"At one point in my life my PTSD, depression and anxiety was so bad it took all my strength to get out of bed. I was truly suicidal and wanted the flashbacks and pain to go away."
an Appendix QH named Levi.
Shortly thereafter, came Dutch, a BLM Mustang from Bitner, California and his tag along Eli, a Tennessee Walker. When Eli came off the trailer his fear was obvious. His fear was something I could relate to. He was extremely head shy, sensitive, underweight with an amputated tail and numerous other signs of physical trauma. His ground manners were so explosive that my veterinarian said, “Lois, get rid of him or you’re going to lose your life or a limb.”
This was a life lesson, allowing me to stand up for myself and my horse. I chose not to give up on this horse, who at four years old, had arrived at his ninth and final home.
Here is what I know New Jersey ACTHA member Lois Fritz and CD (Cecelia Dawn)
1 year old Mustang Filly. Captured in the Sulpher HMA (Horse Management Area), Utah on 2-28-15. Held in a holding pen in Sulpher. Lois adopted her through the internet BLM adoption. A shipper shipped her with approximately 50+ other yearlings to Lorton, VA where Lois picked her up on 8-14-15. Only 7 were adopted and the rest went back to the holding pen in Utah (I would presume, since that is where they came from). L I think it is important that we put on the cover where and when she was captured....she was a freaking baby, ripped away from her mother and family...these cattle and oil people SUCK.
The red, white and blue bandanna is significant for a number of reasons. First being a Navy vet Lois is very patriotic. 2nd it is to symbolize that these Mustangs are a national treasure and we as a nation must do whatever it takes to preserve this national treasure.
side crap
ACTHA Monthly | 20
I worked with Chip literally on the ground for about 18 months, just him and me. I spent hours and hours grooming and loving him. He started my healing in life. During this time I had other life changing events which affected me psychologically, physically and emotionally. There was not a day that went by that I didn’t feel that being near or with Chip was for me, a safe and secure place to be. My hours of talking with Chip had started my healing process.
In September 2012 I had major liver surgery and spent weeks in and out of the critical care unit with drains hanging out of my stomach and tubes out of my neck. I looked at my husband and said, “Please let me live, and by the way, can I get another horse?” He said, “When you get better you can get another horse.”
As my health improved my husband fulfilled his promise. I went to an auction in upstate New York with biliary drains tangling out of my abdomen and bought a lovely Percheron whose sheer size provided me comfort and love. I believe that I could feel this horse’s pain and he could feel my pain. Unfortunately, he came down with a devastating case of colic and passed away on the surgery table; 1 year and 9 months after we brought him home. This only added to my anxiety and depression. Determined that Chip could not be alone and needed a buddy, I rescued an Appendix QH named Levi.
Lois with her most recent herd addition; Cecilia Dawn, a yearling BLM Mustang filly captured in the Sulphur Horse Management Area, Utah.