Blood. Sweat. Tears. Heartbreak. Hope.

Straight from the Rescues’ Mouths – From Corona

Samson is handing me the spotlight this month — one last gift from him — because I am still waiting. My name is Corona, and I came to Illinois Horse Rescue of Will County back in December 2019. At first, everyone thought I would be easy to adopt, but as time went on, my quirks began to show. Now, here I am, still waiting after nearly five years. I’ve become the rescue’s longest resident horse, watching so many others come and go, while I remain behind.

This past month, I’ve been the topic of so many posts. My humans are trying so hard to find me that forever home, but still, no one comes for me. I wonder every day — am I not enough? Will anyone ever see past my quirks and love me for me? I will keep waiting. But while I wait, let me tell you about the other rescues who came through our gates this month.

This has been one of the busiest and hardest months our rescue family has ever faced. Over 30 animals have found safety here this month — cats, chickens, turkeys, cattle, donkeys, rabbits, and of course, horses. And for the first time ever, my humans finally took a leap they’d been planning for years: rescuing directly from an auction.

The plan was simple — save 5 ponies, quarantine them, and start them on their second chance. But nothing about that day was simple. Have you ever sat at a horse auction? Horses run through like livestock, one after another, no name, no hope, just a number. My humans had to make choices no one should have to make:

• Do we rescue the ones who need the last act of kindness?

• Do we rescue the sick and starved, who need mountains of care?

• Or do we choose the healthy, who could find homes quickly and give us room to save more?

The ponies went for more than we could afford, and in the end, three big horses came home instead.

The first was a little mare with no name. She was skin and bones, her eyes already tired of fighting. My humans feared she would not make it, but they couldn’t let her end up on a truck, dying trampled on the way to slaughter. They named her Shooting Star. She stood bravely through the long trailer ride, but just 30 minutes after arriving, she laid down and never got up. They stayed with her, whispering love, telling her she was beautiful and wanted, as she drifted to heaven. A shooting star streaked across the sky, and that’s how she got her name. In just 7 hours, she cost the rescue $957, but she left knowing love.

The second was Crow, a giant Percheron gelding, his ribs and hips jutting out, a heart murmur slowing him down. He loved his food, loved his new safe space. But one morning, after breakfast, he was gone. Just like that. In only 12 days, he had already racked up $1,210 in care, and he left behind broken hearts.

The last was Scout, a skinny pinto gelding with a swollen leg and a spark still left in his eyes. Even in his weak state, his silly personality shines through. He makes my humans laugh through their tears. They pray every night that he will be the one who makes it. So far, Scout has already cost $1,055 — and climbing — but he is fighting.

This is what rescue really looks like. Blood. Sweat. Tears. Heartbreak. Hope. Some days, our humans wonder if it’s enough. They question if people see the work, if anyone cares. This month, I — Corona, the horse who has waited almost 5 years — only received $77 in sponsorships and just one adoption inquiry (and they didn’t even read my profile, they just wanted me as a pasture buddy). My cost is about $300 every month.

Are we just entertainment? Do people scroll past, smile at the pictures, but never stop to think about what it takes to keep us alive? My humans don’t make silly videos for attention. They aren’t looking for fame. They are just fighting, every single day, to give animals like me, Shooting Star, Crow, and Scout a chance.

But here’s the truth: we can’t do it alone. We need adopters. We need volunteers. We need donations. Without them, more animals will slip through the cracks.

I may be waiting here still, but I have hope. Hope that the right person will finally see me. Hope that more animals will be saved because of people like you.

With love,

Corona