Meet Maverick - Now safe!

First of all I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of support to get this horse from Riverside Animal Control (RAC) so he would not go on their 'to be killed' list.   This middle aged gelding was abandoned and roaming a park in Riverside county and Jen Baker of Baker Ranch Equine Rescue in Ramona was contacted by Donna Caplan. Donna dedicates many hours each week as a volunteer at RAC who goes over to the holding facility and gives these horses extra TLC and tries to find someone to take them and save them.    

Jen isn't really set up to take on an additional horse right now and we worked with Donna last year when we rescued Precious and also last fall transported Warrior and Max out of RAC.  Max is now at EqWBR after Jen got his health back so she can help Maverick for the short term. Working in coordination with Jen, I said let's do it together.  Jen is going to foster Maverick for EqWBR over these next touchy weeks as he rebuilds his strength and we can assess his short term and long term needs.  Then he will join Danny, Gwen and Max in our oldsters group at the ranch.

Maverick's arrival in Ramona 1-31-13

Working with Donna, we arranged for the vet at RAC to administer a dose of Bute to help ease any pain he might have from the trailer ride to Ramona.  They provided that service for $10 and gave it to him about 1/2 hour before Jen got there.   Donna was there to help load him up, give a hug and send Jen on her way.

Maverick 1-31-13 approx 15-20 years old

As you can see he was hungry when he got there and settled into a flake of alfalfa and a little mash.  As we put weight back on a horse this emaciated, you feed smaller more frequent meals to not overwhelm their systems.   UC Davis has a regimen that the standard for feeding an emaciated horse.   We add Purina's Enrich 32 which is a ration balancer and provides 100% of the daily requirement of vitamins, minerals and amino acids and Lysine to promote tissue repair, is low carb and helps support the immune system   (click this link for details) .   Want to say thanks to Christina at Hawthorne Country Store for finding a $5 off coupon and setting aside their only bag for us to pick up yesterday and thank you to Joan Powell for making the trip to Escondido to pick it up.

I spent time on the phone this morning with Matt at Catt Farm & Ranch Supply to get the pelleted feed, stall shavings, salt block and other things Maverick will need ordered and ready for Jen to pick up today.  They have honored our tax-exempt status and help us with a 5% discount when we pay by check which helps stretch our donated dollars much farther, and help coordinate the needs of our horses including our fosters and allows us to keep track of expenditures for each horse which makes our bookkeeper really happy.

Maverick 1-31-13 at his foster home with Jen Baker (Baker Ranch Equine Rescue)

Look at this poor guys knees and pasterns.  They are hard and knobby, no doubt with arthritis and probably ringbone in his pasterns.    He still has shoes on and Jen said they weren't loose so she thinks they were put on within the last few months and he had saddle sores, so someone rode him in this condition.   Breaks my heart.   Ramiro came to remove the shoes today and trim his feet.  Jen will send me pictures later.

Maverick 1-31-13 - painful knees and pasterns

When I see his front legs it reminds me of Precious.  If he was a chestnut and not a bay, they would almost be carbon copies.  We rescued Precious on 2-12-12 from RAC after she had been abandoned and left to fend for herself in Riverside.   About the same size, build, age.....could it possibly be that they were owned by the same people?   

Precious 2-12-12 rescued from Riverside Animal Control

On Monday Dr. Christi Garfinkel will give Maverick a complete exam and blood panel so we can start a baseline for his medical chart and she will oversee his recovery through the next several months.  He will get the needed diagnostics, meds, vaccines, dentistry, parasite control, pain management, dietary needs and TLC as we help him regain his health.

Maverick 1-31-13

Finally I'd like to tell you that Maverick was named in honor of a beloved Cattle dog named Maverick.  Here is what his family said, "Thank you so much for naming him Maverick.  A week ago last Sunday, we had to send our little old cattle dog named Maverick to the Lord to take care of   He was the sweetest non-complaining do we ever had.  We only had him five years; he was old when we adopted him.  He had high blood pressure, was on thyroid medicine, had an anal adenocarcinoma removed two years ago, had Cushing's Disease, kidney stones, bad teeth (he was too old to have them cleaned) but he NEVER complained.  I REALLY love him and miss him, so when I saw this skinny neglected horse (Maverick was skinny and neglected when we adopted him) it reminded me of our Maverick.   I hope Maverick the horse flourishes like our little dog did and lives a long life."

We couldn't do this without the support of so many wonderful people.   YOU have helped us save his life and for as short or long as he lives, make it healthy, loving and happy.   We will keep you updated over the next few weeks so you know how he is doing and with some other exciting news we have for the horses at EqWBR.  If you would like to make a donation to help, just click the link below.

Thank you all!

Christine

Founder & Pres.

760-703-4860  

If you would prefer to send a check to EqWBR, PO Box 324, Ramona, CA  92065
The generosity of so many caring people allows us to care for these horses in need.

Equine WellBeing Rescue Inc. is a 501c3 Public Charity

Donations are tax-deductible
Federal Tax ID# 45-2835562