That's because he never would have made it here, had it not been for a horrible trailer accident on I-44. The trailer was carrying 42 horses to the slaughterhouse when it hit a median and flipped. If it hadn't been for the accident, their days would have ended.
Instead, seventeen of them died from the accident, but 25 were rescued -- including a mare four months into her pregnancy, Twister's mom Mama -- when people from the Humane Society responded to the accident.
"We certainly call him the 'miracle colt,' but really, I think his mom was the miracle," says Amanda Mullen, the director of the Humane Society's Longmeadow Rescue Ranch, where Twister lives with Mama and two other horses from the accident. All the rest were adopted out after the accident.
"He's a lucky horse compared to a lot of the others," Mullen says.
Twister spends his days as a sort of ambassador for the ranch's adoptable horses. (He's not up for adoption, so don't fall in love with him too hard.) He goes to events, like the school party today, and greets visitiors to Longmeadow Rescue Ranch. (You can hang out with their rescue critters on Fridays from 12 to 3 p.m. or Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.)
"He represents horses that have been rescued," says Mullen. "They're very usable, even if it's just as a companion or pet."
The school party features additional animals from the ranch hanging out with the kids, staff from the Humane Society and kids from Club HOPE, an after-school club that benefits animals.
If you want to find out more about Twister or give him a virtual birthday present, check out Longmeadow Rescue Farm's web site.
Happy Birthday, little dude!
