WINTER 2012 NEIGHSAVER

CHANGING THE WORLD, ONE HORSE AT A TIME

“Saving the life of one animal may not change the world, but the world will surely change for that one animal” —-author unknown

 Since November of 2011, Equamore Sanctuary has become the permanent home of seven new residents, most of whom came to us as a result of abusive neglect.  Equamore volunteers and donors have changed the world for these animals. Thor, a well-muscled quarter horse of the foundation type, has become a blogger, still keeping his distance from human advances but expressing his opinions, nonetheless. Although he still mourns the loss of his friend Hoover, Thor has formed new attachments with Finn and Magic and even, on occasion, allows his sponsor to stroke his neck after she gives him his treat.

Chance, a young mustang, bears the scar that is the fate of many young horses adopted and haltered before they are tame enough to recatch to remove the leather that can cut into the skin of their muzzles as they grow.  Other than his facial blemish, he’s “as healthy as a horse” and part of the mare herd where he still watches over Sassy, who continues to have problems with her feet, which have been compromised by laminitis and bone loss.

Sassy’s caretakers monitor her progress and are happy that she has regained the weight she had lost before coming to the Sanctuary and that she is now able to walk to the mare field next to the barn.

Poquito, the Shetland Pony, has left his mother’s side and lives as his own boss with Sampson, Dapples, and Ranger in the pony field next to Neil Creek. Poquito came to Equamore along with his mother and another pony mare who stayed at the Sanctuary until new homes were made ready for them.  But volunteers fell in love with Poquito and Ranger, a Mini who came around the same time and agreed to sponsor them if they were allowed to stay with us.

 Hazel, a beautiful Appaloosa mare, and Raffie, an Arabian gelding, are Equamore’s latest arrivals. Both came after separate interventions by animal control agencies who rely on Equamore Foundation as a reliable resource capable of tending surrendered or seized horses in need of special care.

Hazel, who suffers from an undiagnosed lameness problem in her hips, was rescued by well-meaning folks who did not fully realize what it means to care for a horse. They appealed for help from Rogue Valley Humane Society, who contacted Equamore.

Raffie, now in his mid twenties, was surrendered by his owner and still suffers from the neglect that left him emaciated and caused a neighbor to call law enforcement. He, too, bears the scars of a halter left on too long when he was young. He has an enormous appetite and relishes his twice-daily ration of softened pellets made from grass and alfalfa hay and high fat rice bran.  This specially prepared food is helping him recover the muscle mass he lost when his decaying teeth made it impossible for him adequate to chew hay. He was missing six teeth, and one more needed to be extracted before his remaining teeth could be floated.

Both Hazel and Raffie are turned out daily in the mare and geldlng fields to romp and run with the other horses.