General Archives - Page 2 of 9 - Sky Ranch Sanctuary

Dec 17 2024

Christmas at Sky Ranch – 2024 Recap

Friends of Sky Ranch Sanctuary…

Like many of you, I wonder where this past year went and why it went so quickly. And like many of you I imagine, we at Sky Ranch Sanctuary have had loss and gain.

Our beloved palomino mare, Goldie, died suddenly and unexpectedly. Goldie was as sweet as she was pretty and always a little worried about what was going to happen next. She appeared to have died without suffering. We, horses and humans, miss her.

In late June, Soda Pop, a mare from Texas came to live at Sky Ranch. She had been purchased online by a local man who experienced “buyer’s remorse” when she arrived not quite as expected: older and a bit lame.

Soda Pop seemed a little under the weather, and even if the seller in Texas would agree to take her back (unlikely), the general consensus was she would not survive the long trip in a horse hauler.

A stable owner and trainer in our network thought Sky Ranch would be a good spot for Soda Pop to retire. Unfortunately, the day after Soda Pop arrived at our ranch, she was diagnosed with strangles, a nasty, super contagious equine disease.

In consultation with our vet, we flushed out abscesses twice daily and began to administer antibiotics. Finally, after weeks of care, the strangles was gone but a mysterious infection lingered. Months later, after administering antibiotics and pain killers twice daily in her mouth by syringe, Soda Pop’s blood sample came back normal just this week!

Now we are waiting for our vet to clear her for a normal horse life, in the pasture in the company of other horses. It has been a long haul, both in the exertion of time and resources.

Fortunately, the other horses remained healthy and happy during this intense focus on getting Soda Pop well. She has been a sweet and tolerant patient throughout this ordeal, but will not be sorry to never see that syringe again!

As you may imagine, our resources have been strained by Soda Pop’s medical needs and her care has put a strain on our budget. Sky Ranch Sanctuary relies on both volunteers and generous donations from our horses caring supporters.

Any amount you can donate will be appreciated and put to good use. We currently have room for another horse who needs care and would love to be able to provide that.

Please consider a one-time donation in honor of Goldie, for the care of Soda Pop or to provide for our newest horse that is in need of care. Even the smallest amount makes a huge impact on our horses, not to mention, brightens the spirits of our volunteers – knowing that these beautiful animals are cared for and their dignity is acknowledged.

Thank you! We truly hope 2025 will find you well, on your way to somewhere you want to be and having some fun along the way.

From all of us at Sky Ranch Sanctuary, have a Happy Holiday season and a wonderful New Year!

P.S. – Feel free to explore our symbolic gifts. Even the smallest of gestures help brighten our volunteers spirits, knowing others care for our animals too.

Sep 25 2024

A Tribute to Goldie

Goldie, our beautiful palomino mare, died suddenly in late July. On Saturday, the day before, she was one hundred percent Goldie: happy to eat her breakfast and go out into the pasture with the other horses. My horse helper, Madeline, and I both spent time with Goldie and noticed nothing amiss. At dinner time she was at the gate, ready to come in and eat, and as usual vying with our mare, Meadow, to come in first!

When I got out to the barn at about 6:30 on Sunday morning and started to collect the feed buckets, I slid open the door to Goldie’s stall and found her lying there, her life gone. She had finished her dinner, and there was plenty of manure in her paddock. There was no sign of disturbance except for where she fell.

I was so shocked. Her body was still warm and not stiff. I couldn’t get a signal on my phone so I ran to the house to get Scott, my husband. I felt cold and could not get the words out of my mouth. There was no way to imagine this was coming.

Our vet surmised that Goldie died suddenly and without suffering, most likely from a ruptured artery. She is buried in back near the woods.

Anyone who has a beloved animal in his/her life, dreads the time when death comes. Most often there are signs of illness, vet visits and decisions to be made. Occasionally death comes quickly and apparently without suffering. Easier perhaps, but such a shock for the other animal companions and the human companions.

Goldie was a well-mannered horse, easy for us to care for. When she was young, her training was in a vigorous, highly disciplined method. It was too intense for her sweet, nervous spirit and caused her stress. When she was placed in a more normal environment, she was anxious, suffered separation anxiety with regard to her fellow barn mates and was difficult to ride. Her compassionate owner thought a relaxing retirement would be the kindest solution to Goldie’s discomfort.

Goldie seemed comfortable here at Sky Ranch. The comfort of the same schedule every day, the only “challenge” being led out to the pasture, seemed to suit her. She was never sick the whole time she was here. I think she was content. We grieve for losing her. We will miss her.

Nov 23 2023

Gratitude…

Horses on the Ranch At Thanksgiving, our thoughts at Sky Ranch Sanctuary turn to gratitude.

The news confirms what we suspected: that there is much that is wrong with the world, but that cannot diminish what is right with it! And having the opportunity to care for the wonderful creatures who live on this ranch is right and true and for that opportunity we are grateful.

Let me give you a thumbnail sketch of our current residents.

Digger has been here the longest. He arrived emaciated due to bad teeth and an owner unwilling to fix them. Though his teeth were treated, he still cannot chew hay and is on a diet of senior feed and hay pellets. He’s a Thoroughbred and a true gentleman!

Digger is smitten with Meadow, a Mustang mare who came to us through Animal Services. She continued escaping from her previous home and kept ending up at Animal Services because her owner couldn’t keep her in and safe.

Moose, a handsome running Quarter Horse, was “losing” his owner who was leaving the area. Moose has some issues with his feet, and it was difficult for his owner to find a home for him since he shouldn’t be ridden. He only needs to hang out in the pasture and be a horse here.

Goldie, a beautiful Palomino mare, is a bit skittish and difficult to ride. Being prey animals, all horses worry to some degree, but she takes that to another level. Her owner and our vet thought an environment with few demands would be the best situation for her.

Chloe, our latest horse featured on the website, arrived extremely thin in July from a small, fly infested pen. She’s a petite Arabian mare. Chloe is gaining weight and getting accustomed to being in the pasture with the other horses and having lots of space.

Chloe

How lucky we are to be able to care for them! They give so much back, and we will regale you with some of their entertaining antics in future emails.

We are also grateful for our donors who make this possible!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,

Mar 29 2021

Spring is Here

Spring is here. The horses are happy! Of course, I can’t get into their heads (though I’ve tried!), but there is green grass in the pasture so I think “happy” is a good guess.

Sheldon seems to be enjoying Spring and his retirement. That is when he isn’t busy removing boards from the fence. He tries to put his head through (like most horses and some people he subscribes to the axiom that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence), but his head is too big, and the board between the fence posts pops out; this, of course, startles him and he jumps back, but that won’t stop him from trying again later. He is not deterred by an occasional setback. In addition to physical beauty and grace, horses have a natural spirit that begs admiration.

We hope you are enjoying the warmer days. Even if you live where winter seems to hang on with any teeth it has left, Spring is around the corner. And now hope for relief from the pandemic. Some members of our family, in spite of efforts to be safe, came down with the virus in varying degrees of “sick”, but all made it through, and we’ve either been vaccinated or are in line to get one. Be well!

We hope that the new normal will be a better normal, with the “greener grass” that seemed to be on the other side of the fence right here close by and reachable. Over the past year, we must have learned what makes life sweeter.

I recommend Maria Shriver’s blog, The Sunday Paper, to any of you looking for hope and ideas of how to go forward with your “one wild and precious life.” (quote from poet Mary Oliver). Check it out.

To Spring!

Oct 25 2020

SIP/ We’re Sheltering in Place

The horses are enjoying autumn, which has finally brought us fall-like temperatures. The few scorching days we had earlier in October left us feeling tired and dusty, but we’re pretty good at recovering. Most rescue horses have had it worse and have come back.

Now that Sheldon has fully recovered from his head shaking syndrome and is back to his old self, he’s back in the pasture with the other horses..and liking it! There is a gate between him and the other horses to “keep the peace” (Sheldon brings some pecking order issues to this group!), but they all seem to enjoy being fully back together as a herd. Sheldon is the last one turned out in the morning, and Party Girl (our one mare) waits at the gate for him to be sure all are accounted for. She has put herself in charge of attendance!

We are so lucky, two-leggeds and four-leggeds, to live on a ranch where we have some natural space to stretch our legs and breathe in the air during this horrible pandemic. (We two-leggeds wear our masks and practice social distancing when we leave the ranch.) Perhaps the most important thing to remember during these stressful times is to give our best care and attention to all of those with whom we share this planet, human and animal alike. (And I want to include the coyotes, whom my husband refers to as “the bad boys!”)