Just days before she could be sent to slaughter, a Charlottesville rescue intervened to save Big Mama, a massive draft horse.
At 6-foot-7, she is thought to be one of the largest female horses in the world, and her life is now taking a turn toward healing and trust.
Big Mama is now in the care of Colby's Crew Rescue, where staff are helping her heal after what they described as a difficult working life.
What happened?
According to WCAV's Brielle Phillippe, Colby's Crew Rescue found Big Mama at a facility holding horses for slaughter, and her size drew immediate attention. Staff also saw that she was suffering from a serious injury to a back leg.
Colby's Crew Rescue co-founder Allison Smith described that first encounter this way: "We saw her there and we were like, 'Oh my gosh, this horse is huge.' Second thing we noticed is that she does have an injury to her back leg. She has CPL, which is a medical condition that is chronic."
CPL, or chronic progressive lymphedema, is a worsening condition that affects the lower limbs of horses. Smith said, "Unfortunately, she's not a candidate for adoption, so she does live in our sanctuary ... She was an Amish workhorse, so she's had a pretty hard life."
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Big Mama, thought to be between 15 and 18 years old, is one of several horses the rescue has saved from slaughter.
Why does it matter?
In this case, the rescue is giving her care she likely would not otherwise receive.
Animal sanctuaries often depend on people willing to give their time, money, and expertise to support humane treatment. Rescue work can also help strengthen local networks around veterinary care, volunteering, and education about animal welfare.
Big Mama's emotional recovery has also been a big part of her care. Rescuer Maria Kipper said, "We don't really know what these horses have gone through when we get them, but she really wanted nothing to do with us."
Smith later described a very different horse: "Now she walks up to the gate every morning. She says she's ready for breakfast, and she's ready to go in and get groomed and be loved on all day. She's very docile. She's very sweet."
What's being done?
The rescue was founded in 2021 after Smith and her wife, Olivia, drew inspiration from another horse named Colby, who had been removed from the slaughter pipeline in August 2020 after abuse and neglect.
His recovery helped shape the organization's mission of giving other horses another chance.
That mission includes rehabilitation for horses that can eventually be adopted and sanctuary care for horses like Big Mama. Kipper said, "They've gone through really terrible things most of the time, and so to rehabilitate them and see them flourish and then go into their new homes is an incredible experience."
If you're exploring ways to support organizations like this one, review this guide detailing how to donate to climate causes and mission-focused nonprofits.
"My wife and I, Olivia, started it in 2021 with the horse Colby," Smith said. "These horses are in terrible shape when we get them, and we really strive to give them the absolute best care that we can. Every single one that we rescue is an individual to us, and saving them and seeing where they come from, all the way through adopting them into their new homes — that's why we do it."
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