Sky Ranch Sanctuary

A Horse Rescue Organization

Goldie

 

A few weeks ago, Goldie, a beautiful palomino mare, came to live at Sky Ranch Sanctuary.

Goldie’s owner was conscientious and took good care of Goldie but was finding her more and more difficult to ride. Goldie would become very anxious being separated from other horses and would not listen to her rider. Her owner hired a trainer, but things just kept going downhill and her owner was becoming as anxious as Goldie. Our Sanctuary vet happened to be Goldie’s vet also, and when Goldie’s owner told him she was running out of options and did not want to pass Goldie and “her issues” on to another rider, he suggested Sky Ranch might be able provide a safe and caring retirement home for Goldie.

Fortunately, we were able to say yes! After a few weeks, Goldie is happily out in the pasture with the other horses. She still demonstrates some anxiety when asked to go anywhere or in any direction she feels might separate her from the other horses. Our horses are here to retire and are not ridden so we are confident with ground work training she will adjust and become more comfortable when the routine varies a bit.

People ask a lot of horses and much of what we ask them to do is not in accord with their nature. For some horses, going along with the “human agenda” is harder than for others. There is no pressure here for a horse to perform. We think with a little time and a building of trust, Goldie will have found the perfect spot for her retirement.

Sheldon

 

Our first rescue horse, Sheldon, died this morning after a brief illness. Sheldon came to Sky Ranch 11 years ago via the Sheriff’s Department and H.E.E.T. (Horse Emergency Evacuation Team) that fostered him until he could find a permanent home.

Sheldon was found wandering and abandoned about 30 miles north of us. He was very thin and had been on his own for some time. I had been wanting to establish a non-profit sanctuary as my law practice was winding down, and as luck would have it I saw a flyer at my horse food supply store with Sheldon’s picture on it! He needed a home and the timing was perfect.

I knew when he pranced out of the horse trailer and trotted into our barn that he would be at home here. Sheldon had a “big” gait and was one of those horses who take up a lot of space, with attitude! Never mean, he knew where he wanted to go and was willing to argue with me about it. Moving him from place to place was always a challenge for me, but it always worked out.

Sheldon was a dear, one of a kind soul and could break your heart by letting his lower lip drop and quiver when he wanted attention. He wasn’t always patient with the other horses and let them know he’d be happy to be in charge if he could just get through that fence that separated them from him!

He survived serious bouts of colic, head shaking syndrome and shoe boils. We estimate his age to be in his 30’s.

There’s a big hole in the barn where his body and his heart lived. This is a huge loss for Sky Ranch. He was buried this afternoon in back. Rest in Peace.

Thankful for Moose

Moose

A  few weeks ago we welcomed a new horse to Sky Ranch. Moose is an 18-year-old Quarter Horse who needed a place to retire. Moose’s owner is relocating to another state and not able to take Moose along. Moose has arthritis in his front feet and retirement is by far the kindest option for his future.

In adding Moose to our sanctuary, we stepped a bit off of our usual path of only taking abused or abandoned horses. Moose was neither. But after meeting Moose and his owner, we felt bringing Moose here was the right thing to do. His future was uncertain, and there aren’t many good options for horses that shouldn’t be ridden.

After only a short time here, Moose elected himself  “chairman of the herd,” and the other horses seem okay with that! My cohort Madeline described him as “sensible,” and we like that in a thousand-pound animal we handle every day!

He’s a tall handsome guy, and we are so glad he has joined us.

We are thankful and wish all of you a Happy and Delicious Thanksgiving.

Party Girl (1989)-(2022)

Party Girl

Our cute, feisty, indomitable mare, Party Girl, died recently of old age complications.  Party Girl banged her drum (aka food bucket)  and pawed every morning when I arrived at the barn, just in case I needed a reminder that it was breakfast time.

She had arthritis and some structural issues that made it difficult for her to get around, but she managed with courage and determination. (The vet said her difficulties were  more mechanical than painful.) She was always anxious to eat (especially carrots) and waited anxiously every day by her stall door, ready to go out to the pasture.

Party Girl attached herself to any new mare coming into the barn, while keeping the geldings in line, with her somewhat stiff, but very effective hind leg kick!

She lived a long life for a horse, 33 years.

Horses get so attached to each other, and whether it’s a loss by death, or horses being relocated by human transactions, they feel the loss deeply.

It was so sad to let her go, and especially heartbreaking to watch the other horses run out to the pasture the day after she died, calling and looking for her.

It brings to mind a line from a book I read many years ago, Traveller, by Richard Adams (who also wrote Watership Down). It’s a fictional book about Robert E.Lee’s horse and presents a Traveller’s equine view of the Civil War. Traveller, the narrator, notes as other horses come and go in the barn where he lives: “Horses are always saying good-bye.”

She will be missed!

 

MEET MEADOW

Meadow, a pretty, petite mare, joined us at Sky Ranch a few weeks ago. She had been living at county animal services for weeks, going through the bureaucratic steps required before an impounded animal can be placed for adoption.

Meadow’s “story,” as is true for many rescued animals, is a bit hazy.  We were told originally that she was abandoned at a boarding facility, but later were told that she was not being cared for or housed properly by her owner, and that this was not the first time she had come to the attention of animal protective services. We we also told that she had been through several owners.

Whatever the case, we love having her at Sky Ranch where she will get the best care we can give. She has a sweet disposition and has adapted very well to her new surroundings. Due to a back injury, Meadow cannot be ridden, so even though she is younger than the other horses, our retirement setting is a good one for her.

Getting the herd reorganized, which is always tricky when adding a new member, has been a bit of an adventure for all of us! The senior geldings all seem to have become young stallions (at least in their minds!) since she arrived, while our senior resident mare looks on with longing that she might have a new buddy if the geldings would just get out of the way!  After some trial and error, Meadow is in an adjacent pasture, where they can all hang out together over the fence while they get better acquainted and safely work out their hormones!

Hopefully she can be integrated into the herd soon. I’ll keep you posted!