Hear the amazing story of Rock and Roll – the rescued draft mule team, the discovery of their injuries, and the dedicated team of professionals working hard to give longevity to their lives. There were comebacks and setbacks; this incredible story will touch your heart and soul.
This episode explains in detail about Roll since the passing of his half-brother, Rock. They spent many years together hitched and pulling a wagon.
Rock and Roll: Diary of a Rescue, Part 1 – Draft Mule Team Rock and Roll were rescued and in their journey were turned over to Meredith Hodges of the Lucky Three Ranch.
Learn the details involved when dealing with rescue animals.
Surrounding yourself with a professional support team for treatment of rescues.
It’s more than just farrier work and supplementing a feeding program.
5-5-20: My Grandmother taught me that Good Posture, Good Manners and Good Hygiene don’t cost anything but very little time and effort, and the results are nothing less than miraculous! Practicing these simple elements of living can, however, save you a lot of money in veterinary and maintenance costs associated with you and your equines! Preventive measures can deter accidents and good hygiene practices deter poor health. Chasity came to us with a plethora of problems. I have documented and shared a number of things with you about the benefits of postural core strength development that I used with a number of equines here at my ranch. This time, I am documenting this approach with even more details than I ever have before so you can see the types of things that I do from feeding to maintenance to exercise that bring about these amazing results! I will be posting “CHASITY’S CHALLENGES” on the weekends with occasional “real time” updates. Today, we have had Chasity for a month. She came in with very bad equine posture, cataracts in both eyes, Lordosis in her spine (sway-back), fatty deposits over her body and an enlarged, fatty neck crest, overgrown and unbalanced hooves, and a major bacterial infection in her badly swollen teats and udder. Today, the posture is significantly better and the Lordosis is receding, the body fat deposits are gone and the crest is shrunk by 50%, her hooves are balanced and staying that way and the bacterial infection in her teats and udder has been reduced by 70%. When she came in, she was introverted, head shy and was hesitant to engage with us. Today, she is no longer head shy (She “trusts” even though she cannot see very well) and is a happy and willing companion! PHOTO #1 – 3-31-20; PHOTO #2 – 5-5-20; PHOTO #3 – 3-30-20; PHOTO #4 – 5-5-20. Check the CHASITY’S CHALLENGES posts each weekend for lots more details!
I received a call today for this beautiful “SENIOR PONY”
He is in his 20’s, and has a few health issues. He needs his lil hoofers done, special feed and has to have some teeth pulled right away. He has had some damage to his coffin bone, (it’s lightly rotated, but the vet said with proper care he should have another 10 years or so.)
He will be a permanent part of our Chilly Pepper Family and a star in our Sunshine and Smiles Program.
Will you help Grandpa Sonny? As you can see he is a long way from ready to quit.
Several folks thought he should be euthanized, but luckily he had an advocate who saw him for who he was and said no.
He will need to be assessed further by Doc, and have his dental work done asap. We know, from the Vet who checked him out two days ago, that he needs at least 2 teeth pulled along with some additional dental care.
We need funds for his transportation, (approximately $650), funds for his initial vetting, hoof trims, meds and to get his teeth done. We also need to purchase special low carb feed and hay for him. WILL YOU PLEASE HELP US GET GRANDPA SONNY HOME TO CHILLY PEPPER?
Thank you so much for being part of our Chilly Pepper Family.
Blessings for a beautiful holiday season and remember your glass can always be “half full”.
WIN (WILD HORSES IN NEED) is a 501c3 IRS EIN 55-0882407_
If there are ever funds left over from the cost of the rescue itself, the monies are used to feed, vet, care for and provide shelter and proper fencing for the animals once they are saved.
Meet Miss Lillie Mae! She is an adorable 8-10 year old jenny who came to AAE after auction and through Auction Horses Rescue. She completed quarantine (standard protocol for new intakes), and now, she is now being doted on daily. We don’t know much about her past, but her hoof care has been neglected for a long time, and she’s had intermittent lameness. So, we had Dr. Stolba out for radiographs early to evaluate. She’s very clubby and appears to have contracted tendons. Thanksfully, it’s not a laminitis/founder issue. She is a bit resistant to hoof handling and farrier care, and because of the tendon issues, we’re taking it slow (baby steps). Fortunately, she had her first trim (and deworming), and she’s looking so much better already. Lillie Mae is scheduled for her dental, vaccines, and microchip next week.
Lillie Mae is very sweet, and we are eager to get to know her better. She has the cutest ears, the cutest face, and the cutest bray! Admit it, she’s simply cute, cute, cute!
Lillie Mae enjoyed some peanut butter for National Peanut Butter Day today! She was one of the few from the entire herd who actually liked it!
Lillie Mae is not ready for adoption just yet, but in the meantime, she needs a sponsor (or a team of sponsors) to help support her care costs. Learn more and sign up here.
Your donations, volunteering, adopting, and social media shares & likes really do make a difference and make all of this work possible!
Thanks for your gracious and continued support of AAE!
Mud Stinks!
Can you help keep the horses out of the mud
by giving them the gift of a stall mat?
We’re in the middle of rainy season, and with the rain comes mud, especially with horses. We have 16 newer stalls/paddocks, and 12 need a bit more help with the mud. More stall mats will help keep the horses from standing in the mud all day/night, and they’ll help make more safe and healthy conditions.
With your help, we can purchase more stall mats to help get through the muddy winter, better.
Can you help cover the cost of one stall mat ($58.99), a set of six to complete one stall/paddock ($353.94), or any amount to help use mitigate the mud and use the stalls/paddocks for the better?
If we can purchase enough (25+), we can receive a small discount to reduce costs a little bit, too.
You’re support will help keep the horses on more solid ground!
You did it, and we did it. Together, we met the three matches, and we came oh so close to our year end fundraising goal ($34,160/35,000). We also closed the year with some really wonderful adoptions. Thank you for making time to read our 31 stories of 2023, and we hope you enjoyed them. We’d love to hear which story was your favorite.
Before we move on to 2024, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your devoted support this year. Rescue work is rewarding, agonizing, challenging, heartbreaking, joyful, and everything in between. None of it would be possible without you and your support, generosity, and love. You are making a difference for horses and other animals and helping provide them with a better life and a brighter future. Thank you, thank you, thank YOU!
We are excited to be moving into 2024 and for the opportunity to make new stories for horses-in-need this year. We look forward to what the new year will bring and all that we can accomplish together!
As with every new year, it’s time we consider our new year’s resolutions. We’ve set some goals for AAE, and with your help we can achieve them: help more equine, help more humans, grow our team, and reach out into the community to educate and share our knowledge and resources, and more.
One of the most important resolutions we make each year is to find a home for each and every one of our adoptable horses in the new year. We can do it, together. Share our website, share our posts, share our adoptables, and help us find them their forever homes!
A NEW HOME IN THE NEW YEAR!
Let’s make 2024 their year and help these majestic creatures find their lifelong home!
Learn more about each horse by clicking on its name or photo.
Please read each horse’s description and needs carefully
to make sure YOU are a good match (or to help find a good match) for the horse!
If you are interested, or if someone you know is interested, in exploring adoption, please learn more about our adoption process, then submit an Adoption Inquiry (it all starts here).
As we count down to 2024, join us every day this month as we share stories from the barn that show how your support has helped horses this year and every year.
We’ve been sharing stories mostly about individual horses, but today we’re going to pivot to this group of Friends.
In August 2023, AAE welcomed Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, and Joey after the unexpected death of a family member. The Friends had been loved and well cared for by the family, but resources were now limited, and the family needed help. The Friends had been together for many years, so before coming to AAE, efforts were made to rehome them together. Unfortunately, a suitable home was not found. Trying to place a family of five minis (four being seniors between 26 and 30), isn’t an easy task, so they eventually came to AAE. By the way, Monica is the youngest Friend, born in 2007 to mom, Rachel, and dad, Ross.
Once at AAE, they were all due for basic care updates, so they all got the works: dental and hoof care, vaccines, deworming, and microchips. Sadly, not long after, Joey suffered a very difficult impaction colic, and after four days of treatment, it didn’t resolve. Sadly, he crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
The boys were all stallions, and Ross and Chandler were gelded, too. Though castration of the older guys is higher risk, once gelded, most can have a much higher quality of life. AAE also has a policy of castrating all colts and stallions prior to adoption to help minimize the risks of unwanted pregnancies and indiscriminate breeding.
These minis are so sweet and love attention.
Keeping a herd together, especially an older group, can be difficult, but one amazing family opened their hearts and home to the Friends and adopted all four. They are settling in nicely and getting along with everyone at their new home. Their humans say “They are just angels.” Ross and his new goat brother even participated in a nativity together this holiday season!
We are blessed with an awe-inspiring and generous community! A third anonymous donor has offered to match donations, dollar for dollar, up to $5000!
If we can reach the match max, we will be so close to reaching our year end goal!
Let’s do it for the horses!
As we wind down the year, our goal is to raise at least $35,000 this holiday season to jump start our funding for the new year and to make sure 2024 is merry & bright for horses-in-need.
As of this email, we’re just over 2/3 of the way there at $22,95.
Like you, we have felt the pressure of the changing economy. Hay, fuel, supplies, and other care costs have increased substantially. The effects are compounded for nonprofits across the country, as many of us have seen a decrease in overall donations. Rising costs and fewer donations are stretching us thin, impacting our ability to serve the number of horses we typically serve. We’ll scale back as we need. We need your support more than ever.
On average, it costs about $8 per horse each day for feed and health care for the horses at AAE. Expenses add up quickly when caring for 50+/- horses and other animals, including costs for basic care, diagnostics, treatments, medications, surgery, and emergency care, when needed.
We know your lives have been impacted, too, we’re all in this together. If you’re able, please consider making a year end donation to support this life-saving work and make it possible to help more horses-in-need.
Expenses can add up quickly, but your donations can, too! If every one of our followers made a $5 donation, we could surpass our goal by thousands.
You can help make similar stories to share next year by donating today. Any amount is very much appreciated, and it makes a big difference for the horses.
As we wind down the year, our goal is to raise at least $35,000 this holiday season to jump start our funding for the new year and make sure 2024 is merry & bright for horses-in-need.
Like you, we have felt the pressure of the changing economy. Hay, fuel, supplies, and other care costs have increased substantially. The effects are compounded for nonprofits across the country, as many of us have seen a decrease in overall donations. Rising costs and fewer donations are stretching us thin, impacting our ability to serve the number of horses we typically serve. We’ll scale back as we need. We need your support more than ever.
On average, it costs about $8 per horse each day for feed and health care for the horses at AAE. Expenses add up quickly when caring for 50+/- horses and other animals, including costs for basic care, diagnostics, treatments, medications, surgery, and emergency care, when needed.
We know your lives have been impacted, too, we’re all in this together. If you’re able, please consider making a year end donation to support this life-saving work and make it possible to help more horses-in-need.
Expenses can add up quickly, but your donations can, too! If every one of our followers made a $5 donation, we could surpass our goal by thousands.
You can help make similar stories to share next year by donating today. Any amount is very much appreciated, and it makes a big difference for the horses.
Start your own fundraiser on behalf of AAE! Then ask friends and family to donate as a gift for your birthday, Christmas, or just because, and help the horses of AAE! Click here to get started. If you have any questions, please email mccall@allaboutequine.org
Your donations, volunteering, adopting, and social media shares & likes really do make a difference and make all of this work possible!
Thanks for your gracious and continued support of AAE!
As we count down to 2024, join us every day this month as we share stories from the barn that show how your support has helped horses this year and every year.
Dakota is enjoying a happy holiday this year! He’s looking forward to a bright future for years to come with his forever person while reuniting with one of his brothers!
DAKOTA
Dakota is a 2009 tribal/reservation mustang originally from the Dakotas. He came to AAE from a distressed sanctuary with several other horses. His original, loving owner was diagnosed with terminal cancer, resulting in Dakota being placed at the former sanctuary. That sanctuary was struggling and needed assistance with its animals, so Dakota and some other equine friends came to AAE in the fall of 2021.
Dakota had extensive and painful heel cracks in his hind hooves when he arrived. It was also discovered that the lens in his left eye was detached, and he could not see from that side. He was wary of humans, especially when they approached him from the left side or from behind, and he was always on heightened alert.
During his time with AAE, Dakota’s hoof health improved greatly, his confidence grew, and he was re-introduced to a saddle, which he had no issues with. He became a really sweet and social fella who loves attention from both humans and horses alike. He was adopted this fall by past AAE adopter, Rodney. Dakota and his former AAE herdmate Nash are now brothers for life! Such a great outcome for two really nice horses, not to mention a really great adopter!
Like you, we have felt the pressure of the changing economy. Hay, fuel, supplies, and other care costs have increased substantially. The effects are compounded for nonprofits across the country, as many of us have seen a decrease in overall donations. Rising costs and fewer donations are stretching us thin, impacting our ability to serve the number of horses we typically serve. We’ll scale back as we need. We need your support more than ever.
On average, it costs about $8 per horse each day for feed and health care for the horses at AAE. Expenses add up quickly when caring for 50+/- horses and other animals, including costs for basic care, diagnostics, treatments, medications, surgery, and emergency care, when needed.
We know your lives have been impacted, too, we’re all in this together. If you’re able, please consider making a year end donation to support this life-saving work and make it possible to help more horses-in-need.
Expenses can add up quickly, but your donations can, too! If every one of our followers made a $5 donation, we could surpass our goal by thousands.
You can help make similar stories to share next year by donating today. Any amount is very much appreciated, and it makes a big difference for the horses.
We are blessed with an awe-inspiring and generous community! A third anonymous donor wants us to reach our year-end goal and has offered to match donations, dollar for dollar, up to $5000, starting today!
If we can reach the match max, we will be so close to reaching our year end goal! Let’s do it for the horses!
As we wind down the year, our goal is to raise at least $35,000 this holiday season to jump start our funding for the new year and to make sure 2024 is merry & bright for horses-in-need.
As of this email, we’re nearly 2/3 of the way there at $21,850 (includes off-line donations).
As we wind down the year, our goal is to raise at least $35,000 this holiday season to jump start our funding for the new year and make sure 2024 is merry & bright for horses-in-need.
Like you, we have felt the pressure of the changing economy. Hay, fuel, supplies, and other care costs have increased substantially. The effects are compounded for nonprofits across the country, as many of us have seen a decrease in overall donations. Rising costs and fewer donations are stretching us thin, impacting our ability to serve the number of horses we typically serve. We’ll scale back as we need. We need your support more than ever.
On average, it costs about $8 per horse each day for feed and health care for the horses at AAE. Expenses add up quickly when caring for 50+/- horses and other animals, including costs for basic care, diagnostics, treatments, medications, surgery, and emergency care, when needed.
We know your lives have been impacted, too, we’re all in this together. If you’re able, please consider making a year end donation to support this life-saving work and make it possible to help more horses-in-need.
Expenses can add up quickly, but your donations can, too! If every one of our followers made a $5 donation, we could surpass our goal by thousands.
You can help make similar stories to share next year by donating today. Any amount is very much appreciated, and it makes a big difference for the horses.
Start your own fundraiser on behalf of AAE! Then ask friends and family to donate as a gift for your birthday, Christmas, or just because, and help the horses of AAE! Click here to get started. If you have any questions, please email mccall@allaboutequine.org
Your donations, volunteering, adopting, and social media shares & likes really do make a difference and make all of this work possible!
Thanks for your gracious and continued support of AAE!
As we count down to 2024, join us every day this month as we share stories from the barn that show how your support has helped horses this year and every year.
We hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend. Christmas may be over, but we still have stories to share! Marvelous Matteo is up next!
MATTEO
AAE welcomed 10-year old (captive bred) mustang stallion, Matteo, in September 2023. He had an enormous summer sore on his face. (Summer sores are associated with the life cycles of stomach worms and transmitted by flies).
Matteo was fearful and extremely reactive to humans, and no one at his prior home had been able to handle him to treat the summer sore. It’s very likely he had never been haltered and only minimally touched prior to coming to AAE.
In the time he’s been here, we’ve made progress. Matteo is very curious and getting brave. He’s accepting touch, and growing a bit more inquisitive with humans, though, he’s still very reactive and skeptical. Under direction of our vet, he got a round of antibiotics, and we treated the sore with various topicals. It wasn’t the prettiest, but it was effective. The sore was well on its way to healing, and thankfully, with the change in weather (reduction in fly irritants), the sore was able close and heal. Matteo is much relieved.
Hopefully, with time, he’ll come to realize we’re here to help him, and he’ll learn he can enjoy humans.
Once we’re able to halter and handle him more safely (for him and humans), we’ll work toward dental and hoof care, vaccines, microchip, castration, etc. Slow and steady!
As we wind down the year, our goal is to raise at least $35,000 this holiday season to jump start our funding for the new year and to make sure 2024 is merry & bright for horses-in-need.
As of this email, we’re just over 1/3 of the way there at $21,825.
Like you, we have felt the pressure of the changing economy. Hay, fuel, supplies, and other care costs have increased substantially. The effects are compounded for nonprofits across the country, as many of us have seen a decrease in overall donations. Rising costs and fewer donations are stretching us thin, impacting our ability to serve the number of horses we typically serve. We’ll scale back as we need. We need your support more than ever.
On average, it costs about $8 per horse each day for feed and health care for the horses at AAE. Expenses add up quickly when caring for 50+/- horses and other animals, including costs for basic care, diagnostics, treatments, medications, surgery, and emergency care, when needed.
We know your lives have been impacted, too, we’re all in this together. If you’re able, please consider making a year end donation to support this life-saving work and make it possible to help more horses-in-need.
Expenses can add up quickly, but your donations can, too! If every one of our followers made a $5 donation, we could surpass our goal by thousands.
You can help make similar stories to share next year by donating today. Any amount is very much appreciated, and it makes a big difference for the horses.
As we wind down the year, our goal is to raise at least $35,000 this holiday season to jump start our funding for the new year and make sure 2024 is merry & bright for horses-in-need.
Like you, we have felt the pressure of the changing economy. Hay, fuel, supplies, and other care costs have increased substantially. The effects are compounded for nonprofits across the country, as many of us have seen a decrease in overall donations. Rising costs and fewer donations are stretching us thin, impacting our ability to serve the number of horses we typically serve. We’ll scale back as we need. We need your support more than ever.
On average, it costs about $8 per horse each day for feed and health care for the horses at AAE. Expenses add up quickly when caring for 50+/- horses and other animals, including costs for basic care, diagnostics, treatments, medications, surgery, and emergency care, when needed.
We know your lives have been impacted, too, we’re all in this together. If you’re able, please consider making a year end donation to support this life-saving work and make it possible to help more horses-in-need.
Expenses can add up quickly, but your donations can, too! If every one of our followers made a $5 donation, we could surpass our goal by thousands.
You can help make similar stories to share next year by donating today. Any amount is very much appreciated, and it makes a big difference for the horses.
Start your own fundraiser on behalf of AAE! Then ask friends and family to donate as a gift for your birthday, Christmas, or just because, and help the horses of AAE! Click here to get started. If you have any questions, please email mccall@allaboutequine.org
Your donations, volunteering, adopting, and social media shares & likes really do make a difference and make all of this work possible!
Thanks for your gracious and continued support of AAE!
As we count down to 2024, join us every day this month as we share stories from the barn that show how your support has helped horses this year and every year.
He may not be a Griswold, but Granger is going to enjoy a fun old-fashioned family Christmas in his new home this year!
GRANGER
Granger was living with a small herd of horses in a large, dry pasture. He is a senior (born ~1992) horse with very worn out teeth, and he was left to survive on dry weeds. He became emaciated, and fortunately, in the summer of 2022, law enforcement stepped in before it was too late.
Once at AAE, Granger began a refeeding program consisting of soaked alfalfa pellets. After he was done with quarantine, he got the works: hoof and dental care, vaccines, deworming, and a microchip, and some diagnostics, too. Based on his very aged teeth, our vet estimated he was likely about 30 years old. (Age is difficult to determine after about 18-20, but his teeth were that aged.) Despite the condition in which he came, he rebounded nicely, with no apparent long-term health concerns, though diagnostics did show he has Cushings. Granger was started on daily medications for Cushings, as well as another daily med to support his joints.
Granger is sweet and respectful. He was protective and defensive around food when he first came to AAE, but he learned to leave those behaviors behind. We were told he was used as a trail horse in his prior life. Due to his age and arthritis, his riding days are behind him, too.
We are so thrilled ol’ Granger found a wonderful family this fall! He is being loved on and doted on as a companion, both for his humans and a senior mare.
We have another very generous donor offering to match donations, dollar for dollar, up to $3000! Help us get to our goal, and turn $3,000 into $6,000!
As we wind down the year, our goal is to raise at least $35,000 this holiday season to jump start our funding for the new year and make sure 2024 is merry & bright for horses-in-need.
Like you, we have felt the pressure of the changing economy. Hay, fuel, supplies, and other care costs have increased substantially. The effects are compounded for nonprofits across the country, as many of us have seen a decrease in overall donations. Rising costs and fewer donations are stretching us thin, impacting our ability to serve the number of horses we typically serve. We’ll scale back as we need. We need your support more than ever.
On average, it costs about $8 per horse each day for feed and health care for the horses at AAE. Expenses add up quickly when caring for 50+/- horses and other animals, including costs for basic care, diagnostics, treatments, medications, surgery, and emergency care, when needed.
We know your lives have been impacted, too, we’re all in this together. If you’re able, please consider making a year end donation to support this life-saving work and make it possible to help more horses-in-need.
Expenses can add up quickly, but your donations can, too! If every one of our followers made a $5 donation, we could surpass our goal by thousands.
You can help make similar stories to share next year by donating today. Any amount is very much appreciated, and it makes a big difference for the horses.
Start your own fundraiser on behalf of AAE! Then ask friends and family to donate as a gift for your birthday, Christmas, or just because, and help the horses of AAE! Click here to get started. If you have any questions, please email mccall@allaboutequine.org
Your donations, volunteering, adopting, and social media shares & likes really do make a difference and make all of this work possible!
Thanks for your gracious and continued support of AAE!
As we count down to 2024, join us every day this month as we share stories from the barn that show how your support has helped horses this year and every year.
AAE is home to more than horses! Though we focus on equine, we also take in other animals-in-need (mostly farm animals).
AAE’s SPEEDY and the FARM ANIMALS
Speedy is an African Sulcata Tortoise. He came to AAE when we were in El Dorado Hills, and he quickly became a favorite! He’s an entertainer, well, he’s entertaining; you can watch him for hours, and the day will go really slow. He loves to mosey around, soak in a shower of water, bask in the sun, and eat his greens. He was about the size of a cantaloupe when he arrived, and now he’s about the size of a big turkey, growing like a weed. He’s been an interesting critter around the barn.
Buttercup is a ~10 year old Jersey cow that came to AAE when she was no longer used for milk. She’s friendly, and she’s adorable. Buttercup and the other cows live in the big pasture with the mustangs. They come down from the pasture for breakfast and dinner. The rest of the day you’ll often find them resting under a tree, together.
Mia is a senior (~18) Black Angus cow. She and Soña (below) came to AAE in Pilot Hill with their herd to eat down the weeds and star-thistle before we moved the horses there. She’s friendly and enjoys a lil’ human company now and then.
Soña is also a senior (~17) Black Angus cow. She and Mia were 4-H projects when they were younger, then they were senior members of their beef herd. When all the weeds and star-thistle were gone, and it was time to bring the horses, these two lucky moos got to stay to live out their days, together.
Oscar and his buddy, Oliver, came to AAE in 2021 with a group of horses from a distressed sanctuary on the eve of eviction. The two senior boar piggies had no place to go. Thinking it was temporary and would be easy to find a farm sanctuary for them was the farthest thing from reality! Sadly, Oliver got very sick earlier this year, and Oscar lost his friend. Oscar was a grumpy ol’ guy when he got here, but he’s grown to enjoy his human friends. He loves to be (carefully) hand fed, and he loves belly scratches. He’s spoiled!
Rebel, Kicker, and Scoobie are ~3 year old Nubian wethers (we were told). They were living in an area not zoned for goats, and they came to live with AAE when they were evicted from their home by code enforcement. They share the “Farm Area” with Oscar. They are lil’ characters, typical goats, with tons of personality, AKA, tons of fun!
We have another very generous donor offering to match donations, dollar for dollar, up to $3000! Help us get to our goal, and turn $3,000 into $6,000!
As we wind down the year, our goal is to raise at least $35,000 this holiday season to jump start our funding for the new year and make sure 2024 is merry & bright for horses-in-need.
Like you, we have felt the pressure of the changing economy. Hay, fuel, supplies, and other care costs have increased substantially. The effects are compounded for nonprofits across the country, as many of us have seen a decrease in overall donations. Rising costs and fewer donations are stretching us thin, impacting our ability to serve the number of horses we typically serve. We’ll scale back as we need. We need your support more than ever.
On average, it costs about $8 per horse each day for feed and health care for the horses at AAE. Expenses add up quickly when caring for 50+/- horses and other animals, including costs for basic care, diagnostics, treatments, medications, surgery, and emergency care, when needed.
We know your lives have been impacted, too, we’re all in this together. If you’re able, please consider making a year end donation to support this life-saving work and make it possible to help more horses-in-need.
Expenses can add up quickly, but your donations can, too! If every one of our followers made a $5 donation, we could surpass our goal by thousands.
You can help make similar stories to share next year by donating today. Any amount is very much appreciated, and it makes a big difference for the horses.
Start your own fundraiser on behalf of AAE! Then ask friends and family to donate as a gift for your birthday, Christmas, or just because, and help the horses of AAE! Click here to get started. If you have any questions, please email mccall@allaboutequine.org
Your donations, volunteering, adopting, and social media shares & likes really do make a difference and make all of this work possible!
Thanks for your gracious and continued support of AAE!
As we count down to 2024, join us every day this month as we share stories from the barn that show how your support has helped horses this year and every year.
Jelly Roll may be short, but he’s not short on the holiday spirit!
JELLY ROLL
Jelly Roll is a ~2011 mini mule. He had several violent incidents with his family’s goat herd and needed a new home, so in June 2023, he came to AAE.
He quickly adjusted to his new life and routine. He loves to frolic and play with his mini herdmates. He also loves to eat! He has even moved panels and fencing to try to sample some of his friends’ food.
His stylish and spunky locks are also giving Flame some competition for the best mini mane!
Jelly Roll quickly became a volunteer favorite with his charming and sweet personality! His cuteness only had a little to do with it. He appreciates a good grooming session, and he loves to be doted on. That’s why he makes the perfect ambassador for AAE! He is now an AAE program mini, and he will help new and youth volunteers, and he’ll participate in other future programs.
As we wind down the year, our goal is to raise at least $35,000 this holiday season to jump start our funding for the new year and make sure 2024 is merry & bright for horses-in-need.
Like you, we have felt the pressure of the changing economy. Hay, fuel, supplies, and other care costs have increased substantially. The effects are compounded for nonprofits across the country, as many of us have seen a decrease in overall donations. Rising costs and fewer donations are stretching us thin, impacting our ability to serve the number of horses we typically serve. We’ll scale back as we need. We need your support more than ever.
On average, it costs about $8 per horse each day for feed and health care for the horses at AAE. Expenses add up quickly when caring for 50+/- horses and other animals, including costs for basic care, diagnostics, treatments, medications, surgery, and emergency care, when needed.
We know your lives have been impacted, too, we’re all in this together. If you’re able, please consider making a year end donation to support this life-saving work and make it possible to help more horses-in-need.
Expenses can add up quickly, but your donations can, too! If every one of our followers made a $5 donation, we could surpass our goal by thousands.
You can help make similar stories to share next year by donating today. Any amount is very much appreciated, and it makes a big difference for the horses.
Start your own fundraiser on behalf of AAE! Then ask friends and family to donate as a gift for your birthday, Christmas, or just because, and help the horses of AAE! Click here to get started. If you have any questions, please email mccall@allaboutequine.org
Your donations, volunteering, adopting, and social media shares & likes really do make a difference and make all of this work possible!
Thanks for your gracious and continued support of AAE!
As we count down to 2024, join us every day this month as we share stories from the barn that show how your support has helped horses this year and every year.
2023 was a difficult year at AAE, especially the month of May; too many of our friends earned their wings. Any time we experience loss of our four-legged friends, it’s difficult, as it is for most. But when we lose four truly beloved animals in such a short time, it’s an immense challenge to our hearts. Fortunately, we’re surrounded by an army of love, and we all get through it, together.
Today we’re remembering our sweet souls who crossed the Rainbow Bridge this year. We are forever grateful for the special memories they’ve given us.
ANGELS
Our sweet Velcro was with us when it all began, and she got to make the move to Pilot Hill to bless the new barn. She adapted incredibly well, and really seemd to enjoy her new digs. In March, her lil’ body traveled as far as it could before reaching the end of it’s journey. Velcro was 21. Velcro loved everyone, and everyone loved her. She was soft, cuddly, and oh, so sweet. She earned her name because of her clingy nature, and it fit her so well, it stuck. She loved to be held on your shoulder, and she’d sit there and purr all day, if you’d let her. Rest easy sweet girl, you were the best kitty ever!
Oh Loretta, Loretta! Loretta was a very elderly donk that came to us from an abandonment situation. Her owner left her with caretakers that were unfamiliar with donkey care and needs. She was in very poor condition when she arrived. Loretta left us as we slept one night in March, after a vet visit the day before. Loretta’s red mane, long ears, and sweet nature won the hearts of everyone that met her. We loved you, ol’ girl!
Gabby, our Warrior, lost her battle with recurrent hoof infections in May when the infection penetrated her joint capsule. Gabby came to us after long term neglect. Her body was spent, but her spirit was very alive. She overcame multiple issues, only to be defeated by a hoof abscess. Abscesses came and went, but the last one was different. Though we fought right along with her, and did everything we could, nothing we could have done would have given her a pain free life once the infection penetrated her joint. If ever a horse has left hoofprints on our hearts, Gabby’s are some of the deepest. We miss you, sweet girl. You will be remembered forever!
Oliver o’ Oliver (photo at intake)! Oliver crossed over in May after an acute illness that was never determined. Oliver was a senior pig (no clue how old). He came to us from a distressed sanctuary that was being evicted. He and his buddy had nowhere to go. This cantankerous ol’ guy weaved his way into many of our horse-lover’s hearts (but not a few), making some new pig-lovers. He was here to let everyone know not all pigs are mean, not all pigs are smelly, not all pigs like to live in wallows, and so much more. This lil’ guy is missed every day!
Lil’ Mr. Dusty was one of the cutest lil’ minis, ever! He left us in May after a severe bout of colitis. He came to AAE several years ago to be part of our youth and outreach teams. Unfortunately, because of Covid, then our move, the mini team got lots of love and R&R. Dusty was a favorite with new volunteers and our long-timers, as well. The Farm just isn’t the same without you, Dusty. We miss you!
Mi Amigo, Mi Amor, many would say. Amigo crossed the Rainbow Bridge in May, as well, after a very difficult colic. He was 34. Amigo came to AAE emaciated and in dire condition from an extreme neglect situation. Though some doubted he would survive, he perservered and blessed AAE and all of our volunteers with his gentle and friendly spirit. He was patient, he was kind, and he just loved to be with people, whether in a stall, the arena, or out in pasture. He taught most of our new volunteers how to be safe around horses and what a well mannered horse was. He was so loved! Thank you for five fabulous years, Amigo, you’re missed more than you’ll ever know.
Elvis, we hardly got to know you! Elvis passed in June while at the hospital the second morning after castration surgery; he was a crypt orchid (only one descended testicle). Results of his necropsy were inconclusive, but cause of death was a suspected air embolism. Elvis was a magically stunning 17 year old Gypsy Vanner stallion that came to AAE after his elderly owner passed. He had these beautiful blue eyes that you could feel staring into your soul. He was simply a big, beautiful guy, inside and out. We had so much more we wanted to learn about him, and so much more love to give him, but his mom must have needed him more and called him home. We’ll remember you forever, blue eyes! ‘Til we meet again, may God bless you. Adios, Elvis.
Sadly, Joey wasn’t with us long, either. He’d only been with us a couple weeks, when he had a four-day battle with an impaction colic he wasn’t able to work through. He was an older mini stallion (~27) and part of a group of five minis that came to us after a death in his family. We collectively called them Friends. Joey was definitely the coolest, sweetest, lil’ stud muffin, and he definitely had that “What you doin'” look when interacting. This lil’ dude is missed by his fellow friends, and he’s missed by all of our volunteers that were enamored as they were getting to know him. Run free, Joey!
Miss Maisy was one of our most easy-going and drama free mares in the big herd. We lost her to a strangulating lipoma. Maisy came to us when facing euthanasia due to a recurrent respiratory infection. She battled through it, and she was a model patient for the myriad of drugs she was on (injections and oral meds) multiple times a day for weeks. You wouldn’t know she was a mare if you didn’t already. She was in the pasture, quiet in stall, quiet in a paddock, and quiet in the herd. She was simply lovely, lovely mare, and she was loved by so many volunteers. There’s definitely an empty spot in our hearts without you here, Maisy. Miss you so much!
As we wind down the year, our goal is to raise at least $35,000 this holiday season to jump start our funding for the new year and make sure 2024 is merry & bright for horses-in-need.
Like you, we have felt the pressure of the changing economy. Hay, fuel, supplies, and other care costs have increased substantially. The effects are compounded for nonprofits across the country, as many of us have seen a decrease in overall donations. Rising costs and fewer donations are stretching us thin, impacting our ability to serve the number of horses we typically serve. We’ll scale back as we need. We need your support more than ever.
On average, it costs about $8 per horse each day for feed and health care for the horses at AAE. Expenses add up quickly when caring for 50+/- horses and other animals, including costs for basic care, diagnostics, treatments, medications, surgery, and emergency care, when needed.
We know your lives have been impacted, too, we’re all in this together. If you’re able, please consider making a year end donation to support this life-saving work and make it possible to help more horses-in-need.
Expenses can add up quickly, but your donations can, too! If every one of our followers made a $5 donation, we could surpass our goal by thousands.
You can help make similar stories to share next year by donating today. Any amount is very much appreciated, and it makes a big difference for the horses.
Start your own fundraiser on behalf of AAE! Then ask friends and family to donate as a gift for your birthday, Christmas, or just because, and help the horses of AAE! Click here to get started. If you have any questions, please email mccall@allaboutequine.org
Your donations, volunteering, adopting, and social media shares & likes really do make a difference and make all of this work possible!
Thanks for your gracious and continued support of AAE!
As we count down to 2024, join us every day this month as we share stories from the barn that show how your support has helped horses this year and every year.
This time of year, donkeys are symbols of peace, humility, and gentleness. Today our sweet Lainey is bringing you the spirit of the holiday season.
LAINEY
Lainey came to AAE with her very elderly donk friend in October 2022. Their owner was going through a divorce, so she left the long-eared ladies with friends, who, unfortunately, didn’t know much about donkeys or proper care. Their owner also wasn’t supporting the costs of their care. Though they tried, the friends knew they weren’t able to look after the two girls the right way, and they were in need of better care.
When Lainey arrived, she was obese, her hooves were in poor condition, and her belly bulging. She hadn’t had any recent hoof care or other basic maintenance.
Once quarantine was complete, Lainey got her health and beauty day and received much needed hoof and dental care, vaccines, deworming, and microchips, as well as other diagnostics, too. She was negative for Cushing’s. It was discovered that Lainey’s bulging belly is from abdominal hernias that developed after being spayed.
Lainey is incredibly sweet and kind. She loves spending time with humans, especially when they treat her to a grooming session. She loves to nuzzle and would kiss you with her heavenly soft lips.
We hoped Lainey and her ol’ friend would be adopted together; sadly, the ol’ gal passed during the night, and Lainey moved in with the mini horses for companionship.
Lainey was adopted in July, and she’s happy to have a handsome, senior donk as her best friend and pasturemate.
As we wind down the year, our goal is to raise at least $35,000 this holiday season to jump start our funding for the new year and make sure 2024 is merry & bright for horses-in-need.
Like you, we have felt the pressure of the changing economy. Hay, fuel, supplies, and other care costs have increased substantially. The effects are compounded for nonprofits across the country, as many of us have seen a decrease in overall donations. Rising costs and fewer donations are stretching us thin, impacting our ability to serve the number of horses we typically serve. We’ll scale back as we need. We need your support more than ever.
On average, it costs about $8 per horse each day for feed and health care for the horses at AAE. Expenses add up quickly when caring for 50+/- horses and other animals, including costs for basic care, diagnostics, treatments, medications, surgery, and emergency care, when needed.
We know your lives have been impacted, too, we’re all in this together. If you’re able, please consider making a year end donation to support this life-saving work and make it possible to help more horses-in-need.
Expenses can add up quickly, but your donations can, too! If every one of our followers made a $5 donation, we could surpass our goal by thousands.
You can help make similar stories to share next year by donating today. Any amount is very much appreciated, and it makes a big difference for the horses.
Start your own fundraiser on behalf of AAE! Then ask friends and family to donate as a gift for your birthday, Christmas, or just because, and help the horses of AAE! Click here to get started. If you have any questions, please email mccall@allaboutequine.org
Your donations, volunteering, adopting, and social media shares & likes really do make a difference and make all of this work possible!
Thanks for your gracious and continued support of AAE!
As we count down to 2024, join us every day this month as we share stories from the barn that show how your support has helped horses this year and every year.
Baby it’s cold outside, but Fred and Ethel have the warmth of a loving home!
FRED AND ETHEL
We first met Fred and Ethel about three years ago at a distressed sanctuary. They were distressed, as well. They were emaciated and basic care had been neglected. Fortunately, the pair found a home and weren’t allowed to come to AAE. Unfortunately, they were wary of their new humans, well, any humans. Despite their best efforts, their new family was unable to halter or handle them, despite their best efforts. The donks weights improved, but their other needs went unmet. Their adopters loved them, and when they realized they could not provide adequate care, they asked us for help. In May of this year Fred and Ethel came to AAE.
Fred Ethel
Once here, Fred and Ethel had their health and beauty days with hoof and dental care, vaccines, deworming, and microchips. Neither was a fan of hoof care, and their hooves were in dire need of ongoing care.
Both were friendly, curious, and kind, especially Fred. They were still not super social, but in time, they learned to love the attention of volunteers and seek them out for attention. They learned to halter more willingly, and they got better with hoof handling and care, but they still needed mild sedation to get the job done.
Before long, they found their perfect person, and they were adopted together by their new best friend, Jeff. He and all of his friends were so excited to welcome them home!
As we wind down the year, our goal is to raise at least $35,000 this holiday season to jump start our funding for the new year and make sure 2024 is merry & bright for horses-in-need.
Like you, we have felt the pressure of the changing economy. Hay, fuel, supplies, and other care costs have increased substantially. The effects are compounded for nonprofits across the country, as many of us have seen a decrease in overall donations. Rising costs and fewer donations are stretching us thin, impacting our ability to serve the number of horses we typically serve. We’ll scale back as we need. We need your support more than ever.
On average, it costs about $8 per horse each day for feed and health care for the horses at AAE. Expenses add up quickly when caring for 50+/- horses and other animals, including costs for basic care, diagnostics, treatments, medications, surgery, and emergency care, when needed.
We know your lives have been impacted, too, we’re all in this together. If you’re able, please consider making a year end donation to support this life-saving work and make it possible to help more horses-in-need.
Expenses can add up quickly, but your donations can, too! If every one of our followers made a $5 donation, we could surpass our goal by thousands.
You can help make similar stories to share next year by donating today. Any amount is very much appreciated, and it makes a big difference for the horses.
Start your own fundraiser on behalf of AAE! Then ask friends and family to donate as a gift for your birthday, Christmas, or just because, and help the horses of AAE! Click here to get started. If you have any questions, please email mccall@allaboutequine.org
Your donations, volunteering, adopting, and social media shares & likes really do make a difference and make all of this work possible!
Thanks for your gracious and continued support of AAE!
As we count down to 2024, join us every day this month as we share stories from the barn that show how your support has helped horses this year and every year.
Brodie is excited to spend his first Christmas at his new home sweet home
BRODIE
Brodie is a handsome and sweet 2009 (est) Appaloosa gelding. He arrived at AAE in March 2021 when his owner was moving across the country. The new home she arranged for him fell through at the last minute, and she reached out to AAE for help. Brodie lived in a large pasture (~10ac) with a mare, and he enjoyed following her lead, though he was hesitant about to following her into our trailer.
Once at AAE, Brodie’s teeth and hoof care were updated, and he received vaccines, deworming, and a microchip. This big guy lacked confidence; he was like the cowardly lion with a big heart, but so afraid. He depended on his mare to keep him sane. If he wasn’t with her, he would get very anxious. Over time, his confidence has grown, and he evolved into a gentle giant.
Brodie has good looks and an athletic body. Before our move to Pilot Hill, Brodie spent time with a trainer (without his mare) building his confidence and learning new things. Besides basic groundwork, he was introduced to a saddle. He tried hard to do what was asked, but it was really difficult for him. He needed more confidence to carry a rider, so he came home, and we gave him more time.
Brodie has come a long way since the day we met him. He can be pulled out of the pasture for handling, grooming, or work without any anxiety or other behavior issues . He is easy to handle, but needs time to understand when being introduced to something new. He very much enjoys spending time with humans.
Best of all, Brodie was adopted this fall, and now, he has a human of his own now!
As we wind down the year, our goal is to raise at least $35,000 this holiday season to jump start our funding for the new year and make sure 2024 is merry & bright for horses-in-need.
Like you, we have felt the pressure of the changing economy. Hay, fuel, supplies, and other care costs have increased substantially. The effects are compounded for nonprofits across the country, as many of us have seen a decrease in overall donations. Rising costs and fewer donations are stretching us thin, impacting our ability to serve the number of horses we typically serve. We’ll scale back as we need. We need your support more than ever.
On average, it costs about $8 per horse each day for feed and health care for the horses at AAE. Expenses add up quickly when caring for 50+/- horses and other animals, including costs for basic care, diagnostics, treatments, medications, surgery, and emergency care, when needed.
We know your lives have been impacted, too, we’re all in this together. If you’re able, please consider making a year end donation to support this life-saving work and make it possible to help more horses-in-need.
Expenses can add up quickly, but your donations can, too! If every one of our followers made a $5 donation, we could surpass our goal by thousands.
You can help make similar stories to share next year by donating today. Any amount is very much appreciated, and it makes a big difference for the horses.
Start your own fundraiser on behalf of AAE! Then ask friends and family to donate as a gift for your birthday, Christmas, or just because, and help the horses of AAE! Click here to get started. If you have any questions, please email mccall@allaboutequine.org
Your donations, volunteering, adopting, and social media shares & likes really do make a difference and make all of this work possible!
Thanks for your gracious and continued support of AAE!
As we count down to 2024, join us every day this month as we share stories from the barn that show how your support has helped horses this year and every year.
Just like “Jingle Bells” and “Silent Night” are classics at the holidays, Barney, Finn, Jengo, and Tio are classics around AAE!
BARNEY
Barney, a 24-ish year old Belgian Draft, stands 17 hands high (one hand = four inches) and weighs in at a mere 1,500 pounds. When he came to AAE in January 2019, he was 250 to 300 pounds underweight, had some respiratory and intestinal issues, and some basic care needs hadn’t been met.
With a proper diet, diagnostics, and treatment, Barney’s health improved. At one point, while rehabbing, he was eating 54 pounds of pellets every day! Now he eats about 15 to 20 pounds of pellets a day. If you’ve ever seen Barney at meal time, you may notice he eats with his mouth in the air and slobbers excessively. His epiglottis does not work properly, and those messy manners may help him breathe better.
We certainly love him, slobbery face and all!
This gentle giant and volunteer favorite is a sanctuary resident. He will spend his golden years at AAE with gal pal, Sierra, by his side.
Finn’s AAE story starts before he was even born. Pregnant mom, Kai, came to AAE in February 2014 after being rescued from a pre-slaughter auction. She delivered an adorable colt in April of the same year. Finn had some serious health issues shortly after birth, but thankfully, he recovered and grew into the handsome and playful horse we know today.
He’s also been mischievous since the beginning. If you’re around the barn, you’ll probably hear regularly, Finn-again? As a colt, he would snatch gloves from pockets and take off with them at top speed. Well, Finn’s not that fast, so maybe it was just a saunter away. Nowadays, he plays with the hoses, in his water bucket, and with anything he can find.
Finn is a social butterfly and he is loved by horses and humans alike. He is affectionate and adored by our volunteers. Several years ago, Finn was adopted, and then returned to AAE six months later. The gals at his adoptive home were going over and through fences to be with him, and the vet bills were piling up. They could not resist that golden mane, athletic physique, and charming personality!
Finn is now a resident program horse. For now, he introduces new volunteers to basic safety and handling, and he will play a vital role in new programs as we continue to grow our offerings.
This handsome devil with the rocker hair is Jengo! He is a 15 year old BLM mustang who came to AAE in 2018 after the death of his owner. He was trained through the Northern Nevada Correctional Facility and was featured in the 2019 film The Mustang. He’s our very own resident celebrity!
Jengo’s respectful and dependable personality makes him the perfect resident program horse! He helps new volunteers learn the ropes around AAE and is such a patient teacher. We’re lucky to have him in our herd!
Tio came to AAE in 2019 when his owner was unable to continue his care after extensive diagnostics, treatments, and multiple layups. He had numerous soft tissue injuries and bone issues in his front pastern/fetlock area. He had been on stall rest and needed to stay on extended stall rest in hopes he would recover to be pasture sound. Thanks to his background as a show horse, he did fairly well with stall life and enjoyed being a playful pest to our volunteers and his neigh-bors in the barn.
He improved slowly and eventually was moved into a larger paddock as part of the recovery/transition process. He loved having the space to frolic and play. Unfortunately, a bump was discovered over his knee joint on the opposite leg, which has slowly grown and caused him to be stiff and lame. We suspect he developed arthritis in that knee after compensating with that leg for so long.
Tio now lives in a smaller stall/paddock and, despite moving slower these days, he’s still really sweet and really spicy. He has a heart of gold and we love him for it.
As we wind down the year, our goal is to raise at least $35,000 this holiday season to jump start our funding for the new year and make sure 2024 is merry & bright for horses-in-need.
Like you, we have felt the pressure of the changing economy. Hay, fuel, supplies, and other care costs have increased substantially. The effects are compounded for nonprofits across the country, as many of us have seen a decrease in overall donations. Rising costs and fewer donations are stretching us thin, impacting our ability to serve the number of horses we typically serve. We’ll scale back as we need. We need your support more than ever.
On average, it costs about $8 per horse each day for feed and health care for the horses at AAE. Expenses add up quickly when caring for 50+/- horses and other animals, including costs for basic care, diagnostics, treatments, medications, surgery, and emergency care, when needed.
We know your lives have been impacted, too, we’re all in this together. If you’re able, please consider making a year end donation to support this life-saving work and make it possible to help more horses-in-need.
Expenses can add up quickly, but your donations can, too! If every one of our followers made a $5 donation, we could surpass our goal by thousands.
You can help make similar stories to share next year by donating today. Any amount is very much appreciated, and it makes a big difference for the horses.
Start your own fundraiser on behalf of AAE! Then ask friends and family to donate as a gift for your birthday, Christmas, or just because, and help the horses of AAE! Click here to get started. If you have any questions, please email mccall@allaboutequine.org
Your donations, volunteering, adopting, and social media shares & likes really do make a difference and make all of this work possible!
Thanks for your gracious and continued support of AAE!
As we count down to 2024, join us every day this month as we share stories from the barn that show how your support has helped horses this year and every year.
Ho ho ho – it’s time for JoJo & Charley!
JOJO & CHARLEY
JoJo and Charley came together to AAE in November 2022 when their owners were moving across the country, and unfortunately, could not bring the girls. They both had been riding horses, but neither had been ridden in many years. They arrived in good condition, and only needed a few vaccines, deworming, and microchips.
JoJo
JoJo is very senior (1997), but spry, Paso Fino mare, who’s a bundle of energy. This confident mare can be bossy and pushy, and very sweet, too. Overall, she adjusted well to the change in her environment and routine when coming to AAE. However, she became anxious and agitated when separated from Charley, even if only a brief moment. If you can imagine, she demanded her return! In the end, JoJo moved to a new pasture, without Charley. It was for the better for each of them. JoJo discovered geldings, and she’s been a very happy camper since!
When she’s not distraught over separation, JoJo has pretty good ground manners, and she is easy to handle, in general. She can be pushy and a handful when separated from her buddy, whomever it is. She’s a fun and nice, sometimes spicy, and she would love nothing more for Christmas than a home of her own! She is looking for a person to love her as a non-riding companion and who can help build her confidence when separated. (She might, repeat might, be ok as a lead-line possibility, but with an experienced handler.) An older gelding friend at her new home would be the cherry on top!
Charley
Charley is a senior (2001) Quarter Horse mare. She’s calm, friendly, and easy going. She likes her space and her food, too (but don’t we all?!). She lacks confidence in some situations and really needs reassurance from her handler to carry her through, but she’s willing and you can see her try! That said, she adapted well to her new environment and the new routine at AAE.
Charley has some arthiritis and rotation in her front left knee, and she takes daily medication to help.
Earlier this year, she developed a huge abscess in her left hind hoof, and it took its toll. After prolonged lameness, radiographs showed not only the residual of the abscess, but her coffin bone had rotated substantially, just breaking through her sole. Charley’s hoof was kept clean and wrapped with frequent changes, she wore Soft Ride boots, and she had TheraPlate treatments three times a day for several months. Subsequent radiographs showed her sole depth improved tremendously, and she’s recovered incredibly well.
Charley is a favorite to some of our volunteers. She is easy to handle, and she has good ground manners. Charley is available for adoption, but between her arthritis and rotated coffin bone, she has a non-riding companion status. Her ideal home will have flat ground for her to roam and possibly another older horse who would be gentle with her. An older gelding is probably the better option for her, as well.
As we wind down the year, our goal is to raise at least $35,000 this holiday season to jump start our funding for the new year and make sure 2024 is merry & bright for horses-in-need.
Like you, we have felt the pressure of the changing economy. Hay, fuel, supplies, and other care costs have increased substantially. The effects are compounded for nonprofits across the country, as many of us have seen a decrease in overall donations. Rising costs and fewer donations are stretching us thin, impacting our ability to serve the number of horses we typically serve. We’ll scale back as we need. We need your support more than ever.
On average, it costs about $8 per horse each day for feed and health care for the horses at AAE. Expenses add up quickly when caring for 50+/- horses and other animals, including costs for basic care, diagnostics, treatments, medications, surgery, and emergency care, when needed.
We know your lives have been impacted, too, we’re all in this together. If you’re able, please consider making a year end donation to support this life-saving work and make it possible to help more horses-in-need.
Expenses can add up quickly, but your donations can, too! If every one of our followers made a $5 donation, we could surpass our goal by thousands.
You can help make similar stories to share next year by donating today. Any amount is very much appreciated, and it makes a big difference for the horses.
As we count down to 2024, join us every day this month as we share stories from the barn that show how your support has helped horses this year and every year.
Today we’re putting the spotlight on this familiar & handsome face! His story is on the longer side, but it’s a worthwhile read.
BLUE
Blue, a 2010 Virginia Range (NV) mustang, came to AAE in March 2017 after a request for assistance from the Virginia Range Wild Horse Sanctuary and the Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund. Blue had a large mass over his left rear fetlock/pastern area. Despite being haltered and handled to some extent previously, he was not halterable when he arrived at AAE. It would be a long and challenging journey to help Blue, but it was one we were willing to take on.
Before we could even examine and evaluate the mass, let alone treat it, Blue had to be gentled, halterable, and handleable. If we were going to remove it, we needed to be able to handle his leg and hoof to change his bandages frequently post-surgery. Blue had some substantial fear/trust issues, which made the process even more difficult. Initial efforts to befriend and halter him were met with a lukewarm response.
Soon enough, Blue made enough progress that our vet was able to sedate him, radiograph the bony area beneath the mass, and collect tissue samples for biopsy. Even under sedation, he kicked quickly and with purpose.
Fortunately, the radiographs and biopsy detected no obvious underlying concerns, and it was assumed the mass was proud flesh (granulation tissue) that was the result of an old, untreated injury. Unfortunately, a few weeks later, Blue developed painful sores/ulcers in his mouth. He was quarantined as a precaution and was tested for vesicular stomatitis (a contagious viral disease that primarily affects horses and cattle). Thankfully, the test was negative. We gave him time to recuperate, but were eager to restart our training as soon as possible – the mass on his leg was growing and oozing, attracting flies and yellow jackets.
After several weeks, his mouth had improved and we resumed our efforts. We worked for weeks with minimal progress, but after one marathon day, we had a major break through! After six hours, he accepted handling and touching all over, so we began to practice bandaging and removing the bandage, over and over. We continued this every day until we could halter, touch his body all over, and pick up, handle, and bandage his left hind.
Blue had surgery at the end of August 2017, and the nearly seven pound mass was removed. What a relief!
Blue practicing bandaging before surgery. The mass was HUGE! Doesn’t it look like a brain?
When it came time to change the bandage for the first time, Blue was sedated and, overall, the process went smoothly (though he wasn’t a fan of having the lesion cleaned). The area where the mass had been was beginning to heal!
Blue’s health concerns weren’t over though. The mystery sores returned, and in addition to his mouth, he had them all over his body this time. We biopsied the tissue and received a vasculitis diagnosis. Thankfully, with proper medication, the sores began to heal.
Healing progressed nicely. We had a few bumps along the way (Blue grew weary of being sedated and having the lesion cleaned), and by November 2017, the lesion was almost healed. A small area persisted and started to grow back so it was trimmed off. As the months passed, the small area started to grow again. A biopsy revealed a sarcoid. We tried different medications, but nothing helped the lesion heal completely. The small area was lasered off one more time in fall 2018, and since then, the lesion has completely healed, save an awkward looking, quarter-sized scar. However, the swelling in his fetlock and pastern area has reduced, and you can barely see the scar.
Nowadays, Blue is healthy and happy, spending his time being a horse and being the best Uncle B to younger ones in our herd. Unfortuantely, he developed laminitis in pasture last spring, and now he lives in a smaller dry paddock where he can still somewhat enjoy open space. He is still untrusting and unsure at times, especially when encountering new things. Though, he’s willing to do just about anything (respectfully) for a carrot.
Blue is available for adoption as a non-riding companion only to the perfect, forever home. He needs a patient person with mustang experience and plenty of space to roam free. He has made progress over his time at AAE, but still prefers horses to humans. If someone can give him time every day, he’s sure to come all the way around.
Our goal is to raise at least $35,000 this holiday season to jump start our funding for the new year and make sure 2024 is merry & bright for horses-in-need.
Like you, we have felt the pressure of the changing economy. Hay, fuel, supplies, and other care costs have increased substantially. The effects are compounded for nonprofits across the country, as many of us have seen a decrease in overall donations. Rising costs and fewer donations are stretching us thin, impacting our ability to serve the number of horses we typically serve. We’ll scale back as we need, but we need your support more than ever.
On average, it costs about $8 per horse each day for feed and health care for the horses at AAE. Expenses add up quickly when caring for 50+/- horses and other animals, including costs for basic care, diagnostics, treatments, medications, surgery, and emergency care, when needed.
We know your lives have been impacted, too, we’re all in this together. If you’re able, please consider making a year end donation to support this life-saving work and make it possible to help more horses-in-need next year.
Expenses can add up quickly, but your donations can, too! If every one of our followers made a $5 donation, we could surpass our goal by thousands.
You can help make similar stories to share next year by donating today. Any amount is very much appreciated, and it makes a big difference for the horses.
As seen with Blue, there are times when we have to address the unexpected, and we need the resources to provide the best we can for the horses in our care. We are grateful to have the support of our AAE community to ensure we are able to do that. Thank YOU!
ANOTHER CALL
A New Way to Give
A New Way to Give
We certainly love him, slobbery face and all!
A New Way to Give
Earlier this year, she developed a huge abscess in her left hind hoof, and it took its toll. After prolonged lameness, radiographs showed not only the residual of the abscess, but her coffin bone had rotated substantially, just breaking through her sole. Charley’s hoof was kept clean and wrapped with frequent changes, she wore Soft Ride boots, and she had TheraPlate treatments three times a day for several months. Subsequent radiographs showed her sole depth improved tremendously, and she’s recovered incredibly well.
