Crazy Busy as Lary and I gimp along.

 

Between the two of us, Lary and I have one full body that works.  On 8-26-24, Lary had extensive rotator cuff repair surgery and is still on the mend.  Last October, he had the other shoulder operated on so he knows what is involved in the several months of recovery.  That doesn't make it easier, but at least I can do with my arms, most of what he can't.     However, in mid-July, I injured my knee and after two months of it still being extremely painful, I got an MRI and found out it was a torn menicus and and injury to my medial collateral ligament (MCL), not the bursitis originally thought.  I was told I could no longer lift or carry things over 10 pounds as the added weight to my knee, for instance with a 50 bag of feed, would inflame the injury so it would not heal.  I was also told to reduce my number of daily steps from 10,000 to 3,500.  Well thankfully having done that this past month has helped as much of the extreme pain is gone, but healing is not complete.   During this time we welcomed Sugar, an elderly, albino donkey, who spent years as a pack burro, camp host, ambassador and lesson donkey for kids in southern arizona.  She was sold at an auction to a trainer who decided she wouldn't work for her program so we purchased her so she would not go from home to home after years of serving others already.  She was underweight upon arrival, feet in poor condition with a slight limp on her fronts, sunburned ears and overall, just seemed depressed.      Dr. L pulled blood on her and we did xrays of her feet to find she had slight rotation from prior laminitis and very thin souls.  The bloodwork revealed Cushing's disease and anemia.   No wonder she wasn't feeling or looking well.  We ordered special custom clogs for her fronts, treated the inflammation in her feet, started treating her for Cushings and brought all her other health care needs current.  Her mood is much better, she is getting around without limping and her ears have healed.  She will need to be on medicine for the rest of her life, but we want her retirment years to be happy and as pain free as possible.  A week after Sugar's arrival we welcomed back Noel.  She was originally rescued by us in December of 2018, after being seen in a Craigslist ad being sold skin and bones.  She made a full recovery and was adopted, but health issues of the adopter necessitated her return and with her came her very elderly pasture mate Reno.  Noel is a riding horse but has not been riden since 2018, so we will be sending her for a training tune-up, since she is still young, healthy and a very nice horse.   September 6, 2024, with the help of Jill DeLozier-Craven, of United Farms, we were able to catch and load Molly and Partner.  When help was requested for these two well loved horses, we were told that Molly was pretty unhandled and had been a companion to Partner for the last 5 years.  Molly being a younger horse went directly to United Farms for training and is doing awesome with both ground work and starting under saddle.  I have visited her twice and she is doing so well in training.  She will be available for adoption once she has a good training foundation both on the ground and under saddle.   Partner is a 24 year old Missour Fox Trotter and will spend his retirement years at the rescue.  He has a wonderful personality and is a great pasture mate for Forest, our blind two year old.  Partner also has Cushings disease and will require medication for the rest of his life.    Last week, Jill and her husband Casey, came to the ranch to help us load Cinnabon and Journey.  Between Lary's shoulder and my knee, we need so much help doing everything.  We followed them to United Farms, settled the girls in and introduced them to Molly.   Cinnabon is with them for a tune-up, we have had some adoption interest in her, but she hasn't been ridden for a few year so we need to get her back in shape and determine what level of rider is best suited for her.     Journey was rescued by us two years ago as a frightened, young filly and now as a four year old has grown confidence and enjoys being with people.   She had some initial ground work training last year with Kenna, putting a halter on and some other basics, now it is time for her to have that solid training foundation continued and begin under saddle training so she will make a good horse for a future adopters.    When considering horses or donkeys to be available for adoption, we consider the correct fit both from a personality standpoint, to riding styles and even how they get along with other equines the adopter has.  Long-term, solid homes are what we strive for and to do that properly an assessment and training is essential to knowing as much as we can about the horse or donkey to properly match them with the adopter.  We usually do 30-60 day trials to ensure the fit and have a 100% return policy if they don't.  We consider our way of doing it match-making, not just moving them quickly so the adoption number are high which seems to be a trend around the country now with rescues.   This assessment process and solid training foundation is not cheap and sadly, there are not grants for training.  Our current training bill is $1100/month per horse and it usually takes a minimum of 2 months for a tune-up and up to six months, sometimes longer, for a solid foundation under saddle.  We are currently spending $3300/month for training, but it is needed as much as the health care each needs to be adoptable.    This is an unusual time for Lary and I, both being somewhat incapcitated.  We have had wonderful support from the other volunteers with feeding, mucking and general care of the equines.   I still provide the health and nursing care for those such as sweet Rene', Sugar and recently, Sable, who had an infection in her chest we quarantined for incase it was something like Pigeon Fever, which is highly contagious.  It turns out she had an abscess, probably from a thorn or burr and like a sliver, it got infected.  She spent 10 days quaranitine while we waited for test results to determine exactly what was going on.  It is a LOT of work, but safety of all the equines comes first.    I do not have the phyisical ability to lift yet and as such, will be unable to have a fall auction as a fundraiser.  So we need your help!!!   While the auction is a fun way to get goodies and raise funds for the rescue, it is a lot of work on our end that I simply cannot do and our other volunteers are tapped helping provide the daily needs of the rescue.      We are asking for funds!   Funds to help us cover the cost of training so we can reduce our numbers and get these sweet horses to loving homes.  Funds to cover our normal health care needed annually for the 30 horses and donkeys at the rescue and funds to help pay for hay and feed.  Funds, because this year donations are way down and we simply need your help!   As a 100% volunteer organization, your donations do NOT go for salaries or wages, there are none!   Your donations go for the care, feeding and training of those in our care and helping others in need when we can.   Please, please consider making a donation.  We need your help now more than ever and are flat out asking, because our need is great.      Donations can be made by clicking the donation button below.  Checks can be sent to 8369 Buckskin Trail, Snowflake, AZ 85937.    Our Venmo is  Equine-WellBeing and our Zelle email is  Donate@EquineWellBeing.org.      You can make a recurring donation by clicking the Donate button, and schedule monthly or quarterly donation.  Recurring monthly donations make a HUGE difference to us in the purchase of feeds, supplements, farrier care, etc., and we appreciate the $5 monthly donations as much as larger donations.  EVERY dollar helps.    You make such a difference in the lives of the horses and donkeys in our care and we appreciate all of you.   Please consider sharing this email with friends who love animals as much as you do and may want to help us too.   Any other ways you can think of to help us raise funds are so appreciated.     Thank you! Thank you for your friendship, support and prayers now and through the years.    Together we change so many lives!     Many hugs from myself, Christine, and all of us at the rescue.

EQUINE WELLBEING RESCUE INC 8369 Buckskin Trl Snowflake, AZ 85937 Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser Unsubscribe Donate Now! Click here.