Program cares for sick horses

FITTSTOWN, Okla. (AP) -- Winston Churchill said, "There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man."<br/><br/>But what about for the inside of a woman? For Elizabeth

Monday, May 31st 2004, 5:18 am

By: News On 6

FITTSTOWN, Okla. (AP) -- Winston Churchill said, "There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man."

But what about for the inside of a woman? For Elizabeth Munson, sheer joy is experienced through the lives of her horses, and her rescue operation is a shining example of the good that one person's passion can do.

Munson began Green Pastures Equine Rescue Foundation (GPERF) in 1982. Through the nonprofit program, Munson provides veterinary care, shelter, proper diet and, above all, compassion and tender-loving care for sick, injured, aged and unwanted horses.

The number of residents at the farm have now reached 64. At the age of 70, Munson is still going strong. Although it seems with the downtrend in the economy, GPERF may not be so lucky.

"I started this with my own money and kept it going until those funds ran out," she said. "Then someone suggested that I become a nonprofit organization because it would be a lot easier.

"I'm still not sure about that; if I had the money to do it on my own still, I would. I don't like having to depend on other people because many of them can't help us like we need help.

"Sometimes it seems like those who want to help can't do as much as they like because they are on a fixed income, and those who can help financially don't for some reason."

Munson relocated her operation from the Oklahoma City area because she was able to find the facilities she needed in Fittstown. Though she now rents the farm, she resided there with the landlord until the first of January.

"He was nice enough to let us go ahead and move in with him," she said. "We are working hard to get grant money so we can actually purchase the land, but for now we just rent it."

Donations are the primary source for Munson's stock, though some horses are purchased from auctions to prevent them from meeting their end at a packing plant.

"God put these horses on earth for a reason, and I hate to see them go to the killer because someone hasn't taken the right care of them, they are getting old or they have some kind of defect that requires extra attention," Munson said.

"I ask people. `If these were your elderly parents, would you just let them go to a place where they meet their Maker the way a packing plant kills horses?'

"People look at horses and just see dumb animals. But the only difference between horses and humans is that horses don't talk, but they do have a language between themselves. They feel, they love, they are loyal and they are God's creations, just like you and me.

Walking through the stables, each mare, filly, gelding and stud has a unique story, all of which Munson is glad to share with those looking to adopt one of the farm's residents.

Two horses come from outside of the United States, traveling from Canada and England. Many are racetrack and broodmare farms' casualties saved from a meat packing plant.

Some are stallions that, because they were never gelded, are much too high strung for anyone to work with. Many of them, however, are simply elderly or have been so badly mistreated that the stories could break a heart of stone.

One black and white paint stallion with a particularly heart-wrenching story goes by the name of Scooby Doo, and is now blind in one eye because of starvation. His mother was sold at an auction and the people who bought her didn't want the colt, Munson said.

Even though he was only six weeks old, they separated him from his momma and the people who bought him put him out to pasture and he didn't even know how to eat because he was still being milked.

The vet said that he should have died because he was so badly treated and poor, but he has put on a lot of weight and is doing so much better. I'm hoping that the healthier he gets, that maybe his sight will come back.

It's stories like this that capture the heart of Munson, and continue to drive her each and every day, though times are extremely tough for her organization right now.

Until recently, Purina donated 100 percent of the feed needed to nourish the stock, but after a plant-manager change, Munson was cut-off from the much-needed supply cold turkey.

"We contacted the corporate headquarters about it and they are back to supplying about half of what we need, but we are in such desperate need for so much, its getting overwhelming. It's a constant fight."

Feed donations are not the only thing needed right now to keep GPERF up and running. As always, monetary funds are constantly welcome, but Munson realizes not everyone can provide financially.

"I really need hands right now because my volunteers have diminished due to the high cost of gas," she said. "This does meet the requirements for court-ordered community service, but anyone who just loves horses is welcome to come out and help me."

In addition to funding, feed and volunteers, donations of hay are also being sought.

"If someone is cleaning out their barn and want to get rid of some hay, Ill take it. As long as it's not moldy and the horses can eat it, I would love to have it."