Digger's Page

When Digger arrived at Sky Ranch last November, above is the way he looked. The caretaker at his former home would throw out hay which worked fine for the other horses, but Digger couldn’t chew it. When they discovered his teeth were probably the culprit, the absentee owner didn’t want to pay for dental work. The only options left were to let him starve or put him down. Well there was actually another option: Sky Ranch.

The caretaker and owner were anxious to try this third option. After Digger’s arrival here, and after allowing a few days for him to settle in , he had his teeth done. He needed a couple of extractions and lots of remedial work. Then it was just a matter of giving him food he could eat. He loves his senior feed and enjoys his softened alfalfa cubes. As you can see from the photo below, he’s doing much better. Regular dental check-ups are critical to a horse’s health and survival. If you have a horse of your own, make dental care a priority.

Our horses at Sky Ranch, and the horses and other animals at rescues and sanctuaries all over the country, have been given a “second chance”: a chance to be restored to the magnificent whole creature each was meant to be. And I believe those of us committed to that restoration of health and offering a safe place to live out life are given a “second chance” by being able to provide that kind attention another being may need to survive and thrive.

I doubt there are many, if any, persons out there who have not been given a helping hand, seemingly from “out of the blue,” and I will even go so far as to say that most, if not all (even those considered the most dastardly!),  have offered a kindness to another being with no thought of receiving something in return. But the wonder of it all is that we do get something back! Looking at Digger yesterday, not having seen him for a few days while I was out of town, I was struck by how strong and healthy he looked. Digger is by our vet’s best guess at least 30 years old, and he may never be as well muscled and vital as a horse of younger years, but he looks good, and he greets us with an enthusiasm in the morning that has replaced the dull eyed stance of his first days here. What a thrill to witness that!

For every horse who gets a second chance there is a person, or more likely persons, who in being part of that recovery and renewal process, get a “second chance” also. A chance to “do over” the times when we looked the other way or just didn’t have the gumption to do it right. These wonderful horses who come our way give us a second chance every day. Here’s to second chances!