Sky Ranch Sanctuary

A Horse Rescue Organization

We’re Here at Home


Crazy times. Tragic, frustrating, and challenging. The horses are fine. Digger had a cut near his eye and had stitches but is now doing great. (We have no idea how he got the cut, but those of you who have horses know how they find ways to injure themselves!) He also had a little round with ulcers and was off his feed but after treatment is now licking his plate again. Those of us who care for the horses are doing well and trying to follow the rules of engagement. We’re happy that the care and feeding of animals is considered an “essential service” and getting them what they need, be it food, meds or supplements has been easy. And they never lack for TLC.

The horses seem to like being at home, and this crisis is not bothering them.

We wish you good health, sanity and finding healthy ways to cope.

Stay safe.

2020 Vision

2020. Sounds like a year in a futuristic novel. Yet, it is here, and we’re already involved in it.  I’m not sure how the horses deal with time. I do know for certain that they know when it’s mealtime! They pace restlessly in their stalls before breakfast and huddle near the pasture gate when four o’clock, the “dinner hour” nears.

We’ve had lovely cool weather, and the rain has left us with grass for grazing. When I look out at the horses, heads down nibbling at the grass, as they are meant to do, I want this to go on forever. I feel so lucky to have been able to create this place (made possible by generous donations) for horses to live out their lives with care and in comfort. The horses that are here now and the horses that are buried here remind me of how much the natural world has to offer us.  I hope this new year, 2020, is full of opportunities for all of us to connect more with nature’s gifts. Well, from my window, I see the horses coming up to the pasture gate. I don’t need a clock to know it’s dinnertime!

Happy New Year!

Unsung Heroes and Heroines: School Horses

I started taking horseback riding lessons at 40. I have loved horses ever since I can remember but life,  reluctant parents, and all of the details that can distract some of us from pursuing our dreams got in the way, and I got a late start. I started lessons at a hunter/ jumper barn outside of Los Angeles. With no horse of my own, my lessons were on “school horses.” These were horses owned by the stable and used solely for lessons. The younger riders seemed enchanted by the more expensive, privately owned horses that lived in the barn. They talked of “graduating” to those horses. The school horses lived in a herd in a small pasture out back, and I take my hat off to them!

Before each lesson, students would go out into the little herd and halter a horse suggested by the trainer. Culling one of the horses out of the herd was slightly daunting for a nervous beginner like myself, but I managed to do it, groom the horse, saddle up and get out into the arena for a lesson.

The horses who lived in the barn were beautiful, well bred, and many competed in horse shows around the state. But to my way of thinking, the school horses had the really tough job. I wish I could have hopped on, gracefully trotted around the arena (or heaven forbid cantered!) and focussed on the finer points of riding, but that was not to be. I bounced around, pulled at my horses’ mouth, and just tried to stay on. Thanks to the wonderful patient school horses I usually did!  (and when I didn’t it was all on me!)  I wonder what they were thinking when they saw me approaching, halter in hand, knowing they had their work cut out for them?!

Dottie was a big boned Appaloosa who carried me faithfully and even put up with my fitful attempts to try some dressage patterns. Rosie was a small, white horse who was intelligent, athletic, and received compliments from the instructor even when she was the only school horse in the arena. She moved with ease and carried me along. There were so many more, and I’m sad to say I can’t recall their names.

I’m sure there are many of you out there who spent time on a school horse.  I hope that by remembering, we honor them.

Spring Forward

It’s spring at Sky Ranch. We’ve had lots of rain and we are green green green! The horses have plenty of grass for grazing, and the cool sunny days are perfect for horse comfort. We’ve seen a few flies, but they’re not abundant yet so that makes it even better. It’s always a little disconcerting when we “spring forward” into daylight savings time. (Without the reminder “Spring Forward/ Fall Back I’d have to check the internet each season to check which way to adjust my non-digital watch!) The horses get to eat earlier so they adjust better than us humans, who have to get up an hour earlier to get them fed on time. I love learning lessons from our four footed friends. And I’m trying to take in this one: the days are longer…make good use of them. Life can be troubling and discouraging. Our horses are elderly, and have had some not-so-wonderful experiences in their pasts. But now it’s spring. More time to graze on lush green grass; more time be in the warm sun after dinner; and have a sleeker coat to boot! Spring forward!

Happy New Year!

Sky Ranch Sanctuary wants to wish all of you a very happy new year. Let’s hear it for positive changes in 2019!

The photo is of Sheldon in his new Guardian Mask. We think he looks like a rock star and very “L.A!”

A few months ago, Sheldon developed a condition called “Equine Head Shaking Syndrome.” It’s a puzzling condition that causes involuntary shaking of the head. There are several attributable causes, and it can be very difficult to treat successfully. One of the causes is sun sensitivity , and with Sheldon we definitely see some causation of symptoms in regard to being in the sun. He doesn’t exhibit the symptoms in the barn in the evening, and the symptoms don’t start till the morning sun has been up for awhile.

After an exam and consultation with our vet, we visited Dr. John Madigan’s website to look for solutions. Dr. Madigan, at UC Davis, has studied this condition and he recommends the Guardian Mask, which gives extra UV protection. The mask is expensive relative to a regular fly mask, but we wanted to give Sheldon the best protection we could, while still letting him enjoy his time out in the pasture. So far, though still exhibiting some milder symptoms, he seems to have improved, and we are thrilled. The condition can improve during the winter when the sun isn’t as intense, and sometimes the condition just goes away. Fingers crossed.

Thanks to everyone who responded to our 12 Days of Christmas holiday fund raiser. May all of us enjoy greener pastures in 2019!