Our lovely pregnant and very feral mares are finally demonstrating to us that they are beginning to exhale…just a little bit. What is clear, is that they are counting on being fed and they no longer seem surprised that our movements are slow and our voices are soft. While Lauren is teaching Darcy to lead within the carefully closed doors of our winter barn, Darla and Marlee are enjoying the warm spring sunshine in a carefully constructed paddock accessible by a portable chute. While we still have not touched Marlee, and we are respecting her space, we are consistently spending time with her in the hopes of slowly replacing her defensiveness with curiosity…and later friendship. It is with these actions, and inactions…that she is regaining the dignity that was previously stolen from her. Celebrating small victories towards our mutually shared goal of creating an environment of safety and peace for these tragically abused mares, we are excited to share the image that we captured on our stall cameras: Darla laid down and slowly laid her tired head on the pillow of clean straw that pads her stall, her exhale was audible as she closed her eyes and slept deeply for the very first time. Our mothers-to-be will have many more peaceful moments to come, thanks to the generosity of all of you who have donated toward the rescue and care of the 53 lives that we were able to save…because of you!