Princess needs our help. Purina remembers Lucky.

We are so very humbled that Purina Horse Feed, a sponsor of the A Home for Every Horse program has highlighted Equine WellBeing Rescue on their Facebook page today, July 22, 2015.   Earlier this year Purina also ran Lucky's story in Trail Rider Magazine too.  Trail Rider Magazine article.

It is usually the big rescues with lots of resources that get media coverage so we are so very grateful that a small rescue, with a small following and limited resources has been included in Purina's stories and recognized for all of our hard work helping horses.

As part of the A Home For Every Horse program, we receive 10 coupons from Purina for free bags of feed in the early summer and then again late fall, which come in very handy with the senior horses who require pelleted feeds because their teeth no longer have chewing capacity.

We recently took in an emaciated mare with only one eye, her name is Princess and here are her intake pictures her first day at the rescue on 6-26-15.

She is a 25 years old registered Paint horse and was losing weight because she was being fed alfalfa that she couldn't chew. She now gets 20 pounds a day of senior/pelleted feed (one bag every 2 1/2 days) as of today, June 22, 2015, she has put on 75 pounds. The picture below was taken last week and she had put on 60 pounds at that time.  We will be very happy if she continues to add 15-20 pounds a week since she was at least 200 pounds underweight when she arrived.  

In addition to her malnourished condition, her feet had not been trimmed in many months, she had rain rot fungus along her spinal area, very poor, dull coat with winter fur still remaining also cuts, scratches and scars all over her legs.  She has been on a deworming program, her feet trimmed, bathed with medicated shampoo and treated for the fungus.  

When she has gained 100 pounds we will give her a treatment for any sand in her intestines, though the test showed very little, but it is a good precaution for a horse that had been eating anything she could find on the ground till we got her. 

All in all we are seeing improvement.  We have found a prior owner who let us know she lost her left eye to cancer about 10 years ago.  With that information we are keeping a close eye on her right eye and how well she recovers from her emaciated state.  

Left eye removed due to cancer 10 yrs ago

It was almost a year to the date we rescued emaciated Lucky and Duncan from a bad situation, now we rescue another emaciated horse needing our help and Purina puts out a story about our beloved Lucky.  Serendipitous.  

If you would like to help us with feed or health care funds for Princess or any of the other 11 horses and 2 donkeys at the rescue, your donation is so very much appreciated. Funds can be sent via PayPal using email address "donate@equinewellbeing.org" or via mail to EqWBR, PO Box 2722, Snowflake, AZ  85937, your donations are tax-deductible.   Our 501c3 tax ID is 45-2835562.

We are such a small rescue, but with your help, we can have big results for horses in need. Thank you all so very much!

Hope you are all enjoying your summer!

Christine

Founder/President

Trail Rider Magazine article on EqWBR's horse Lucky.

6-11-2015
Horse-Rescue Story: Lucky
By Purina Animal Nutrition

Lucky was living in cramped quarters, blind in one eye, and had a Henneke Scale body-condition score of 1.  Then Equine WellBeing Rescue stepped in.  Read on for Lucky's story.

About Equine WellBeing Rescue. We started in Ramona, California, doing horse adoptions on a small-scale.  In 2007, there was a huge wildfire that started near Ramona, and a lot of people lost their homes, their barns, and all their hay.  There were many horses in desperate need. 

We had 17 horses that were evacuated to our house because we were in a safe spot.  And some people couldn't take their horses back.  Some went back home eventually, and we had to find homes for some of them. 

We operated the rescue privately until 2011, when we formally made it a 501(c)(3) organization.  Most of what we do is networking to find homes for horses, but we also provide nursing care and rehab to horses with very urgent health care needs on a limited basis.  If a horse is at our rescue, we try to do everything possible to be sure the horse gets everything they need. And unfortunately, we have to say 'no' to a lot of horses.  But we know that the ones we do have are well cared for.  We're a small rescue, and we're at our capacity now with 12 horses. 

About Lucky. I found Lucky in a really horrendous situation. He was being kept in a barn that was three quarters full of odds and ends more resembling a storage unit versus a barn. Lucky was confined to an area about 12-by-12 fee.  He was unkempt, visibly dirty and he had to share water with other animals. 

Lucky when brought to Equine WellBeing Rescue Inc.

Lucky's body condition score was a 1 when we did his intake.  He was 835 pounds, and his height was 15 hands.   He was mildly dehydrated.  We also discovered he was blind in his left eye. We estimated his age in the mid-20's. 

About Lucky's nutrition. I started feeding Lucky Purina Equine Senior horse feed, along with Purina Enrich Plus ration balancing feed.  He always had access to hay.  I fed him small, frequent meals, until he got used to eating again. 

Now, he gets a couple pounds of soaked alfalfa pellets and Purina Enrich Plus ration balancing feed once a day, and he has access to grass hay all day long. 

On average, Lucky put on about 25 pounds a week.  It takes longer for horses to put the weight on over their hips and right along their spine.  Lucky's spine has filled in now, but he still a little bony on the hips, and that might not change. 

About the difference good nutrition has made for Lucky. I started seeing a difference within just a couple weeks.  At first, he was very withdrawn.  He didn't want to be very social; he was nervous. As soon as he started to feel better, his confidence increased. His coat became shiny. 

After he started getting the nutrition he needed, he started to trot around and be more active and socialize with the other horses.  Now, he's out most of the day - we just bring him in to feed him.  Lucky knows he's going to be fed regularly; he knows he's not going to starve. He has a new home for live as one of our sanctuary horse. 

Lucky, after being rehabilitated by Equine WellBeing Rescue, Inc.
 with help from Purina Products

About the value of Purina research. Once a year, Purina has a conference for veterinarians and veterinary technicians at its facility outside of St. Louis.  Several years ago, I had the opportunity to attend.  I learned about the extensive research Purina does, how they purchase ingredients, and the testing that goes into various ingredients. I also learned about the studies they do before they change a product. 

I was able to see how they test different products with the horses, and I was able to talk with the doctors and nutritionists on staff. I also learned about the amount of quality assurance that goes into anything related to Purina products.  I started using Purina products after I attended the conference. 

Benefits of Purina's support of A Home for Every Horse. The fact that Purina provides coupons so we can get free bags of feed is very beneficial.  We received the coupons about the same time we got Lucky, so we were able to designate those bags of feed to Lucky and feed him Purina products and know that he was getting nutritious food. Having these types of programs available is another avenue to help horse in need. It's great that they're available, and it means a lot to our rescue. 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purina Equine Senior horse feed was one of many factors that helped these horses' recovery. Purina is proud to assist rescue shelters with one of many resourses needed to bring trouble horses back to health. 

Click this link to see the Trail Rider Magazine article
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The interview for this article was done in fall of 2014. It is with much sadness that earlier this year Lucky passed away due to the side-effects of the long-time malnutrition he suffered before coming to Equine WellBeing Rescue, Inc. We miss him daily and know that he was a happy and much loved horse to his final day. 

RIP our Lucky boy!

Ben's recovery after just 40 days

We are so excited to show you Ben's progress as he regains his health.  

Dramatic change most seen in his hips and pelvis area

We have seen a dramatic change in his demeanor in addition to the weight he is gaining and the muscle rebuilding.   

4-19-15 Ben's intake photo

He is getting 20 pounds of Dumor Equistages feed a day which means he eats about three bags of feed each week, 17 bags since his arrival.  He also gets 15-20 pounds of alfalfa and all the Bermunda hay he wants each day.  We also include one pound of Purina's Enrich Plus with provides 100% of his daily nutrients and the very important amino acids that promote muscle rebuilding.   

He has been dewormed and on Tuesday will get his feet trimmed again.  That same day will will clean his sheath and soon will do his complete dentistry.  His dermatitis is gone and you can see how shiny his coat is.  

Ben engages us and socializes with the other horses, comes when he is called (especially if we have a bucket in hand) and is far from the depressed horse that arrived on April 19th of this year.  

Over the next few weeks we will reduce the pelleted feed and increase the alfalfa so he can get back to a 100% roughage diet once he has bulked out and at a normal weight for his height and age. 

Click here to read read his story and arrival at EqWBR.

We can't thank everyone enough for being part of our family. Through your generous donations and support we have been able to help Ben and many others over the years.   See what you have done?

Blessing to you all!

Christine

Founder & President

Thanks to you EqWBR is awarded 2015 Top Non-Profit status

Volunteer. Donate. Review.

Yes, thanks to all those who wrote reviews, for the third year in a row, EqWBR is awarded a "Top-Rated Nonprofit" status from Great Nonprofits.  We received over 26 reviews in the last few weeks from donors, volunteers, clients, experts in the rescue industry and the public with 5 star ratings from everyone.  

We couldn't be more humbled by the comments included in the reviews and are honored by all the love and support from each of you.  

You make such a huge difference for horses in need!

Thank you, thank you, thank you from all of us at EqWBR!

Christine Griffin
Founder & President

Sharon Contreras
Vice President

Connie Braun
Secretary & Treasurer

Dr. Kari Christianson
Board Member & Medical Advisor

It's a Boy! Meet Avery born 4-26-15

It is with joyful excitement we announce the birth of Caramel's foal, a little colt we have named Avery.  He was born in the wee hours of the morning on April 26, 2015, and in the midst of the biggest spring thunderstorm and bad weather we have had this season.  This is what was rolling in as we hunkered the horses down in the barn the night of the 25th. Caramel was tucked safely in stall in a dry bed of straw out of the wind and rain.

Meet Avery! A sweet black bay gelding who looks like a carbon copy of his mom.  His coloring is so beautiful with solid black along his back and shoulders that changes to a light beige on his belly and his coat feels like a soft velour blanket or plush toy.   He is long awaited and perfect in every way!   

As soon as the sun came out we let them out of the barn to stretch their legs and so we could clean the stall without disturbing them.   Caramel is the ever gentle and caring mom. Avery was running around the enclosure at just a few hours old.  Exercise and movement is so good for them both. 

As expected Raylan and Kiotai were very curious about the new arrival. 

After a few days we let them out to the pasture to have even more room to roam and get to know the other horses.  Looks at the size difference between Raylan and Avery. 

Like any boys, they play and rough house and it is hard to get work done around the barn with these two sweeties to cuddle and time slips away watching their antics. 

Though they are almost seven weeks apart I think the two of them will be best friends for a long time. Caramel is doing awesome and both moms have gained weight and look fabulous. Such a joy to have new life at Equine WellBeing Rescue as we now have horses ranging from newborn to almost 30 years old.  

I close this post with a photo taken while Caramel and Avery were roaming the property. For a mare that came in from the Navajo reservation, used to roaming miles a day, her joy was complete being allowed to run with her new foal at her heels. 

Life is grand!

Christine

Big Ben needs our help!

On April 19th we reached out to help a local family with several horses who, while out on pasture, lost weight over the past few months.  We brought home Ben who was in the greatest need of assistance and our refeeding program for emaciated horses. Then we gave them 2000 pounds of hay to feed the remaining horses and burros while they reduce the their herd and find new homes for them.

Meet Ben, a Belgian draft horse that appears to be in his early twenties and at the time of intake weighed approximately 1350 pounds instead of the 1700-1800 pounds he should weigh. He stands 16.2 hands (66 inches) tall at the top of his withers (shoulder).

  

Based on the lack of muscle or fat over his shoulders, spine, hips and ribs his body condition score would be considered 1-2 on the Henneke scale, but it doesn't take a chart for us to see he is in serious need of groceries. When horses are this thin, they have used up their muscle and fat reserves, you need to feed them small meals often. So we started him with hay and soaked pellets every four hours and have increased the amount and time between feedings as he puts on weight. 

Ben was very depressed when he first got here which is not uncommon for a horse that has suffered malnutrition for any length of time. Some of the other side effects of malnutrition include large abdomen, muscle atrophy, diarrhea, dull expressionless eyes, laying down a lot, dull or shaggy coat that won't shed and/or skin conditions, parasite overload and not wanting to associate with the herd. Ben showed all these signs upon arrival.  

To make matters worse his feet were also in need of immediate care so our farrier was called. The farrier said they had not been trimmed in over a year based on the length and depth of cracking. Portions were so long that Ben was tripping and dragging the toe on the ground without the strength to pick his foot up above the overgrown hoof.  Here are the before and after photos.

This photo shows you some, but not all to the pieces trimmed off his feet.  I put the quarter in for size comparison to give you an idea just how large the pieces were. 

Now he can walk around without tripping and he loves to roam the pasture in between his naps.

After a week we did an initial deworming treatment at half the normal dose and followed up a week later with an addition larger dose. When a horse is this thin and already at risk of colic we don't want to over burden their stomach with dead worms as they expel them from their system which could potentially cause a toxic overload.  We will follow up 30 days from his last treatment with a fecal test to see if there is still a worm load.  

Itching and shedding like crazy as the days have warmed into the 80's already this spring, as we brushed him we noticed the very poor condition of his coat and splotchy shedding.  Dr. Christianson was out to see him and prescribed a medicated shampoo to help address his skin issues. Luckily she had a bottle on hand and brought it with her.  We have coordinated his care since he arrived. 

After a week of being solitary it was time to introduce him to his herd and let him socialize with other horses to help his mental health. We put him in the pasture with the mares and foals and Danny too. You can get an idea of just how big boned Ben is standing next to Danny, a full size horse. 

And here is a picture of him with Caramel's foal, Avery (who is just a week old in this photo).

We have affectionately named him Uncle Ben when he is around the foals.  While he doesn't engage them up real close, I see him often standing guard over them as they sleep or when he is sleeping I see the foals napping not far from him so clearly they enjoy his company and the mares seem to enjoy the break from watching the kids.  

Ben has a long way to go. In the last two weeks he has gained 50 pounds and if I can continue a 25 pound per week weight gain it will take 16 weeks for him to reach a normal weight.  It will take his hooves much longer to be normal and we have no idea if there is any damage to his internal organs from the long-term lack of nutrition.  If we don't see a steady recovery we will pull blood for further diagnostics.  It takes a lot more food, soaked pellets, beet pulp, Enrich Plus and hay to feed a draft horse than other horses, almost double, so any donations to help provide for his care will help us help him.  We are asking for your help. 

If you would like to send a check our address is PO Box 2722, Snowflake, AZ 85937 and if you would like to use PayPal you can click this button:    .   We are a 501c3 public charity so your donations are tax-deductible. We currently have 12 rescued horses we feed and care for at the ranch and others we help when we can.  All funds go to the horses.  We have no paid staff and a wonderful group of volunteers that is dedicated to caring for the horses.  We appreciate very much each dollar we receive and your wonderful, continued support.  Together we make a great team!

We thank you and Ben thanks you!

Ben watching over Raylan sleeping in the distance.

UPDATE:   Ben after 40 days at EqWBR.

Christine

EqWBR Founder & President

New life and new lives.....

As Raylan turns a month old we are still waiting for Caramel to foal.  Everyday the look on her face tells me she is ready but the foal is not.  In the meantime, she gets lots of massages and nutritious food to give her foal a healthy start to life.

Speaking of start to new life, a few months ago we committed to help two of the over 200 Dann Sisters yearlings pulled out of the wild and sold to a killbuyer with a chance at life. This week things have finally pulled together and we are another step closer to not only helping those two, but two more.   Three yearlings, Champ, Carter and Sierra and one two year old, CeCe, will soon start of their new lives with our help.

Carter yearling colt

CeCe, Champ and Carter will be going to approved fosters who will start their gentling, training and better prepare them for finding the perfect adoptive home.   Sierra will have a new home with one of our approved adopters right here in Snowflake.

Sierra yearling filly

All four are currently in Wells, Nevada at Northeastern Nevada Equine Rescue and today the vet was out and castrated Champ and Carter, pulled blood for the Coggins test needed for transport along with their health certificates and brand inspection.  While the vet was there he also vaccinated and dewormed the horses and they also had halters put on for safer transport which will be scheduled in the next few weeks.  

Donors helped with the original purchase from the killbuyer and the cost of feed and care during their quarantine over the last 8-10 weeks.   Today's veterinary expenses are $780, weekly hay is $37.50 and transport will be $600.  Donations are needed to help cover these costs so any amount you would like to donate to help us give these young ones a new life is greatly needed and appreciated.

Through your generous donations and support we have been able to help save these four lives and provide a new home for Kiotai, her foal Raylan and Caramel who is due to foal any day now.   Eight lives changed for the better these last few months thanks to you!

You can donate via PayPal by clicking this link PayPal or by mailing a check to 8369 Buckskin Trail, Snowflake, AZ 85937.  We are an IRS public charity so your donation is tax deductible.