AGAINST THE ODDS
Journey’s Journey By Brittany Nay | Journey maternity photo by Tammi Elbert Photography; Journey and Cruiser photo courtesy of Longmeadow Rescue Ranch
F
or a local horse aptly dubbed Journey, the rough road to recovery has reached a sweet conclusion: The mare recently welcomed a happy, healthy colt at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch, the Humane Society of Missouri’s haven for numerous abused and neglected horses and farm animals. Journey first trotted into metro area residents’ hearts as one of 10 surviving horses among 29 involved in a horrific trailer truck crash last October on Interstate 44 in Franklin County, an hour southwest of St. Louis. Early in her rehabilitation at the Union ranch, Longmeadow staff discovered Journey had become pregnant prior to the accident. In celebration, Missouri photographer Tammi Elbert donated her services for a nature-inspired maternity shoot for the mare – complete with florals styled around her swelling belly. “People were very excited,” says Amanda Mullen, the ranch’s director. “We had a baby cam showing Journey, so people could follow the livestream video … during the daytime. As horses often do, [Journey] delivered overnight, so people were able to see her new colt the next morning.” The fortunate foal was named through a survey on the ranch’s website that received almost 5,000 votes, with more than 1,500 choosing the winning moniker: Cruiser. “Cruiser was one of the ideas from staff to go along with the travel theme of Journey … and we thought it was a cute name,” Mullen says. “Cruiser was the good thing that came out of the tragedy of the wreck.” Cruiser is the second success story at Longmeadow that emerged from a tragic crash. Twist of Fate, the “painting” horse nicknamed Twister, also was born to a horse rescued from another Franklin County accident, in 2006. Like Journey, his mother was being transported for slaughter at the time of the incident, but a “twist of fate” led to Longmeadow, Mullen explains. Journey, now considered a senior horse at almost 21 years old, and Cruiser, who will be two
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months old on Saturday, Oct. 16, will be available for adoption once the colt is weaned – a process that typically takes about eight months. “[Journey] is trained for riding, so [she] could potentially be a horse for a first-time rider, but she wouldn’t be able to do any athletic disciplines,” Mullen explains, adding that Cruiser will “only go to a family who has experience working with foals. He is taking in every experience, so he learns how to behave and interact with people. [He] will need another horse to show him the way.” Those interested in visiting the once-skittish, now-friendly new mom and her adorable growing foal, as well as the ranch’s 80 other horses and 75 farm animals, including ducks, chickens, pigs, goats, alpacas and llamas, can do so during the open-house hours of noon to 3 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Masks are required indoors, Mullen notes.
From medical rehabilitation to pregnancy to the birth of Cruiser, Journey’s yearlong journey with HSMO has turned tragedy into triumph with the help of the ranch’s dedicated staff. As staffers continue to care for the lucky pair, contributions can be made to a special fund for the horses by clicking on the donate tab at longmeadowrescueranch.org/babycam. Humane Society of Missouri’s Longmeadow Rescue Ranch, 480 Joseph’s Road, Union, 636-583-8759, longmeadowrescueranch.org
