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John Hollenhorst reporting A couple of horses that might have wound up dead, have a new home today.
It's the latest success for a horse rescue program that started about a year ago.
This is a very good day for a horse named Tesca, and another named Vinnie. They might very well have been slaughtered if they hadn't found a foster home in West Jordan.
And it was an extremely good day for a 6 year old girl named Emily.
The two horses arrived by trailer, in the custody of the Wasatch Humane Horse Rescue program. Six-year old Emily ran alongside, excited about the prospect of providing a foster home.
Vinnie is severely underweight and was confiscated by animal control authorities because Vinnie's owner was unable to provide proper feed. Tesca has a hoof disease, and her owners voluntarily gave her up to the horse rescue.
Emily's family volunteered to provide a foster home, while the Horse Rescue program provides feed and veterinary care.
Cheryl Smith, Wasatch Humane Horse Rescue: "Economic problems are one of the biggest problems that we're finding out are that families have stopped taking care of their horses. They get them and with the drought of the last few years, and just the poor economy, people are bailing out of their horses because they can't afford to care for them."
Emily Savage, West Jordan Resident: "Hello! Would you like an apple treat?"
Angela Savage, West Jordan Resident: "She thinks it's great. She's wanted a horse for a really long, well. What little girl hasn't wanted a horse? So for her, this is kind of a dream come true."
In the last year, the program has saved 38 horses.
There's always a need for foster homes and adopting families.
