A hearfelt letter from the owners of the rescue horses.

Our statement, and a letter from Annette Baca Gonzales. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

From The Center
A rare and unique herd of Colonial Spanish horses in New Mexico are sadly being dispersed. From one of the last original families who have bred Colonial Spanish horses for six decades, the time has come for them to place individual horses into the hands of others. The Center for America's First Horse has been asked to take a stallion, a mare and her 2011 filly at her side, and an 11 year old broodmare. They must be moved immediately! The owners are not able to support or care for them much longer. We must act now!

Not only will The Center be providing a loving and forever home for this group, but we will be continuing the legacy of these bloodlines. A number of offspring from the stallion already reside at The Center and are proven performance and ambassador horses. Our purpose as a non profit organization is to assist in rescuing Colonial Spanish horses in need, and aid in genetic conservation. An opportunity awaits them!

Please help us assist these horses by making a donation of any amount. If you can't give financially, consider a donation of goods or services which could be sold or auctioned on Ebay. Your contribution is fully tax deductible and will go towards transportation, feeding and care.

Please read the heartfelt letter below, written by Annette Baca -Gonzales of Baca Chica Farm.

For the horses,
Stephanie Lockhart and the Board of Directors

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Sometimes the best thing you can do is the hardest thing you have ever done.
From Annette Baca Gonzales of Baca Chica Farm

This year has been one of the most emotional years that I have ever experienced. But our faith will carry us as it always has. "Lift it up to the Lord," my Mom always says. She is and has always been right. 2011 went down in history as the driest, hottest summer on record in New Mexico. No rain for months, no grass on the field where our horses graze, just dead barren ground. Hay was at $9 to $12 dollars a bale. No breeding for years and years and as timing would have it we were blessed with 8 new foals this year.

Going through times like this just breaks something deep inside of you. These animals depend on you and everything inside of you is crying with despair about where their next meal is going to come from. Fortunately our farm has been a recognized part of the community for over 60 years. It was the most rewarding feeling when we finally reached out and felt the most overwhelming sense of support. It is so frightening how in a matter of weeks a healthy mare can drop weight when she has a foal by her side, even though you are doing your best to feed them.

I want to share our story because there are times when these situations are real and innocent and not at all a result of lack of love or due to neglect. We worked desperately to help them. As a family who loves their horses we made the very difficult decision to place our precious horses. Within a couple of weeks they had all been placed or reserved. The mares are fine now; I think our recovery will take longer than theirs.

As I watched while we loaded each of these horses onto the trailer, I saw my father's eyes well up as he said goodbye to each one of the horses individually. Each he had known from birth. Blessing them and just saying a few words just like you would a really good friend. It was just so hard to breath and tears fell from my eyes.

His life's work was the preservation of this breed. He just wants the whole world to know how important they are, but more than anything he wanted them to be taken care of. Only a few months ago he suffered a severe sub dermal hematoma. Dad wasn't supposed to survive and once again here he is, but he realizes that it's time that we hand off that proverbial baton. It was so hard to see him say goodbye but we knew that it was the right thing to do and the right time.

And poetically in the end, from the dust, broken hearts and tears as we sit looking at each other feeling so confused, we suddenly realized that all our dreams, all our prayers, and all our promises have been fulfilled.
Our "Baca Chica" horses will live on helping children at the Sandhill Child Development Center with Linda and Ralph Zimmerman, our angels, and with Stephanie at "The Center for America's First Horse". Stephanie and her family were sent to us in such a miraculous way so many years ago. Our hearts are overflowing with how grateful we are for the kindness they have shown us. In addition, we will continue to raise awareness with the help of Mary, Maxine, Tina and Greg Parra, Carla, Linda and Bruce. We can continue to offer breeding services with our 2 stallions and enjoy our small group that we will maintain at Baca Chica Farms. A new plan, but the same passion for the preservation of the Colonial Spanish Horse.

We are working hard to raise funds to get a small herd up to Stephanie at The Center For America's First Horse in Vermont. Anything anyone can do to help would be greatly appreciated. Contributions will go directly to transportation, feeding and care of the horses and will be 100% tax deductible.