Sophie and Lilly’s Story
Sophie and Lilly are two orphaned foals found on Earaheedy station in late November 2005. The following is the story of how they were found.
The situation at the station was grim, Sheila and Paul arrived in early November and searched for a week and found nothing, no tracks, no horses and little water. The little bit of water left was in the now putrid dams. The water resembled pea soup and smelled foul from the numerous dead animals in it.
Disappointed, Paul went back to Queensland. His hopes of capturing the remaining Earaheedy horses before the drought (or shooters) claimed them now were dashed. Sheila remained at Granite Peaks station to help Jim the owner with a cattle muster he was planning. The station people were so helpful during the first rescue it was the least she could do to repay them. It also gave her some more time on the station in the vein hope that the horses may appear. Sheila was joined at the station by Ross Quartermaine, previous owner of Earaheedy Station.
They were found standing under a tree waiting to die. Every bush and tree has its own pile of bones and decaying bodies under it. The two babies had totally given up all hope of survival.
 When they were spotted, Sheila and Ross approached very slowly not wanting to spook and loose them. They were so far gone they let Sheila walk right up to them. Sheila realised that if they didn't get them back to Granite Peaks somehow, they would die in a very short time. They were so thirsty and desperate for moisture they were trying to suck each others mouths. Ros and Sheila left them to get the Ute, as they started to disappear over a ridge Lilly, one of the two babies, called out to them, with her last bit of strength she ran after them calling. Sophie the other foal followed, Ross got the Ute and a makeshift cage was constructed on the back. Sheila and Ross had to manhandle the two little bodies up onto the Ute tray, which was no mean feat as Sheila is not a large person. They got them loaded onto the Ute and made it back to Granite Peaks Station about 60ks away.
 The two foals were named after Ross's two Grandmothers, Lilly and Sophie. Lilly was so close to death she lay down for two days, Sheila used vegetable oil and calf milk as a feed substitute, she was so weak she could not eat. She eventually started to regain some strength to stand and eat, she hasn't stopped yet!
The mothers of the two had perished and Sophie had taken up the roll of leading Lilly about the desert. There was little to eat, just sticks and dry bushes. A mare was found dead in a dam, the dams are literally littered with bodies. Sophie had dam mud all up her legs so it was thought that this mare maybe her mother, who knows how she avoided the same fate. It is hard to imaging what the two endured or how long they wandered before giving in to what they thought was their fate under that tree.
The horses were trucked to Margaret River, 5 in all including the two orphans. The babies were partitioned from the 3 larger horses in the truck to avoid them being trampled on the journey. They were due to arrive in Margaret River just as the weather in the south took a turn for the worse, strong cold southerly winds and rain was forecast. I feared that the two youngsters may die from the cold after their long journey, which would be tragic after all they had been through. I rang up a saddlery shop in our nearest big town just over an hours drive away. We had to try to guess their size from a description Sheila had given me, stabbing in the dark really. A friend collected the rugs and they arrived just in time, the weather was worsening. The truck arrived and the little waifs unloaded. Then it was onto the float to their new home, stables, green paddocks, rugs, more food than you can eat and fresh water!
What a change for them, from the desert to the green south. From feeling abandoned to having everything laid on. The rugs were the funniest thing, these two tiny frail bodies covered from ears to tail in what looked like someone’s hand me down. They never objected not once to having them put on, not even the first time.
 To look at them now, knee deep in lush green feed and just starting to look like little foals should look, almost brings a tear to my eyes. When Sheila phoned me to tell me about them she described them as skin draped over bones, she was right. Their little coats were matted and dirty, their bones stuck out sharply, the matted coats hid them well but running a hand over their little bodies revealed all, Lilly had a pussy eye and nose. They have been in intensive care now for about 3 weeks and they have just started taking an interest in all the things around them (instead of just the feed bin, which they were reluctant to leave). They whinny and wicker to us when we arrive to see them, a shear joy to see.
story: Fran Jackson
Pictures: Ross Quartermaine & Fran Jackson
|
they now?
