Upcoming ETS Florida
April 14 & 15
Black Prong Equestrian Center
Bronson, Florida
Three Events on Saturday:
www.equinetrailsports.com/event/11353/
www.equinetrailsports.com/event/11354/
www.equinetrailsports.com/event/11355/
One Event on Sunday:
www.equinetrailsports.com/event/11356/
32 / Sport and Trail Magazine
MAMA ROCKS ME FROM KILL PEN TO
COMPETITIVE PARTNER
In 2015 I was scrolling through
Facebook and came across a sale
ad from the Fallon Feed Lot in
Nevada. They had just received
26 mares from a bucking horse
ranch that had gone out of
business. The Facebook post said
all the mares were thought to be
pregnant. They had 2 days before
they shipped to slaughter. It’s a
common story that most horse
lovers have heard before. My
heart ached at the thought of all
26 mares going to slaughter.
The next day, after some fast
paced planning, I embarked on a
journey that would change my
life and the life of one horse. I
rode other peoples horses in my
teens but it was not until I was in
my early 20’s that I had my own
horse; a Thoroughbred that I
owned and rode for about 2
years. After my military service
and raising a family, I was finally
in a place in my life where I could
have my own horses again at age
43. This story is not about me,
though, it is about Mama Horse.
It was February 2015. I packed up
and headed out to places
unknown, leaving my Arizona
home with my husband to rescue
a potentially pregnant mare from
a doomed fate. After what
seemed like an endless journey
to Fallon, Nevada, I arrived at the feedlot. I had no idea what horse was about to become mine. As part of the process of placing horses from this group of mares, I was not able to select which horse I wanted. I was the 12th person to pay and the horse ran onto my trailer that brisk morning was hip number 12. She was a stout gray mare who was terrified at the sound and motion of the plastic flag on a stick moving her closer and closer to the confinement of my 2-horse slant trailer.
By Leslie Brekke
From a feral kill pen rescue to an accomplished competitive partner, this is the story of "Mama Rocks Me", also known as Mama Horse.
Photo by Jason Brekke
Photo by Jason Brekke