eNewsletter Signup

 

Josie

Arrival Date:  January 3, 2024

 

Dr. Harlan believed this pony was about 27 years old when she arrived in January of 2024. She was rescued as a stray by County of San Diego Department of Animal Services in Boulevard, in San Diego's East County. She arrived rather underweight, but we were able to help get her to a healthy frame. Dr. Harlan suspects she has arthritis in her neck. This may be causing some weakness in her hind end. An old injury is suspected to be causing hock arthritis in her right rear leg. This injury has left a scar and crated changed in the leg bone itself. There is thickening in that leg as the result of lymphoedema.

As a white pony, her eyes are susceptible to sun damage. She also has "allergy eyes." Josie wears a fly mask for UV protection year-round.

We realize that this info might give the impression that there is a lot wrong with Josie. It was the multitude of issues that concerned Animal Services and made euthanasia an option for her. Josie is pretty "typical" of our ranch residents. All of her conditions are manageable and we have been able to provide her with a high quality of life during her golden years.

Josie is a very sweet girl. It is not hard to image that she has been loved by children during her life. How many children did she teach to ride? How many little hands braided her mane and brushed her tail? It breaks our hearts that she ended up along the side of a road in Boulevard and no one came looking for her.

We are so grateful to all of you for creating a safe haven for horses and ponies like Josie. She has a forever home where her belly is always full and where volunteers brush her and tell her what a wonderful pony she is. Thank you!