Our new arrival needs lots of help!

 

Hello, Everyone! I got a call yesterday while I was out running errands to come look at a horse that had lost weight and the owners were having trouble getting it to gain weight. They told me he was in his 30's based on what the man who gave him to them said a year ago and they couldn't understand why he would not gain weight. I explained how older horses molar teeth expire and lose all chewing capacity making it difficult for them to chew hay, pellets or anything that requires grinding ability. It would be like us trying to chew steak with no molar teeth. We discussed some options she had like feeding him a full diet of senior feed (15-20 pounds a day), humanely euthanizing him since he was so old and I offered for him to come to EqWBR. She asked me if I would come look at his teeth to determine his age so I headed to their house. When I got there and she showed me the horse I was shocked at how thin he was. She said he was thin, but he was truly emaciated. His teeth were totally worn to the gums and he was balling up hay in his mouth and spitting it out, something common with older horses called 'quidding'. She showed me how much senior feed he was getting a day and it was only 3 pounds. No wonder he was not gaining weight. She agreed to let me take him so I went back home, got the truck and trailer and immediately went back to get this sweet horse. They were waiting for my return, he loaded in the trailer great and we got to EqWBR about 3pm yesterday afternoon. It was a cool and windy day and this poor guy had been out in Monday nights rain with no blanket to keep his poor bones warm. We bundled him up and put him in the barn with the outside doors closed out of the wind. He didn't seem to care what we did as long as he had food in front of him. We had already taken 'intake' pictures, measured his height and weight using our 3000lb digital livestock scale, done basic vitals and set up a small but frequent feeding schedule. We filled his stall with nice soft bedding so he could lay down and rest if he wanted. Again, when there was food, eat was all he wanted to do. I have so many pictures of his skin and bones condition, but I don't have the heart to share them. He weighs 20 pounds more than Sable did last year the first time we put her on the scale. He should weigh well over 1000 pounds for his size, not the 742 he weighs. We have a long way to go to get him well. The vet will be out on Monday to draw blood, the farrier will do his feet later this week (it is clear they have not been done for many months, if at all) and we have him on the refeeding diet recommended by UC Davis Veterinary University. Getting his health back will take 3-6 months. If you would like to help with a donation towards his medical bills, feed and health care cost it would be so appreciated. Senior Feed is almost $25 a bag right now and he will need 3 bags a week, alfalfa, hay, supplements and so much more. Just click the donate button to make a tax-deductible donation for his care. Donate Now! I went out to check on him a little bit ago and he was trying hard to fall asleep. His eye lids kept dropping, but in a new place staying alert is their nature. We hope he settles in quickly and realizes he will have food, warmth, protection and lots of TLC. Thank you so much for helping this sweet old guy!

We are hauling lifesaving water to the animals again.

 

6-8-2021 We started putting water in the Apache-Sitgreaves Natl Forest. This is Lynn Pace's truck dumping 1000 gallons.

Not much snowfall this past winter and very little rainfall so far this year is creating another exceptional drought and the need for water to be delivered to the national forest to keep all the animals alive till hopefully the monsoons start. Many people have been hauling water for weeks now and on June 7th we finally got the call from the local forest service office asking if we could help again this year like we did in 2018.

Lynn dropping 1000 gallons of water in an earthen tank Assigned two specific locations to put our troughs and water, we were also asked if we could assist another permittee (you must have a permit from the forest service to leave water troughs or deliver water) because she had to go out of town for an emergency. Lynn Pace, White Mountain Water Hauling started putting water in that earthen tank the 6-8-21.

Don & Cathy donated a 275 gallon water tender That evening Lary and I picked up a 275 gallon water tender donated by Don and Cathy. Having this in my truck allows us to fill and top of our water troughs placed in the forest as needed and to provide in other location if needed. Huge thanks to both of them.

Wednesday, June 9th, with troughs loaded on our trailer, Jineane Ford of White Mountain Radio's Z92 morning show and I drove seven miles down a bumpy forest road to drop off and fill our first trough. The fittings I had purchased to attach a hose to the nozzle didn't work so we unhooked the utility trailer, backed up to the trough and let the water flow into the trough, luckily almost all of it made into the trough.

Alexandria helping me lug troughs and fill with water Thursday, June 10th, our grand-niece Alex and I made the trip to our second permitted location with more troughs and more water. This location also has an earthen tank so the animals have the choice of our troughs or water in the tank. Temps have been in the high 90's so there is some evaporation in addition to the decline as they drink.

Hall Tank - our permitted location has some water but is getting low.

Lary & Karin filling troughs. Early Saturday, June 12th, we got some help from Zeke and Deb who delivered water to this tank and topped off our black trough. Our oblong, metal trough had a slow leak so we loaded up several troughs and replaced the leaky one, dried and resealed it. This was family day as my 86 year old mother and our sis-in-law rode with Lary and I. We topped the newly placed round trough off and headed to a different location to drop one of our troughs off to a friend, Mike Radford, who is hauling to a nearby tank running low. We left a 400 gallon trough for his use and delivered three other troughs to another permittee so he could place and fill them as he needs giving him an additional 1050 gallons capacity.

Lynn Pace continues to drop water with her large trucks. She has put a total of 20,000 gallons in the earthen tank for Betty (another permittee) and has now started to put 20,000 gallons in Hall Tank over the next 10-14 days (2000 went in today, 18,000 more to be added) and keeping our troughs full. In my report to the forest service today we have put 24,075 gallons of water out since 6-8-21. Huge thanks to Zeke and Deb who put 1100 gallons out for us and will now be back to helping Betty at their permitted location.

On Saturday I saw a plea from the Grey Mountain Horse Heroes for additional water to help the herds north of Flagstaff and on Sunday spoke with Beth who has been coordinating both water and hay for the wild horses in that area. Wanting to help we have sent $1000 to their water hauler, Mark at Right Water to make an extra 4000 gallon delivery each of the next four weeks. He has been going out once a week lately and can now increase it to two. To help them have more water capacity we purchased a 700 gallon water trough from Olsen's Grain in Flagstaff at a cost of $435.63, which was taken up to the horses yesterday. Also, to help with the lack of grazing grasses through our Hope's Legacy Emergency Food Fund we purchased $1000 worth of hay for the Gray Mountain horses too.

So far in this past week we have invested $4337.63 in the trough, water from water haulers and fuel for our smaller water tenders delivering to our permitted locations. Cost per 1000 gallons is $60. We anticipate the need will last another 4-8 weeks so any donations to help continue to provide water and troughs till the rains come will be much appreciated. While the pictures here are of horses, we know that deer, antelope, elk, birds, small cats and other wildlife have also been drinking the water. Your support to help provide water for ALL the animals is needed and so very much appreciated. To make a tax deductible donation just click our Donate Now! button and scroll down our donation page to use PayPal, Debit/Credit cards, Venmo and there are instructions for sending checks. Together we can keep the lifesaving water flowing and help prevent dehydration or worse yet death as we have seen in past years. We thank you in advance for your support and sharing this need with your friends. Let's do this!!!!!!

Christine and everyone at EqWBR

Quite the character - Ned.

 

Ned's arrival 7-3-2020

Some of our beloveds are with us for many, many years and some for what seems like too short of a time. How ever long they are with us they are loved. Ned came to the rescue July 3, 2020, at the request of Nature Jeffries, many months after his owner passed away. He had been loved by all at Nature's boarding facility for many years and being quite the character even at his 30 years of age he just needed a soft landing to live out his day.

Ned's bi-weekly weigh in Arthritic on arrival and a little on the slender side, we started him on Previcox to help with any pain. We did his dentistry to find he had few molar teeth left to chew with (not unusual at age 30) so we transitioned him to a senior feed diet and he gained almost 50 pounds while here. Trimming his feet was a little tough because he was weak on his hind end so we were patient to not cause any stress. Ned was blanketed from the rain and snow and in the bad weather remained in an interior stall of the barn, warm and dry. Anything we could do to keep him comfortable.

Happy 31st birthday Ned! On February 17, 2021, Ned turned 31 years old and we celebrated with special treats. You can tell from this picture he had nicely put on weight. We added in several supplements donated by Absorbine Company to help with pain, his feet and his overall health. He loved his senior feed for breakfast and dinner and would sing to anyone in the barn while waiting for the food to be put in his feeder. Like I said, he was quite the character.

2-27-21 Ned and Willow Ten days after his birthday he was frolicking around the pasture feeling his Wheaties and took a tumble. We did not see what happened even though we were standing there in the pasture watching all the horses, but saw he was down and immediately rendered help. He scraped up his face and pulled many muscles when he fell on the ground. The vet said it was mostly soft tissue swelling, superficial scrapes and that he would be sore while he healed.

We adjusted his pain management. Kelli from Animal Krackers came out immediately and we designed some body work that would help his muscles loosen up and heal and our volunteers all learned out to apply liniment in the various places needed. Ned was started on Summit Joint Performance which Kelli donated on his behalf. Slowly Ned started to recover and was back to singing at meal time, roaming around the pasture and seemingly back to normal.

Ned by Leslie Brucker taken August 2020 Sadly, last week he quickly declined. Ned no longer sang at meal time, took a long time to eat and just did not seem engaged at all. His hind end was dog-tracking so we felt that maybe he laid down and struggled to get back up, hurting himself while doing so. He would stand off by himself and lean up against a wall to sleep. All the signs were there that he was in great pain. On 5-28-21, Dr. Guss came out, confirmed our suspicions and we made the heartbreaking decision to let him go. I told him Poco, Dreamer, Autumn were waiting for him and there would be no pain in heaven. He is now Running In Paradise (RIP) pain free and happy to be with his old friends.

NED

Said goodbye, turned around And you were gone, gone, gone Faded into the setting sun Slipped away But I won't cry 'Cause I know I'll never be lonely For you are the stars to me You are the light I follow I can hear those echoes in the wind at night Calling me back in time Back to you In a place far away Where the water meets the sky The thought of it makes me smile You are my tomorrow Sometimes I feel my heart is breaking But I stay strong and I hold on 'cause I know I will see you again, This is not where it ends I will carry you with me 'Till I see you again- "See You Again" by Carrie Underwood Thank you to our volunteer Stevie McAdams for this beautiful horse-shoe sign in his memory. Ned you are so very loved! Registered name: Contenders Nieto 2-17-90 to 5-28-21

Thank you to all who have supported, cared and loved him. Christine and everyone at EqWBR

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Happy Mother's Day!

 

Rimson summer 2019, Photo by Leslie Brucker

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY To all the women. Because all women have mothered someone at some point in their life, it’s just what we do. We care, we nurture, we mother. For the mothers who are knee deep in family life, this is your day to feel like a queen, please do. It’s entirely deserved and no one needs a day of pampering more. The chores can wait, be rested. For the mothers who have lost children, this day is another on your ‘harder’ calendar and for that I send you love, you are so very brave. To the women who no longer have their mother, this day is a heart-breaking reminder of an overwhelming grief. Your mother would want this day to be a time to say her sayings, cook her favorite meal and play her favorite songs. So, please don’t avoid that today. I know it hurts but it will help the heal. To the women who have not made it into motherhood, who so desperately want to. This day is tough, there is nothing you want more than a 3am wake up and a hand drawn card full of love. Please take today to acknowledge all the hard work and energy you have put into your endeavors. I see the hole in your heart. I see you and I want you to know you're a warrior of love and you deserve so much joy in life. Please let it in. To the women who mother another child, you are a glorious example of humanity and love, my heart fills to bursting just to witness the gift you give. Thank you. To the women who feel they have not had that maternal love they so crave, please forgive. You need your heart whole to make so much love that the future outweighs the past. It starts with you. You deserve it, make it so. To the women, ALL the women. We mother like no other. Donna Ashworth Author of ‘to the women’

Christine and everyone at EqWBR

 

Sable, Rain and Willow in back, Photo by Leslie Brucker

4-25-21 it has been a year since Rain, Sable and Willow (formerly Sassy) arrived at the rescue. Their owners had been given a 7 day notice to show they had received vet care for the severe condition of neglect and also having two other horses, they contacted us for help. We agreed to take Rain and Sable sight unseen and when they delivered those two they asked if they could bring one more, so we said yes and they went home and brought back Willow (named Sassy at the time). Below are pictures of the devastating condition they arrived:

Willow (prior name Sassy) 4-25-20

Rain on arrival 4-25-20

Sable on arrival 4-25-20

They arrived in much worse condition than we were lead to believe and we called Dr. Tammy to come do her veterinary assessment and do bloodwork to see if organs had been effected by their long-term malnutrition. Tammy arrived and had tears in her eyes saying Rain and Sable were the two skinniest horses she had ever seen that were still alive. Rain and Sables blood work was off the charts, Willow being younger was able to fight for food so she was not as underweight, but still very malnourished. They all had swollen legs from lack of protein, dermatitis issues, long hair that should have shed but didn't, their feet were horrible and they were all dull eyed and VERY depressed. We are certain that Sable would not have lived much longer with out us starting care immediately. When equines in are such horrendous condition they need slow, frequent feeding, water consumption monitored and slow introduction of different feed, hay or supplements. It was touch a go for the first week, then we were able to get them on a more regular schedule and add the supplements they would need to get well.

After two weeks they had each started to gain weight. Willow 45 pounds, Rain 59 pounds and Sable 22. Much of that weight was rehydration and having enough of an appetite to be eating almost a complete normal portion of feed and hay a day. We were able to track their weight gain with the addition of a 3000lb digital livestock scale purchased for the rescue by the Hovden family. This allowed us to know exactly what their weight gain would be through their recovery. Through their recovery they lost all their hair and had new regrowth that came in healthy and shiny, their hooves started to heal from deep thrush and when they were trimmed our farrier said they were in such bad condition they felt like dried, old Tupperware...just crumbly. They started to respond to human kindness and care with little sparkles in their eyes. Willow was the first to recover her weight gaining 325 pounds in 4 months , but it took longer for her dermatitis issues to clear. Rain recovered her weight in 5 months gaining 450 pounds. Sable took over 6 months to gain appropriate weight for her size, but a few more months for her hip bones and top of her spine to cover. Sable more slight of build gained 330 pounds. It also took six months for their blood work to return to normal and we still worry about organ damage Sable may have sustained in the near death condition she was in upon arrival. Now a year later here they are:

Willow 11-18-20 Photo by Leslie Brucker

Rain 11-18-20 Photo by Leslie Brucker

Sable 11-11-20 photo by Leslie Brucker

Take a look at Sables hips a year ago and now, it is hard to believe it is the same horse. They ALL look fabulous, have wonderful, vibrant spirits and have become SO affectionate. Both Willow and Rain have been adopted by wonderful families and Sable will remain here at the rescue to happily live out her days. She and I have created a bond that is so very special...my heart horse for sure. For those of you who remember Gwen, I think her spirit lives on in Sable. We have so many people to thank for the love, caring and support we received to be able to provide EVERYTHING they needed to have a full recovery. Together three precious lives were saved and reborn a new. We wish them all a Happy Anniversary and thank you all so very, very much!!!

So very, very blessed, Christine and everyone at EqWBR