Upon first glance, the soft, gentle doe like brown eyes and calm demeanor draw you in. Her beautiful coat glimmers in the sunlight like twinkling stars, and the peaceful disposition is evident. Nalah was born to be right where she is today which is fitting for the month of May; she was born to be a devoted mother. Her life has truly come “Full Circle.” While she is definitely in her element today at the loving and safe Red Bucket Ranch, this has not always been the life she has known. Nalah grew into her role in less than 45 days with the reassurance of the Red Bucket Volunteers who nurtured and believed that her journey had many more amazing miles to cover. Her story is one of strength and the will to overcome the daunting odds against her, a story of courage and love; the name Nalah stands for “successful.”

Nalah had suffered a harsh life before Red Bucket received a call about a “very pregnant mare” living in terrible conditions with a complete lack of care. She had been bred for sport, and her mouth was very tender and sensitive created from the use of harsh bits. She carried a scar on her croup which told another tale of the bitter treatment she had endured. She was a mare, ready to foal, neglected and in danger. Nalah had been given no prenatal care before being rescued by Red Bucket. Her coat was long and dull and her eyes were submissive, frightened and sad, telling the story of a lifetime of mistreatment. Her will and spirit were close to hopeless. She was desperate for love and care.

Within days of her arrival at Red Bucket, Nalah quickly began a metamorphic transformation. She began to trust and cautiously approach the volunteers. She was bedded well in deep shavings in a large corner stall at the end of a sunny barn. This barn included a row of horses that would soon take Nalah in as one of their own, and they became a wonderful society of loyal supporters and protectors. The “Club” consisted of Haze, Hobby and Spice. The 4 horses became great friends and looked out for each other. Nalah’s once vacant and flat expression was replaced rapidly with joy, trust and hope. Her eyes became bright and her new lease on life was evident in her disposition and demeanor. Haze, Hobby and Spice were all helping to encourage her gentle and nurturing spirit out into the forefront.

Since we wanted our expectant Nalah to be comfortable, it was thought best to put her in a roomy 24 x 24 foaling stall with a previously installed camera. While these conditions were best for her to foal, Nalah quickly became anxious because of separation from her supportive “Club” of horses. As the hours wore on, it became evident that she would be better off returned to her smaller stall near her “friends” to complete the foaling cycle. We realized that for the first time in her long life of abuse, she knew what safety felt like. She needed her “friends” and her cozy stall where she felt safe. Once that decision was made, very late at night, our Red Riding Hoods worked quickly to move nine horses that had to be shifted and rearranged to get Nalah “back” to her original barn stall. Hopefully, she could then feel comfortable and safe enough in her familiar surroundings to complete “The Circle of Life.”

Nalah has proven to be a wonderful and protective mother. Though she was once brutalized and degraded, it’s as if she instinctively understands the precious gift she has been given in baby “Winni.” The love and adoration she has been given by the Red Bucket Volunteers has helped her to respond with nurturing kindness to her new foal. Nalah has proven that though she received harsh and bitter treatment, she has been given the chance to create a “Full Circle” of trust, hope and unconditional love with the very first foal ever born at the Red Bucket Ranch.

She and Baby Winni are seen most days enjoying the beautiful spring weather and the space to run and play in the large turn-­‐out paddock in the front of the Red Bucket ranch by the street. Many people stop to admire and take pictures of the two miracles that are now a wonderful part of the Red Bucket Rescue story of love, friendship, trust, loyalty and hope.

Written by: Johanna Downs