The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves those crushed in spirit
psalm 34:18
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Finnick is a large boned, black Tennessee Walking Horse. He came to Hope Farm by way of a southeast Oklahoma Kill Pen. The only information to be had was pictures of a skin and bones horse, wasting away in the kill pen. Lynai knew he wasn't going to make it either to another kill pen or to the slaughter house in Mexico, he was just too thin. There was concern he wouldn't make the transport to Minnesota or he would die here at Hope Farm. There were so so many reasons not to pay his ransom, Lynai decided it would be throwing money out the window.
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But...she couldn't stop thinking about this horse. After a restless night of no sleep, Lynai made the decision. If he died on the farm, he would die knowing kindness. If he died on the transit, he would die on his freedom ride, not being trampled to death on a slaughter truck, or just shot at the kill pen because he was to thin for even the slaughter houses.
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Money...greed to make the last buck possible off this poor horse got him into this situation. It was going to take money to ransom him away from the kill pen...freedom often times isn't free, it is bought and purchased and fought for..and, many have died for it. Christ ransomed us all, when he went to the cross. So Lynai took the last of her kitchen remodel money and bought his freedom.
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He was described by the Kill Pen as being a 15 hand "grade" horse (meaning of mixed heritage) ...what popped out of the trailer at Hope Farm, was an emaciated what Lynai thought was a Tennessee Walking Horse, approx 16 hands. As he stepped off the transport and onto Hope Farm, Finnick lifted his weary head, perked his ears up and knew he was home
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Lynai spent the first few nights in the barn with Finnick, since he was in quarantine and all alone, he needed the company and there was a real worry that he would go down and not be able to get back up.
With careful re-feeding, Finnick thrived.
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Rehabbing a starved horse has to be done very very carefully. The first 10 days are making sure their digestive system gets up and running. This is a long slow process. You cannot just rush in and start shoving groceries down their throat, the sudden influx of calories and sugar content will shut their systems down and kill them.
Since coming to Hope Farm in May 2018, Finnick has has been restored. Restored to the horse God intended. He runs in the pasture with his herd, rolls in the dirt and mud, kicks up his heels and is generally a very happy and content horse.
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He harbors no ill will towards people for the neglect he received, he is a very forgiving and kind boy.
Finnick is a fairy tale, a children's story come to life, he is our own Black Beauty come to live with us on Hope Farm.
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"And here my story ends, my troubles are all over, I am home" Anne Sewell/Black Beauty
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