Swingin' D Horse Rescue

Swingin' D Horse Rescue saved Wilma, nearly 30, from a kill pen along with her BFF, Howie, and a two-year-old filly. The poor old mare was eaten up with arthritis, with knees as big as grapefruits and skin sagging off her bones. She and Howie were, by far, in the worst condition of any horses the rescue had ever saved from slaughter. Even after months of four-times-per-day feedings, Wilma and Howie were both having a difficult time putting on weight. Wilma especially was in so much pain, she barely got around. Because the pair had been together for so long, dumped for slaughter at the same time, rescue staff knew the loss of one to the other would compound their already significant pain; so they had decided that if one was to be euthanized, they would both go together. A medical emergency with another horse at the rescue kept the staff occupied for a couple of weeks, and in that time, they noticed Wilma's belly was growing faster than her topline. They treated her for parasites, cut back her hay and switched her to a lighter grain, but her belly kept growing while her bones kept protruding. The vet came to help the rescue decide if it was time to let Wilma and Howie go. He took one look and made a shocking proclamation that wound up saving Wilma's life, and bringing immeasurable joy to Swingin' D during a painful time.

At Swingin' D Horse Rescue, we bring in traumatized horses that are very easily spooked, so kamikaze wodd bees dive bombing our heads as we handle the poor souls are a menace. Here's how we rid our old barn of wood bees/carpenter bees, once and for all.

I lost my precious Aubrey to a freak lipoma that broke loose and twisted around her intestines, causing a massive blockage that rotted her gut while we waited for the vet to call us back. We walked her for hours upon hours, knowing we were dealing with colic, but unaware it was the type she only had a 60/40 chance of surviving. When the vet gave me the option of proceeding with the $10,000 surgery or letting her go, right there on the operating table, I wasn't ready to say goodbye, so I told him to go ahead. This is Aubrey's story.

Nearing 30 years old, Wilma was starved and neglected to near death and dumped with her best buddy for slaughter. She and 20-something Howie awaited their executions on an Oklahoma kill lot until a local rescue said they could make room for three suffering souls. Wilma and Howie were in the poorest condition of any horse saved by Swingin' D Horse Rescue, a 501(c)(3) in Coweta, Oklahoma. Both skin and bones and eaten up with arthritis, Swingin' D owners were bracing for reality - that the pair could not be saved, and that the best they could provide was a peaceful, humane death - together. After months of feeding and treating the pair, Wilma especially was in so much pain, she could barely move. With knees the size of grapefruits, she had trouble bending her legs to lay down, so she was always on her swollen legs and feet. Staff at the 'D knew, since they'd been together for so long, through horrific abuse and exploitation no creature should endure, one could not live without the other. The trauma would be too much for their already frail bodies. Then, as the 'D prepared to make arrangements to let Howie and Wilma go, the vet make a shocking revelation. Wilma was not JUST suffering from arthritis. There was a logical explanation for many of the symptoms she exhibited. But she was still so thin, and so advanced in age, her handlers never would have dreamed...

Swingin' D Horse Rescue saves horses from the slaughter pipeline, nurses them back to health, evaluates and trains them for adoption to responsible horse lovers. Located in beautiful Coweta, Oklahoma, the 'D is a 501(c)(3) with an all-volunteer staff.

Who deserves chilly and delicious summer treats more than abused and neglected horses? No one. That's why we spoil our rescues rotten at Swingin' D. Here's one of our special recipes.

Winston was the youngest horse we'd ever rescued. Just 9 months old, he was about to ship to slaughter when we bailed him from the kill pen - and thank God we did! Winston has brought such joy to Swingin' D Horse Rescue. A walking meme machine, he's gone from a scrawny, sickly, wild little stallion to the chillest, happiest horse on earth. Here's just one example of Winston and his adorable antics.

We run a 501C3 horse rescue where funny things are always happening. On this day, our hay ring kept mysteriously ending up on the other side of the pasture. Here's how it happened...and what we did to move it back. Hint: WWHD (What would a hamster🐹 do?)