Showing off his feathers on his legs as he rolls over.

Opera fans will know why he is called ArchiBravo! He is know around the rescue farm as Bravo. He is a 2 year old Shire gelding who would have been slaughtered, along with many other Shires, at the DeKalb, Illinois horse slaughter plant had it been opened for business. During the two and a half years the plant was closed after it burned down. Many Shires and other horses had to sit in a feed lot and wait to be hauled to TX or Canada to be slaughtered. It is business as usual at the IL plant since it's reopening in June of 2004.

During that closed period, I was able to acquire some Shires. Many are breed at a farm near the plant. The unwanted ones are sent to be slaughtered. It's an easy, profitable way to cull the herd.

Bravo is a handsome fellow. He will continue to grow for a few more years. He towers over all the other horses in his pasture but he is a youngster. He's curious and willing. A true gentle giant. Our hopes for him is to be a mascot for the rescue, to pull a cart in parades and represent all the other horses that need human helpers and caregivers. Without kind people intervening, horses will continue to be abused, neglected and slaughtered.

It is unimaginable to some people that horses can be discarded so easily and knowingly sent to be butchered into steaks for foreign dinner tables. But it happens every day. Without your kind generosity, the rescue could not continue our mission. We welcome your help by volunteering, by your donations and by your educating others about the plight of our horses. You are their voices. You are their angels. Thank you for caring.

SPONSORED BY
Tom Doran and