Popiołka

I will tell you a fairy tale about Popiołek…

We met Popiołek at the dealer’s on a certain September day, or rather, a September afternoon. A terrified, nervous, small horse that rhythmically kicked its leg against the concrete floor. It immediately stole our hearts. And these thuds echoed throughout the entire yard. It kept kicking and didn’t want to stop.

The irritated dealer tried with shouts and force to bring the small pony to order. But Popiołek, with each subsequent painful tug of the butcher’s rope, became more and more terrified and flailed his hooves more and more. Fear filled his eyes to the brim. He tensed every muscle, ready to flee, but tied up, he couldn’t run anywhere and only pulled his head as far away as possible, just to not get hit again, just so it wouldn’t hurt again. Because it’s a pain that’s hard to get used to.

The man finally led him out for a few photos, and then slammed the shed door shut. The hinges creaked, the latch clicked into its grim place. Popiołek sank into the darkness and continued to kick. For horses like Popiołek, or rather ponies, beautiful stables are not built, they are not fenced with white fences, and there is no lush grass in the pastures, and no one boasts to friends that they bought ‘such a thing’. Small, angular, with slightly crooked legs, barely swaying, with a mane disheveled in every direction. He has no other chance for a home than one among those like him. He lost the moment it turned out that money was needed. He didn’t even get a chance to prove himself. No one gave him a chance, no one asked if he could do anything else.

Everyone decided he was worth as much as he weighed. And since winter was coming and fuel and other essential things needed to be bought, he, Popiołek, was the first to go. Although the owner laughed that every year he sells one pony in the autumn for winter shopping, and then before summer, whenever he needs money for a holiday trip. He says these ponies serve him well. They are born with him, never see the world, and then do one last favor.

The dealer didn’t give us much time. Only until November 4. And it’s known that this is one of the most difficult periods, because there are other expenses. Nevertheless, we didn’t want to deny Popiołek hope. He can live, but the lack of money separates him from that life, and he doesn’t have his own, as you probably know. Today, we ask for your support for his redemption, transport, and treatment. Together, we have already saved over 3000 horses. Let’s allow little Popiołek for life to write a different scenario for him than the one people have arranged for him until today. We need to collect, including transport, 4300 zł. Will you be with us? For him?