2007年VOA标准英语-Florida Offers Retirement Haven for Horses Too

By Yi Suli
Alachua, Florida
28 August 2007
 

The state of Florida is a popular retirement¹ location for many Americans. Its warm temperatures and sunny skies make it the ideal climate for many to live out their golden years. It is also an ideal environment for retired² horses. For producer Yi Suli, VOA's Elaine Lu takes us to Mill Creek³ Farm, a retirement home for horses.

Many of the horses were rescued from abusive situations

Retired couple Peter and Mary Gregory live on Mill Creek Farm, a 100-hectare sanctuary⁴ for old, abandoned, and abused horses.

"He came from Manhattan,” Peter explained about one of the horses. “He lived in a basement stall in Claremount Academy. For eight years, he never left the building, never saw daylight."

Mary described another horse. "About 25, she was so abused. She only has half a tongue."

"She was found abandoned in Albany, Georgia about seven years ago,” said Peter of yet another. “See her right leg there. The sore on her foot here."

Mary Gregory feeds a carrot to one of the many horses on her farm

Not all of the horses have been abused. Many are retired from service with police forces, park rangers⁵ and even the circus.

The Gregorys have devoted⁶ themselves physically⁷, emotionally and financially to Mill Creek Farm since retiring from a successful hotel business in 1984. "We started with a million and half dollars,” said Peter. “ But that soon disappeared in the first 10 years, because we paid for everything ourselves. We didn't really ask for any money for horses that came here."

By the mid⁸ '90s they needed financial help and set up a non-profit organization to raise money to care for the horses. On average, each horse requires $1800 a year to cover feed, veterinary supplies and other expenses.

Peter and his wife have been caring for neglected and retired horses for more than 20 years

Peter provided an example of his costs. "Last month, for instance, I spent $8600 on hay alone."

Caring for their horses also requires help. Bob Watson has been volunteering for more than five years. "I usually do maintenance type of jobs like repairing fences, painting, working with tractors in the field, or cutting trees, cutting wood, cleaning the creeks,’ Said Watson. “All kinds of general maintenance type of work."

In addition, people can help through the Adopt-A-Horse Program. Former Attorney General Janet Reno and tennis legend Martina Navratilova are among the high-profile adopters of horses on Mill Creek Farm.

The Mill Creek Farm often has more than 100 horses in its care

"We have people [who have] adopted horse for $40 a month to help defray the expenses,” Peter said. “We have other people send donations from $10 to $100, or $1,000 occasionally."

And volunteers, like Gloria, say retirement life for these horses could not be better. "They don't have to work. They don't have to be ridden,” she said. “They are in pastures where they can graze and get grass. They are well fed. They got plenty of carrots. Everybody loves them. I don't think they can be happier."

1 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

2 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

3 creek   

n.小溪，小河，小湾

参考例句：

• He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
• People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。

4 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。

5 rangers   

护林者( ranger的名词复数 )； 突击队员

参考例句：

• Do you know where the Rangers Stadium is? 你知道Rangers体育场在哪吗？ 来自超越目标英语 第3册
• Now I'm a Rangers' fan, so I like to be near the stadium. 现在我是Rangers的爱好者，所以我想离体育场近一点。 来自超越目标英语 第3册

6 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

7 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

8 mid   

adj.中央的，中间的

参考例句：

• Our mid-term exam is pending.我们就要期中考试了。
• He switched over to teaching in mid-career.他在而立之年转入教学工作。