The Year of the Horse has started off in a big way for us. Last month we worked with a local rescue that decided to close after fifteen years of operation. What began as a request to take in three to four horses became six new residents when we realized the dire future these horses were facing.
Just as we were getting our six new residents settled, the County of San Diego reached out with a request to take in a thirty-year-old mare. She was a neglect case that had been brought to their attention many months earlier. She arrived at the ranch on Monday, March 30, significantly underweight. In addition to needing a healthy diet, her skin and coat are obviously in need of care. While we are waiting for Dr. Rivett to do a complete exam of this mare, we have begun a refeeding protocol to slowly adjust her to a new, high-protein diet. Regardless of what additional medical needs this senior lady may have, we are honored to have given her a safe, forever home.
The new mare is in our quarantine pen for now, but once Dr. Rivett has examined her, we will be moving her into a corral where she will have horses next door.
But we need your help. The corral we plan to move her to needs an all-weather shelter.
As the number of horses in our care has increased in recent years, we have added several new corrals. Our care standards require that every horse in our care has a shelter. Shelters help protect our horses from the elements. Although we are located in San Diego County, we sit just below 4,000 ft. elevation. This means we usually experience snow several times each winter. Our shelters must also be very strong to endure high winds.
Shelters also provide cooling shade for the horses during summer heat. Temperature regulation is very important to keep our horses healthy and to maintain their weight.
The shelter that we will need to purchase and install will cost us $2,000.
With the summer heat arriving so early, we need to ensure this mare has shade. Help us ensure that she is comfortable and healthy all year long.
The sooner we can get this horse a shelter, the sooner we can move her into her new corral.
Please consider donating towards a shelter for this special girl.
Tickets and Sponsorships are now available for our second annual Golfing Fore! Goats. Join us on Saturday, May 30 from 4 pm to 6 pm to play mini-golf with your family and friends at the ranch.