12/25/2025
Happy Holidays to all! Our newsletters have been mailed, and we'll post the stories from 2025 here over the next week or so. This is the main story, which carries gratitude for all who have helped Last Chance Corral in the past, present, and future! We couldn't do this without you:
“Tomorrow is promised to no one.”
This year, Last Chance Corral will begin a partnership with FOCUS Rescue & Rehabilitation.
Change is inevitable.
Time keeps on marching forward. Change is the fallout. Some changes make us happy, some sad, and others simply leave us bewildered. Regardless of how we feel about it. Change is going to happen. It’s how we react and deal with it that matters.
I have a definition: Precipitate to bring about abruptly, headlong, suddenly, unexpectedly. In all honesty, I can’t say that all the changes that came my way this year took me by surprise. Some of it’s been happening. I’ve just been in denial, but when everything came together, it certainly felt precipitous. Deliberation was called upon to mediate and find resolution within. I found myself in a position that is forcing me to make necessary revisions to my original plan. “Hold fast to your dreams, but temper your ideals with reality.” The Vermont State motto and my creed.
Strike one:
I find myself on the cusp of turning 70. That’s a hard 70, at least on my body. The years of sports, adventure, and being a bit of an adrenaline ju**ie, has taken its toll. The years of working with behavioral issue horses comes with a price. Perhaps the most damaging factor has been me being me. Let’s face it. I’ve always been a leap-before-you-look kind of gal. I won’t bore you with a litany of injuries. Suffice it to say that I simply don’t have that volume of paper on hand. Physically, I’m not who I once was. Fight it, though I may, I’ve come to terms with the fact that concessions must be made.
Strike two:
This past summer, I suffered the abrupt loss of my sister, Rebecca Chamberlain. She ran the office, did all the computer work, photography, sussing out adopters, putting together newsletters, website, Facebook, you name it, everything. After so many years and so much contribution, both behind the scenes and on stage, we are at a huge loss. She will remain irreplaceable in my life.
Strike three:
Our Rock of Gibraltar, Dr. Stacy Rourke. For the past 10 years, Stacy has been putting herself through a ridiculous amount of work. She has her own veterinary clinic to manage, and she works at the LCC in the early morning and evenings, seven days aweek, and sometimes till two or three in the morning. There comes a time when enough is enough and too much is clearly too much.
As my body has been breaking down, more and more of the burden of my work has been shouldered by Stacy. She knows I won’t stop beating myself up without her providing a push. Sometimes the biggest assistance you can offer is to offer less assistance. I suppose that would make her my enabler, but no more. She needs to cut back on the time she spends here. There’s that push. Clearly, it’s time to find a new way of going about this full business. I’m not giving up, but I am giving in. This will not be the end, but a new beginning.
I saw the light; My home run:
This year, the Last Chance Corral will begin a partnership with FOCUS Rescue & Rehabilitation. Founded 14 years ago by Rebecca Scalise in Mogadore, Ohio, Rebecca adopted three foals from us many years ago.
The following year, she took six and facilitated their adoptions. Through the years, she has taken in countless foals and is not one to shy away from hard work. She struggled through long nights and frustrating days with some very sick foals, pulling them through to thrive under her watchful eye. They’re now solid horse citizens, living in wonderful homes. I trust and respect Rebecca. When I needed to inventory all the horse people I knew to find a possible partner, she was the no-questions-asked, hands-down, number-one, first-choice candidate. When she agreed to the collaboration, the weight of the world came off my shoulders. A sigh of relief settled over the valley.
Initially, I will bring the foals here to the Last Chance Corral. This allows Dr. Rourke to examine them, pull Coggins, a blood test, and perform triage. Then we do what we do best. Teach foals to drink, making sure food is going in and out at an acceptable rate. Once stabilized and able to travel, the foals will make the trip to the Focus facility. Once they’re in their new barn, Rebecca and her family will ensure their continued care and eventually place them in approved adoptive homes. She will handle screening and adoptive services using the same qualifications and standards we use here.
I’m so fortunate to have someone with Rebecca’s moral fortitude to share this responsibility. The thought of not being able to offer these little guys this chance was crushing me. It’s easy to forget that we are not alone. Did I lose focus ... when I reached out my hand? A hand reached back. The foals are the winners. This partnership will secure this year’s crop and those for years to come. Congratulations and thank you to Focus and Rebecca Scalise. I’m looking forward to what we can accomplish together.
- Victoria Goss
Founder, Last Chance Corral
