Hi friends, Some of you who follow us on Facebook and Instagram have already met Reba, but today we’d like to introduce her to everyone. Reba arrived at Equine WellBeing Rescue on August 14 weighing just 886 pounds. Her owner, a young woman who had fallen on hard times, was no longer able to provide everything Reba needed. Over time, Reba lost a tremendous amount of weight and muscle. As an off-the-track thoroughbred horse, she is a big boned girl. By the time she came to us, her ribs and hip bones were prominent, her topline had wasted away, and her body condition score was approximately 2 out of 9. |
The intake photos we’re sharing with you tell that story better than words ever could. From the moment Reba arrived, our focus has been on rebuilding her safely — good nutrition, veterinary support, hoof care, and plenty of time. And this girl has been working hard! By September 12, just four weeks after arriving, Reba weighed 989 pounds — a gain of 103 pounds. The comparison photo we’re including from September 14th, really shows just how much she has already changed. Her recovery hasn’t been completely uneventful. Shortly after arriving, Reba experienced a mild colic episode that fortunately resolved with treatment. Because gastric ulcers were a concern, she was also started on ulcer medication. We also found that she had sand in her intestinal tract, so from September 7 through September 13 she completed a Sand Rid psyllium treatment to help move the sand through her system. On September 9, she unexpectedly broke out in hives. We never identified the cause, but after antihistamine and Banamine, the hives cleared and have not been an ongoing problem. Along the way, she has also had her feet trimmed and balanced — another important piece of getting her comfortable and helping her body recover. |
Reba still has a ways to go, As exciting as a 103-pound gain is, Reba is not finished yet. She still needs: • Another 150–200 pounds of healthy weight gain
• Dental care
• Vaccinations and routine veterinary care
• Continued senior feed, hay, supplements, hoof care, and supportive care while she rebuilds lost muscle Rehabilitation like this takes time. Our goal isn’t simply to make the number on the scale go up — it’s to help Reba regain weight, strength, muscle, and overall health at a safe and steady pace. If you would like to be part of Reba’s recovery, a donation of any size will help us continue providing the feed and medical care she still needs. A gift might help purchase a bag of senior feed, contribute toward her upcoming dental work and vaccinations, or simply help keep quality hay in front of her while she continues gaining those next 150–200 pounds. And if a donation isn’t possible right now, sharing Reba’s story is another wonderful way to help. We hope you enjoy the photos of her first month with us — from those difficult intake pictures, to getting her feet cared for, to the comparison photo that shows just how far she has already come. |
103 pounds down. Another 150–200 to go. We’ll keep cheering her on every step of the way, and we hope you will too. To make a donation you can click the link below where you can use a credit or debit card, PayPal, Google Pay, Venmo or from a bank account. Zelle email is: Donate@equinewellbeing.org For Checks: Equine WellBeing Rescue 8369 Buckskin Trail Snowflake, AZ 85937 Thank you for believing that every horse and donkey deserves comfort, dignity, and the best care we can provide. Your generosity makes that possible every single day. You change lives! With heartfelt gratitude, Christine and all of us at EqWBR |
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