Maverick's Anniversary!

It was a year ago today we were asked to help a horse at Riverside Animal Services by fellow horse advocate Donna Kaplan, she sent me some photos of a gelding scheduled to be euthanized needing help that day. He had been abandoned, set free to fend for himself or die. Found emaciated and picked up by animal control.  He reminded me of Precious who we also rescued from them under similar circumstances and though hard to do since we were now 500 miles away in Snowflake, AZ, we set out to rescue him anyways.

1-30-13 Riverside Animal Services photo

We kicked into high gear and contacted Jen at Baker Ranch Equine Rescue who would transport and help by housing and starting his rehab for us.   Our Gelding In Jeopardy fundraising blog was posted and mailed out to supporters and help started rolling in.

1-31-13 arrival at Baker Ranch Equine Rescue

On 1-31-13 he arrived at Jen's in extremely poor condition.   We had already scheduled the vet to come out and examine him so we could determine the damage caused by malnutrition.   Blood was drawn, fecal test for worms and complete head to toe exam.   Blog post "Meet Maverick Now Safe"

Severely underweight and anemic amazingly he didn't have any worm load. He had scars, hair loss and really bad knees.  We got Jen the food, supplements and medicine he needed so she could get him stabilized before moving him to our ranch in Ramona with the rest of EqWBR horses.

He was named Maverick in honor of the Wagner families cattle dog, also a beloved rescue, who had recently passed away.  What a heartfelt tribute for a family member of our friends and long time supporters.

A few weeks later he come to EqWBR in Ramona along with Max (also rescued from RAS emaciated and scheduled to be put down).   Though still underweight, Maverick was enjoying the space he had to kick up his heels.

2-18-13 Maverick with a little pep in his step

In April all the horses arrived in Snowflake to their new digs on the 20 acre ranch.  Maverick settled right in to the spacious 3 acre senior pasture and continued to put on weight and heal.  The end of May he had a set back.   His right hind foot was bent backwards and he couldn't straighten it or put weight on it.  Our new vet came out, took x-rays and suggested he be sent to Phoenix for further diagnostics, possible surgery or put down because of the pressure now being placed on his arthritic front legs.

Not good options so we decided to reach out and consider all resources by sending the x-rays to vets I worked with in San Diego and posted them on Facebook. We got several responses and we decided to try one recommendation to splint it forward, to slowly get the angle back to normal and see if he could bear weight before trying to transport 200 miles with him unable to straighten it on his own.

Lary made heavy duty splints out of PVC pluming pipe and we changed the splint 2 times each day to further adjust the angle of his foot.   After a few days he was able to put weight on his toe giving us hope that this was working.

5-24-13 the splint is doing its job

Blog post with details of his injury, splint making, xrays and more.

5-25-13 Maverick trying to shake the splint off...not really liking it

After many days, the angle of his foot went back to normal and he was able to carry weight again.  At the time we didn't know if he had been kicked, kicked a pipe panel or had injured it in some other way.  In the months since then, I have noticed him start to bend it over again so I started giving him massages and that helps tremendously, especially in the colder winter weather when he is compensating to take weight off his bad knees and stressing his hind end with the unbalanced weight.

He enjoys the massages, but on cold mornings he is very stiff and has trouble walking so I bring his food out to him so he can stay in the sun and let the heat help his muscles. While he can come in the barn at anytime he prefers to stay outside.   Blanketing on the cold nights helps a lot too.

In addition to the massage and pain medications he gets for his knees, he also gets liquid supplements and now wears Whinny Warmers to keep his legs warm and protected from the damp chill or cold wind.  Two sets were sent to us as a generous donation from the inventors who wanted to help him get through the winter.  We can't thank Paula and Raymond Petterson from Sox For Horses enough for this wonderful Christmas gift for Maverick.

He loves his Whinny Warmers

So today we celebrate the one year anniversary of saving this guys life and honestly many times I wondered if he would make it this long.  Lary and I never thought we would be able to get him through the winter.  But here he is which just goes to show the fighter in him.  No wonder he survived fending for himself roaming the streets and countryside in Riverside, he has such a strong will.  Not bad for a 14.1 hand high (57") crippled curmudgeon who was scheduled to be euthanized a year ago.  

This photo best reflects a horse with such a vivid personality that we all love so much.  Basking in the sun, one sock up, one down with a twinkle in his eye and waiting for food!

1-30-14 a year later.  Our sweet curmudgeon

So many people to thank.  Maverick has a huge fan club.  Mitch and Renee Wagner have been with us every step of the way and it is remarkable how much like their beloved cattle dog this Maverick is. Donna Kaplan who works tirelessly to save horses at RAS and Jen Baker who is remarkable in her love and care of these old and battered horses and who we have had the pleasure of working jointly with for years.

Thanks to Mariah and the A Home for Every Horse program and one of its sponsors Purina Mills who donated 20 bags of Equine Senior Feed to help Maverick and all the oldsters here.  Thanks to all of you who support us in many, many ways.  This is the result of all of us working together for the 'WellBeing' of a horse!

Happy Anniversary Maverick!    Special treats for dinner.........

Blessing to all,

Christine

Christine Griffin, Founder & President

Equine WellBeing Rescue Inc.
A 501c3 Public Charity
760-703-4860

Click here to make a Donation

Checks can be sent to PO Box 2722, Snowflake, AZ 85937.

We are a 501c3 Public Charity #45-2835562 so your donations are tax-deductible.

Click to go to our Website

Members of: Unwanted Horse Coalition, Homes for Horses Coalition, A Home for Every Horse program, Humane Society Veterinary Medical Assoc., Fleet of Angels and many more.

Please rate EqWBR in 2014 to help us maintain our 'Top Rated' status by clicking the link below.

2013 TOP-RATED NONPROFIT by Great NonProfits (link)

GuideStar Silver Participant Award (link)

Recipient of $2000 food grant in 2013.

   ASPCA (link)

Adoption Changed His Life!

Last year we helped network to find home for four Tennessee Walking Horses and all are in very loving homes.   One of the adopters posted on her Facebook her thoughts on her horse as he is getting ready to start a wonderful training program.     I share her thoughts with her permission.    They lifted my spirits, I think they will lift yours!

She wrote, "As I'm about to send Rainbow's Midnight Riot off for training, I can't help but reflect on the path this horse has taken over the past 6 months, and I continue to be amazed at how his eyes tell me everything. He came to us in June of last year as a "rescue". He has spent the past 6+ months here adjusting to a totally different life. At age 10 he parted company with his mother and a month later with his herd -- his lifetime companions. A black horse and still bearing the thick winter coat he put on up north, he arrived under the stewardship of Christine Griffin on a dusty 100+ degree June day here in the valley. I am thankful to Angie for giving him a place to land, as there was no room in the inn at the ranch where my other horses were boarded at the time. Lacking muscle tone and with a dry dull coat that smelled thickly of urine, he bravely stepped off the trailer into a new life. The first order of business was his feet, which were very overgrown and misshapen (we are still working on the shape and flat soles). I even offered to pay his trimmer extra for sticking it out on his first trim. He was bargy and rude -- knocking us down, yanking his feet away, and threatening to lie down on top of us. The vet took on his teeth, which hadn't been done in 6 years. He was wormed, had vaccinations, and was started on supplements. The winter coat stayed all summer, bleaching red in the sun and then falling out in clumps leaving him nearly bald. A stubble-length summer coat grew in for a month, fell out, and was replaced with a solid black, soft, glossy winter coat -- right on time. While he clearly enjoyed to be groomed, he was also distrustful and leery. The look in his eye was cold. Putting a halter on him initially required a high degree of speed and skill as he would catch it in his mouth and refuse to let go. After spending a too-short time with Jacob he came back a little better -- no more biting the halter and more respectful. Just teaching him to lead properly was a new experience for me. To my great frustration he would grow roots and refuse to move his feet no matter how much prodding and pulling I did. It seemed that when he finally had enough and moved a foot it was either a well-placed stomp on my toes or he would just drop a shoulder, push me off, and barge away. But over time this horse has changed ... he has shown himself to be largely quiet, brave, and gentle. He is still somewhat stoic but the look in his eye has softened. He spends most of his days in a herd, which he seems to enjoy most of all. When I work with him on the ground he shows me that he can master what he is taught. He has shown me that he won't be forced, bribed, punished, or coerced into action, but he will demonstrate his coach-ability and intelligence if treated fairly, with patience, understanding, and heart. I am very thankful to everyone that has helped me with this horse on his journey thus far. I am happy to soon put him in the care of Robin for training and, although we will really miss him, I look forward to seeing where she will take him."

We can't thank Monique enough for opening up her heart and home to this horse in need.

I would also like to acknowledge the A Home For Every Horse Program  (AHFEH).   As a member rescue we are able to post our adoption ads on Equine.Com EquiSearch at no charge, Purina gave us coupons for 20 free bags of Senior Feed and Weathabeeta gave those adopted horses AHFEH blankets (as shown).  Special thanks to Mariah Hammerschmidt who administers AHFEH and has been a huge help to EqWBR. 

With your support and that of AHFEH, we are able to help these happy endings come true!

Thank you ALL so very much!



Christine

Christine Griffin, Founder & President
Equine WellBeing Rescue Inc.
A 501c3 Public Charity
760-703-4860

Click here to make a Donation

Checks can be sent to PO Box 2722, Snowflake, AZ 85937.
We are a 501c3 Public Charity #45-2835562 so your donations are tax-deductible.

Click to go to our Website

Members of: Unwanted Horse Coalition, Homes for Horses Coalition, A Home for Every Horse program, Humane Society Veterinary Medical Assoc., Fleet of Angels and many more.

Please rate EqWBR in 2014 to help us maintain our 'Top Rated' status by clicking the link below.

2013 TOP-RATED NONPROFIT by Great NonProfits (link)

GuideStar Silver Participant Award (link)

Recipient of $2000 food grant in 2013.

   ASPCA (link)

Almost drowned...a bunny rescue!

Well my morning didn't start out as planned.   Moving a little slow because I am on week two of bronchitis, I went out to feed the horses a little later than usual.  As it turns out it is a good thing I was late because when I went to close the gate to Tucker's stall, I saw a bunny in the 100 gallon water trough and it didn't look alive.   

Quickly grabbing a manure fork I was able to scoop him out of the water.  With only his head above the water I see that he was alive, but barely holding on probably due to hypothermia.  Luckily his legs went between the tines of the fork so he didn't fall as we went in the barn where I was able to grab a towel and wrap him up.   Poor thing was half frozen.

Almost drowned bunny starting to dry off

Once inside the towel, I started to rub him to dry him off and get circulation moving again.  It didn't take long before this little one relaxed and just let me dry him off.  Now what!   I have to feed the horses.    So I did. Here I am with bundled up bunny in one hand, driving the Ranger (UTV) and putting hay in all the feeders with the other hand.   Tucker and Max each get a couple scoops of feed in the morning and neither seemed concerned with the furry face sticking out of the towel as long as they got their breakfast. 

Into the house with bunny in hand, I got a dry baby blanket and topped that with an addition wrap for warmth. It had been about 45 minutes, but his ears and feet were still cold and its coat still a little damp.  So we sat in the recliner in front of the heater and before long cat comes over to see what is in my lap.  I can tell you he was disappointed when he realized the bunny wasn't for him...lol!   

Bundled up in a baby blanket wrapped inside another for warmth.

How trusting this little bundle was.  I can only hope he knew I was trying to help him.  We sat for another half hour and it had warmed up enough outside I felt it was ok to put him back where his buddies would find him.  So out to the hay barn we went.   I placed the burrito blanked bunny in the sun next to a hay bale and figured once he had warmed up enough, he would venture out of the warmth of the bundle.   

Tucked in the sunlight hay for warmth he can run free when ready

It didn't dawn on me before that these animals didn't have water to drink.  It has been weeks since it snowed and without tank heaters our troughs would freeze at night.   Their thirst was obvious when I noticed another bunny was by a blue bucket beneath the water faucet, but the contents were frozen.  How a bunny jumped all the way into a 100 gallon water trough is hard to figure out, but from now on, there will be small buckets of water out there for the bunnies so this won't happen again.   I am not really fond of the bunnies, though cute, they can attract coyotes and wild dogs, but they are God's creatures and if they need to be rescued too, that is what I am gonna do!

Seems we are kicking the new year off with rescues already.    I hope you had a nice holiday season and wish you all the best in 2014.   Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year!  

Christine