Newtown Teen Medals With Rescue Horse

Newtown 16 year old Autumn Jones and her rescue horse Grace won multiple ribbons, including a second-place award in the Beginner Jumpers division of the Brushy Hill Horse Show in Southbury on Sunday, August 21.

Jones and her family adopted Grace earlier in the summer and this was their debut in the show ring. Grace made the transition from starvation to the ring with the help of everyone at Zoar Ridge Stables and Rescue in Sandy Hook.

Grace arrived at Zoar Ridge Stables and Rescue on a cold afternoon this past February. She was part of a herd of Thoroughbred Broodmares surrendered in Burlington County, N.J. to rescues throughout New England. The horse owner faced 44 counts of animal cruelty.

Grace’s initial care was critical, said Zoar Ridge officials, adding that several of the horses in her herd had already died of starvation syndrome and/or pneumonia. Grace was only fed handfuls of grain, every several hours for the first two weeks. She was too weak to leave her stall, and it was so cold that Zoar Ridge officials feared her body would just give up. But Grace’s spirit refused to give in.

Grace greeted every new day and person with a nicker and a gentle kindness that endeared her to everyone at the barn. In the weeks that followed, she grew stronger and gained weight. By spring she was strong enough to start under saddle and in June made available for adoption.