitely tearful watching the herd coming in to say their goodbye, it's like how did they know. She never looked like she was in any discomfort or pain always taking her muffins. I also have never seen a horse not liking apples. I feel for you Julie and helpers of the strength to have to say goodbye, I know it was very hard to do. Wish there wasn't any cancer!!!! Know that she is with all the other horses running in heaven's pastures pain free. Hugs!!!!
Poor sweet Opal. 😢🙏I am so grateful that you gave her the care and love she always needed. I am also grateful that she is now pain free and running in the pastures of Heaven. God bless you for all you do for these beautiful souls.❤❤️❤️❤️
It is so amazing being in the midst of someone with such a big and generous heart. Thank you julie for the care and love you give so freely.
Is there any theory on why so many of them get eye cancer?
So very sorry for opal she is loved by all of us❤❤hugs
A Belgian colt due to ship to slaughter 2/22/2025 if someone can rescue him thanks to all rescuers Bowie texas livestock #4406
For anyone wanting to rescue ❤there is a percheron mare at Bowie texas livestock #4365 slaughter date 2/16/2025 ❤ thank you for all everyone does God bless
The moments with Shelby😭😭😭she loved being in that barn so much, she didnt want to leave it. She really enjoyed the care and attention you were sble to give her in the little time you were able to have together. I'm sure it soothed her soul before crossing over.
I am so sorry…💔
Awesome commitment to care for these poor horses, liked, So educational on the realities mistreated horses. ❤❤ to all, from England.
👍🐎👍🐎👍
It does seem like there is a lot of eye cancer, is this something that runs in their DNA?
You did everything you could so sad
This is so heartbreaking! I'm so sorry for your loss but so happy you made her last days the best possible! Hugs to you all! 💔
Goodbye Sweet Opal. Rest easy and have some peace at last. Thank you Julie and team at Fletcher Farms.
Opal may not have liked apples, but have you ever heard of a dog not liking peanut butter? Because we had one! He wouldn't touch it at all, or any type of nuts, actually. Opal was one of the truly special ones that grabbed at your heart, because humans had failed her. I'm so glad she had.love in her final days with you all at Fletcher Farms! Your friend, the Retired Paramedic and Horse Trainer in Ontario, Canada, Jenn 💖 🇨🇦
Thank you Julie for all your hard work. May Opal rest in peace.❤️
Sending love and prayers for Julie, Corey, and Everyone at FFA. Sending prayers for Opal in Heaven ❤❤❤
I'm glad opal found a really good place. To take care of her. Now she's on the other side of rainbow bridge running cancer-free . Run free sweet girl. I'm sorry for your loss. I'm a horse lover myself❤
Opal starting out afraid and aggressive to sharing her food with alpha pro…❤❤❤❤. Her whole manner changed🥰. Thank you such loving care🥹
THANK YOU for giving Opal theeeee best time of her life, LOVE SUPREME. Gone but never forgotten x
I had a bit of a cry watching that. But what a huge difference for Opal, spending her last days and dying in your presence, surrounded by nothing but LOVE, compared to being taken to a slaughterhouse where the cruelty and terror the horses are faced with is unimaginable! God bless you abundandly, dear Julie, for your compassion towards these beautiful, kind and gentle creatures!
This is a good thing!!! You guys are good natured people!!! Thank you for our video!!!!
Opal went to horse heaven and told every horse there about the angel on earth named Julie who gave her last days such care and happiness.
I wish I could donate some money.
I live on Social Security and I'm pretty broke.
Praying for you!