Tango is a 14 year old PMU broodmare, rescued from a Canadian Premarin Farm. Through The Animali
Farm we learned of Tango's fate-she was, like many other pregnant mares, headed for slaughter as the farm had lost its
contract with Premarin producer, Wyeth, and was shutting down its operation. The Rescue polled its supporters, and they
agreed to help get her out of Canada and to our Rescue until her foal was born. Then we would find Tango and her baby a forever
home.
Tango stepped off the trailer in Somis on March 7, 2007 submissive and terrorized. No one at Animali had
been able to touch her to remove the halter that was cutting a ridge in her nose. The transporter and the director led her
to her new paddock and were able to remove the halter. With food and water, Tango relaxed into her new home where she
could see the other horses. Her terror vanished--she knew she was safe with us!
Two months later Tango produced a beautiful foal, perfect and healthy. She has been a shy but cooperative
mare, very gentle with her baby, an exceptional mother. She trusted us to be with her foal from the beginning.
While Tango continues to be shy of strangers and muzzle shy, she enjoys grooming and the pasture life.
She even loves to go to the barn and has expressed a desire to live there--a surprise to us who thought she would never want
to see a barn again! But the freedom she has to move in and out of barn and turnout, never being tied, forced or restrained
has brought her some comfort.
Tango has trauma. She continues to show her coping mechanism learned long ago to tolerate her life on the
line and blocks out the outer world. She loves to take walks and graze with a handler and be brushed
and pampered.
On July 25, 2008 our animal communicator, Anna Twinney, initiated a session with Tango so we could learn
from her directly of her experiences and needs. We have included a portion of that transcript here:
" Tango chooses to share her time outside in Canada...she would spend time with her young and that is
her focus....she shows me a vast space with plenty of green grass, trees and expansive land/views.This portion of her life
seems tranquil with the occasional intermingling of a stallion. One can feel the draw of her heart, in part a resignation
to what is. The barn area appears ....she shares a concrete floor...with concrete slabs and a damp aisleway. The barn is dark,
dingy and damp and reminds me of a place without a soul. Life is questioned and she shares men with rubber boots. I
have the sense that this particular farm would leave their mares in the stall while bringing down a rather large hose and
clean their rears with cold water. No word, no choice, just a cold impact. I (Communicator) take a moment to apologize for
all that Tango experienced and all that mankind put her through for she doesn't deserve this experience. She felt like she
was on a merry go round, that she couldn't get off of , that this experience would continue time and time again. Was there
a point to be in the moment and enjoy the outdoors when you know that the time of year is about to come around again where
you will be jailed."
"She (Tango) learned over the years to keep her mouth tight and her jaw clenched, while throwing her
head, because a request would be thrown at her and no thought given to the taste or aftermath. "
(The Animal Communicator sent Reiki healing to Tango during this session to help her release her pain
from her previous experiences. A body scan revealed tension in the TMJ and left shoulder, coinciding with Tango's description
of trying to keep her mouth tightly closed to avoid what was being forced into and upon her.)
Tango continued to tell the Animal Communicator that she likes being with our herd, and often stands
alone and away from others, which is her choice. She enjoys observing, caring deeply for her yearling in whom she carries
a great deal of pride. Tango likes routine and a constant source of food in a pasture setting.
Tango would make a wonderful pasture companion for a kind mare. She doesn't like geldings so much. Tango
appears lonely at times, but she is starting to express her individuality. Actually having the choice to say "no" to
a request is helping her cope with her past. Patience is required on our part as she expresses herself for the first
time in her life. Rather than blunt submission, we hope for an individualized horse who chooses to partner with her
handlers. She is so gentle and kind in her soul, we have no doubt this will be a relatively easy course for Tango.
Tango has two physical scars which mirror her emotional ones: she has a permanent one inch ridge cut across
her nose from a a restraining halter and a huge brand on her left hip with the number 148.
We hope we can find the perfect forever home for her where she can have a human and horse friends for life!
