The non-profit association Galahad, which puts people who want to give up their horses for a variety of reasons in contact with adopters, is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2023 with several hundred successes.
The Galahad association, founded in Sainte-Anne-de-Sabrevois in Montérégie, was born when Chamie Angie Cadorette, its founder, met a rider who wanted to have her horse put to sleep. Madame Cadorette offered to take him with her, but the owner did not trust anyone, fearing her horse would be neglected. To reassure her, she offered to sign a contract, specifically with the obligation to look after it until the horse died.
“The horse’s name was Sir Lancelot du Lac. In the legend of King Arthur, Galahad is the son of Sir Lancelot du Lac. I had found the name of my club. My wish was to develop a program to give horse donors confidence and avoid euthanasia or the slaughterhouse, with the drafting of an adoption contract and the establishment of an accreditation system for adopters,” recalls Ms. Cadorette.
Since then, the organization has facilitated more than 700 adoptions and today has 45 trained agents across Quebec responsible for certifying shelters, foster homes and boarding houses.
Here are some beautiful adoption stories that were made possible thanks to her:
Horse saved from euthanasia
Lilian Largier / QMI AGENCY
One owner owned two horses, including 4-year-old Enzo, who suffered from an eye infection and went blind. Before he was euthanized, his veterinarian advised him to contact the association. It was Chamie Angie Cadorette who got the call.
“It wasn’t my horse style, but I went there to fill out the adoption form. I immediately fell in love with his personality. Enzo came to give kisses, a real clown. I fell in love and adopted him. I drive it in Estrie in my spare time. A big sticky teddy bear,” she says.
A veterinary ophthalmologist was consulted and diagnosed with fungus, a disease that can be cured with four treatments a day. Ms. Cadorette therefore gave her the drops at home. Enzo has not had any health problems for two years.
Mare needs love
Lilian Largier / QMI AGENCY
Suzanne Serhan is the owner of Pegasus Stables in Estrie, a Galahad Approved Lodging and Guesthouse. She is also an outreach social worker and adopter.
“I adopted Morgane in 2015, she was 20 years old. The first time I brushed her she bit me in the head. She acted with willful negligence,” she recalls.
Ms. Serhan was very patient with her. The horse didn’t come out. Seven years later, the approximately 27-year-old mare is healthy and lives in the herd. She will be ridden by Maryane, a 15 year old girl.
Met stallion by accident
Photo provided by Maryse Chartrand
In 2019, Maryse Chartrand had to put down her 20-year-old mare Sassy. After the grief, she went to a stable in Quebec to find a foal to raise. During one visit, Tresor, a very anxious 10-year-old Arabian horse recovering from a seizure, ended up resting his head on her shoulder. She will adopt him and rename him Whiskey.
“An inexplicable swarm. Whiskey had suffered severe trauma, locked in a crate. We had to get him to want to cooperate. He’s 13 years old and my horse soulmate,” she said.
The frightened donkey became the mascot
Photo provided by Karolane Fiola
Karolane Fiola has moved to Pont-Rouge. She wanted to adopt a donkey to take to one of her mares who were on the same low-protein diet.
“I have returned several times to visit Oseille at Les ânes en culottes donkey farm. If I take an animal, it’s for life. It’s really a love story with her that I would have otherwise given up. The donkey is very intelligent and I found him interesting for pet therapy,” she says.
Oseille lived with two mares, Smyrna, deceased, then now Queen. First Mrs. Fiola had to look after the horses so that the donkey would come. It’s been half a year since she allowed herself to be approached without excuses, even by a group of children.