“If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.” ― James Herriot, All Creatures Great and Small
Christina Ladd may not be the country vet embodied by James Herriot in the renowned books but she has a kind soul and shares his sentiments, dedicating love and loyalty to many animals. She has made life better for her four-legged friends, especially the ones most overlooked. Senior animals, great and small, have found a home on her 10-acre farm in Cornelia including horses, dogs, and cats. The ones that touch hearts but no one wants, many with medical issues that stem from neglect or abuse, have found a caring home with her.
“With senior animals, you really have to love them and just be content to care. Providing a safe place for them far outweighs the emotional impact on me.”
All things wise and wonderful
When she was five years old, Christina watched Secretariat win the Belmont by 31 lengths. For some background, he set and still holds the fastest time record in all three races. We are talking the Triple Crown – the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont. Secretariat is widely regarded as one of the greatest racehorses of all time.
That makes quite an impression on an animal lover, the kind you never forget.
“I will always remember that. Growing up, I never had horses. We did have dogs but never inside our home. I think that is where my love for animals began.”
When her future husband Bart and Christina began dating, they talked about animals. That shared love of animals was the beginning of a beautiful marriage.
Today, the granddaughter of Secretariat, Invincible Spirit, lives on their farm. She never had a stellar racing career. When a thoroughbred doesn’t win or produce winning foals, they are discarded. She has been in Christina’s care since July.
“We call her Trinity. She has debilitating arthritis. She is in pain but happy with the love, medication, and care she receives from us. We are her family now.”
Trinity loves her farm mate, Louie. He is a Standardbred 21-year-old horse who came to their farm with stifle injuries.
Stars N Studebakers
Christina’s former life included growing up in New Orleans, a degree in political science and later excelling in advertising, marketing, political consulting. and real estate. Most of that work-life is in the past.
“I still dabble in real estate to make extra money to pay the feed, farrier, and vet bills,” she explained with a chuckle.
Stars (the pets) N Studebakers (her husband’s love of rebuilding those vintage vehicles) is the name of their Cornelia farm.
There you’ll find a menagerie of cats, dogs, and horses and a family who works together to provide unconditional love for all of them.
“They are hard work but they give us so much more. It’s unconditional love that is the best therapy in the world.”
The ‘Main’e connection
Christina’s oldest daughter Liberty was somewhat of a prodigy who wanted to go to school when she was still in diapers.
She excelled from the beginning in math and science. The Ladd’s finally found a school in Gainesville that would accept a three-year-old in Pre-K. Eventually, they found a gifted program in St. Simons. When Liberty was in 5th grade, a new chapter of their lives began in Falmouth, Maine.
“We found the best school for her gifted needs. We moved there and my husband commuted from our farm in Georgia.”
While living in Maine, Christina connected with a horse rescue operation called Double B Equine Rescue. She learned that many horses were being transported from Maine to Canada for slaughter. Christina began donating to sponsor rescues, trailers, and provide other resources to help Double B rescue some of the horses destined for Canada.
“The Green family who runs Double B knew of my love for Secretariat. That was how I ended up with his granddaughter. ”
Soon after her daughter entered MIT, Christina returned to the farm in Cornelia and away from the cold winters of Maine.
Back home in Georgia
Her youngest daughter, Lucy, is also an animal lover and helps with all the barn chores when not in classes at Tallulah Falls School. She dreams of being a veterinarian and is getting plenty of experience on their farm tending to the needs of rescues with a variety of medical issues.
“Lucy’s first pony, Coco, was a rescue. Lucy used to sneak her into our mudroom when we lived in Maine.”
Today Lucy is also an accomplished hunter/jumper equestrian and has had great success at area shows, on a rescue horse, of course. She’s also a champ in supporting rescue animals, horses, dogs, and cats, as a community service program.
The Ladd’s also support the Old English Sheepdog Rescue Network of the Southeast. They rescued Toby, crippled with hip dysplasia, and Maggie, with congestive heart failure. The 14-year-old sheepdogs are now living their best life with them.
Closer to home, Christina is a familiar face at Habersham County Animal Shelter. She has adopted cats and dogs who are now living the happy life down on the farm. Just this week, she stopped by the shelter and connected with a husky who needs a home. Don’t be surprised if he ends up in the care of the Ladd family, where there is always room for another fur baby.
“I never thought I would end up every minute of every day thinking about and caring for animals but I feel very blessed.”
And what a blessing for all of those animals, great and small, that Christina Ladd recognized their special needs and cared enough to rescue them.
“I wish people would realize that animals are totally dependent on us, helpless, like children, a trust that is put upon us.” – James Herriot
