Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays to everyone, and thanks from the horses staff and volunteers at Redwings.

One of our dear supporters, Leora, made this lovely greeting and we thought we'd share it. The horse is Alisage, who has enjoyed many many Holiday seasons since she was rescued from slaughter.

Have a fantastic new year.

Three Severely Neglected Horses Rescued

SPCA for Monterey County have rescued three severely emaciated horses abandoned in a pasture in Salinas, California, and have offered a $1000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator. These three horses are under emergency veterinary care. You can help them by donating to SPCA for Monterey County [click here to donate].

Please track this story at the SPCA for Monterey County Web site. They have posted and will continue to post updates about this case.

[Photo hosted by SPCA for Monterey County]

A Letter From the President

Since taking on the title and duties of President of the Board of Directors for Redwings Horse Sanctuary in June 2009, I have been blessed with many great opportunities to bring improvement to our organization and to help our rescued equines in numerous ways. I would like to acknowledge all the people who have contributed to this effort as we look to a new year at Redwings.

Our long-time supporters know me from our days in Carmel, California, and I have been associated with the work of Redwings since 1993 and have been on the Board of Directors since 1995. I have been directly responsible for the horses’ health as Equine Care Coordinator for many years and still hold this position. However, our able and very talented Equine Care Provider, Delilah Kasting, has stepped up and taken on more responsibilities, allowing me more time for my varied duties as President. Our Veterinarians Dr. Richard Clarke and Dr. Heather Baker are another huge part of the success we have in caring for our rescued horses.

Board member and Volunteer Coordinator, Roz Bailey, has taken on Vice Presidential duties and has been a constant source of advice and help. Along with our other Board members, we all volunteer our services and work incredibly hard for our horses and their welfare.

The daily running of the Sanctuary could not function without our dedicated staff. From our office staff to our ranch hands and trainers, we find enthusiastic, talented, and hard-working individuals who care passionately about our goals and feel proud of the work we all do for our rescued horses and our education mission.

Volunteers also hold a great place in our hearts. These people graciously give their time and love to help care for the rescued horses of Redwings Horse Sanctuary. We would not be as effective without their help.

As we all know, the last couple of years have been very difficult for many people throughout America, and we all have had to work extremely hard to cope with an increasing number of abandoned and starving horses. We can only help so many before affecting the limited resources we have for the horses we care for daily. However, 2009 has been a banner year for our Sanctuary. With the help of donations, grants, and bequests, we have installed much-needed irrigation and replaced the footing in our stall areas. Yet there is much more to do.

We cannot do any of these improvements without your help. Every dollar you donate to Redwings helps us care for our horses and allows us the opportunity to advocate, educate, and promote humane and responsible equine ownership. $12 buys a fly mask; $15 buys a bale of hay. Our on-going irrigation project has cost $76,190, and our new footing project—supported in a large part by the Hind Foundation—has cost $13,000 so far. Our annual budget for hay alone is $26,611 and our annual budget for medicine and supplements is $16,799. We receive no state or federal assistance—we do it all with donations from our supporters.

Please remember Redwings and our horses in 2010 and send your donation today.

Thank you

Michelle Beagle

President, Redwings Horse Sanctuary

Blessing the Animals

Redwings open houses have special themes once a month during the spring, summer, and fall months, and this year’s popular series of open houses has come to a happy end with a special treat on October 17. Father Dennis from nearby Fort Hunter Liggett performed a lovely ceremony to bless the animals at our Lockwood ranch. An air of peace among the people and the horses fell as the blessing proceeded. Father Dennis—known as the patron saint of animals, the environment, and Italy—enjoyed the human and equine company while he walked through the ranch blessing each of them in the cloudless beautiful sunshine. Redwings has hosted many kinds of animal blessings—from Celtic to Native American, and now Catholic.

We invite you to visit during our open houses next year starting in the spring. Some of our long-time supporters even plan their vacation around our open houses—it’s nice to know they think of the horses while they visit the nearby attractions such as the missions and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. We’ll announce the new season of open houses on our Web site in 2010, so keep visiting to keep in-the-know.

Please view the video of Father Dennis blessing the horses of Redwings.

Ohlone's Emergency

On Friday, October 2, 2009, we were about to vaccinate Ohlone. As I entered her pen, I sensed she was not herself. She had a frustrated look in her eyes, and then looked at me and I instantly saw what the cause was!

Her lower lip and part of her jaw was swollen; not a lot, but enough for me feel we needed our veterinarian. I left a message with her and left someone to watch Ohlone for a while. Ohlone was trying to eat, and doing a fair job considering her lower lip was not working well.

I returned to check Ohlone, and the swelling had progressed to the other side of her jaw and up her nose! Her behavior and appearance showed the pain she felt. I took a close look in case I could see the cause—bee sting? Allergy? A rattlesnake bite? I told myself that it just couldn’t be!

As I had not yet heard back, we called our veterinarian’s emergency number and found the receptionist was off that day. I felt lucky to have her personal number, as we go back many years. We talked about Ohlone’s symptoms, and I told her that I was able to press on her lower teeth without causing her pain, but there was a black and blue area on the inside of her lower lip. With just the touch of my fingers on her lip, she pulled away in pain.

We gave Ohlone emergency medications and set up a night watch to make sure Ohlone could breath. She seemed more comfortable after the medicine took effect.

She made it through the night, but it was obvious that she had not recovered overnight; the swelling was worse. This was no ordinary bite—the medicine had merely kept Ohlone alive. Upon examination and another treatment, our veterinarian determined that Ohlone needed a hospital and a special device in her neck to help her breathe in case the swelling continued.

Our veterinarian had confirmed our worst fear: a rattlesnake bite. She had found two small puncture wounds on her muzzle. The veterinary team at Estrella Equine Clinic immediately started emergency care on Ohlone. She was starting to have some trouble breathing through her nose and was looking wide-eyed and frightened. The veterinarian began treatment for the snake bite, and performed a tracheotomy—placing a breathing tube in her neck—to help her breathe easily. During the night Ohlone’s airway swelled and closed, showing how important that tracheotomy had been. Without it, she would surely have died. She also had blood-clotting problems—common with snake bites.

Ohlone had survived the most critical stage, but she couldn’t eat well or drink easily, so she had to have IV fluids until she could eat and drink on her own. She even had a bit of tummy trouble due to not having drunk enough.

She also developed a common side effect of a tracheotomy—air under her skin. Petting her feels like petting crumpled saran wrap; it isn’t painful, but feels very strange to the touch.

Ohlone spent five days at the veterinary hospital, and has returned to Redwings where she is recovering well.

The medical expenses for Ohlone totaled over $4,000. But for such a sweet horse, this is funds well-spent. This great horse has taught many people how to be safe with a horse over the past year. She is a valuable and loved member of the Redwings Equine Team.

If you would like to help Redwings assure enough funds to help in these emergency situations, please send a donation.

Ohlone is an 18-year-old Arabian mare with vision in only one eye. Jasper and Ohlone were rescued together in July of 2008. They have been inseparable. Luckily, Jasper was able to go with Ohlone, which was critical to keeping her calm.

Horses in Need: Lake County, CA

Three horses at Lake County Animal Control (just north of Napa) need homes. Their last day at the shelter is Tuesday, October 13, 2009.

1. Frisco - Gelding TB, 10 years old, Bay. Broke to ride, Former race horse has tattoo. All vetting has been done, teeth have been floated.

2. Mare - 14 yo TB, Dark Bay almost Black. Dressage horse, all vetting has been done.

3. 4 year old Sorrel, 4 white socks. Gymkhana horse, Gelding current on all vetting.

You can see photos and details at the Lake County Animal Control Web site.

All horses trailer well, all healthy. Please let people know about these horses.

Topper the Wonder Horse

Redwings Horse Sanctuary has a unique story in its rescue of a horse named Topper.

Split My Zipper, more affectionately named Topper, is a Quarter Horse gelding born February 26, 1994 to one of the top amateur showers in the state of California. Topper’s Dad, Zipped My Zipper, won Reserve Champion at the Quarter Horse Congress, 3^rd place at the Quarter Horse World Show in Junior Western Pleasure, and has over $18,000 in lifetime show earnings. Continuing his dad’s legacy, Topper trained as a halter and western pleasure show horse.

Topper lived a happy life until he sustained a terrible tendon injury. His veterinarian diagnosed him with a calcified tendon that meant his days of western pleasure, as well as any other riding, were over. His owner tried valiantly to help ease his discomfort and find him a home as a companion animal. But several failed attempts left him with no apparent options until a vet had an unusual suggestion for his owner to consider: Topper could provide plasma to use for other horses in need. His owner quickly agreed, and Topper found a new home at one of these facilities.

Topper’s blood provided antibodies that have helped save countless horses and foals that have had life-threatening diseases. This collection does not affect Topper’s health, and does not leave him without the antibodies that he needs for his day-to-day survival. Topper was under the care of this facility for six years in this critical life-saving role.

His former owners thought his supply of antibodies was endless, but the plasma facility contacted them this year because he could no longer provide enough antibodies without endangering his own health. His former owners did not expect to have to take Topper back, and had no place for him because they had moved. With just 30 days to move him from the facility and re-home him, they were referred to Redwings where the staff and board found his story unusual and inspiring. On September 4, 2009, Topper arrived at his new home at the Redwings ranch in Lockwood where he will teach people about the needs of sick horses, and how his blood provided for them. Committed to a lifetime of community service and equine health education, Topper deserves his place in our pastures where he will help us extend our commitment to equine education.

Topper is doing well in his new home, and the staff at Redwings is excited to show you how happy and wonderful this special equine really is.

Redwings Helps Educate New Veterinary Technicians

Dearest Redwings Horse Sanctuary,

I am writing to thank you with our deepest thanks for all of the wonderful opportunities you have so graciously provided our students to broaden their learning horizons while studying Veterinary Technology at Western Career College San Jose Campus. The gift of knowledge is priceless! Your facility provides the perfect setting to study and learn about our majestic equine friends!

Thank you for being so accommodating and available for field trips and individual student experience requirements, which are a necessary aspect to completing and graduating from the Veterinary Technology program! Our students have gained a wealth of understanding about equine health, behavior and husbandry. As a result of your welcoming nature, our students are experiencing first-hand, up-close and personal, the magic of working with horses! For some students, a visit to Redwings has inspired a complete change in the direction of their studies to gain even more in-depth knowledge of horses, ponies and burros!

You are changing the lives of equines for the better, as well as the lives of our students, thereby changing the future of our planet! Our words of thanks cannot be enough for a gift so great! Your hard work and tireless efforts do not go unnoticed! The intent of the student chapter of NAVTA in our program is to hold a fund raiser before the end of the year in an effort to assist your good deeds and aid the needs of all the animals which make Redwings Horse Sanctuary the true bit of paradise that it is!

Again, thank you, and take care!

Mikhaele Polaschek, RVT
Veterinary Technology Instructor
Clinical Rotation Coordinator
Western Career College

Chubbs—From Zero to Hero

During a trip to Fallon, Nevada, in September of 2008, Marlene Dodge of Valley View Ranch Equine Rescue saved the life of yet another horse bound for slaughter in Canada or Mexico. Chubbs, as he is affectionately named, came from a ranch where he was used as a pony horse and packhorse in the mountains. On one pack trip Chubbs was walking along the trail and the ground gave out underneath him causing him to fall off the mountain. As he fell down the hill he knocked out trees and his owner was sure he would not live through the fall. When his owner got to the bottom of the hill Chubbs was standing and grazing like nothing had ever happened! However, as a result of the accident Chubbs was sent to a feedlot auction where he caught the eye of Marlene.

After his rescue from the feedlot and during his time at Valley View Ranch, Chubbs was assessed, ridden, and put up for adoption. Mike Holt from Pleasanton, California came to the ranch, saw Chubbs and had to have him. Mike wanted to give Chubbs the best home he possibly could and intended to ride him on the trail and compete in team sorting. But not long after Mike took him home, Chubbs began limping on his left front foot. He had minor discomfort at Valley View but his shoes had just been pulled so that was the suspected cause of soreness. Mike decided to call in his vet for X-rays after Chubbs didn’t get any better, revealing a fracture on his coffin bone with possible infection. Surgery was suggested as the only possible way to treat the injury. At $2500 just for the surgery, not including aftercare, Mike was saddened to realize he couldn’t afford to give Chubbs the treatment he needed. Marlene agreed to take Chubbs back to Valley View Ranch and try to have him treated.

Marlene needed help to raise the funds to help Chubbs, so she contacted Redwings. Redwings felt the request came under their mission of helping horses in need. Through Redwings’ “Helping Hooves” program, Redwings was able to assist with some of the funds needed to help Chubbs go into surgery. Marlene says, “Redwings was of great support and donated towards his surgery and treatment.” The donations went directly to the veterinary hospital that did the surgery, and then Chubbs was relocated to California Equine Podiatry Clinic in Santa Ynez for some of his after care.

Chubbs had a hospital-plate shoe on his hoof that bolts on and off so that his medicine can be put on the healing wound. The prognosis for Chubbs is very bright, he’s completely sound, and he should be able to partner with Mike in the near future. In fact, the hardest part of his recovery was keeping him quiet in his stall. Marlene and Mike wish to thank Redwings supporters and the veterinarians who have helped Chubbs have a future.

Valley View Ranch has been posting updates about Chubbs on their Web site at www.valleyviewranchequinerescue.webs.com.

Saving Builtmore: A Lesson in Getting Involved

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.”—Antoine de Saint Exupéry

By Leny Freeman

Builtmore is more than just a horse—at least for me. Builtmore Harley Davidson fills a chapter in my life that finally closed with a happy ending.

It began when I met his owner, Renee Davidson, in 2003. We were volunteering to help convicted criminals restore their self-respect. That has nothing to do with horses, but that’s how we met.

One day in April of 2008 Renee called me and said she was looking for people to help her with an illness, and I told her I would. By May, Renee told me she had cancer. She was getting excellent care at City of Hope Hospital, but her cancer wasn’t discovered until it had already metastasized. She had summoned a group of us to help, and with a positive attitude we persistently and consistently helped however we could. For eight months we saw her getting better, and then getting worse. Renee knew she was going to die and was busy putting her affairs in order.

On November 18 at 3:30 p.m. Renee Davidson, in her sunroom overlooking Shadow Hills in the horse country of Los Angeles, departed her body. She had properly left all her affairs in order save one: Builtmore. She had loved Builtmore and desperately tried to find someone to take him. But giving away a 22-year-old unrideable horse—especially after the market crash the prior month—was not easy.

We found a woman who took care of him along with her own horse, Jack, on Renee’s property, but in April of 2009 she had to move Jack. Builtmore whinnied for Jack all day, but he was all alone with no one to care for him.

That’s when I stepped up and said to Jesus, “Leny Freeman, Angel Apprentice, reporting for duty, sir.” Me and my big mouth; I knew nothing about horses.

That ignorance did not last long. I found out just how dismal a horse’s life can be if he can’t make his living. I called various horse rescue centers, but they all wanted horses that could earn their keep being rented out.

I really need to acknowledge Renee’s neighbor, Jerri. I was very lucky to have her there teaching me so much about horses. She fed Builtmore in the morning and I fed him after work every night, and twice on weekends. I did all the cleaning, so I could tell if he was being fed properly. With her help Builtmore had all his needed vaccinations and a proper diet program. I had never jabbed a horse in the ass with a hypo-dermic needle before, but got it done for Builtmore. He didn’t have shoes but needed his hooves trimmed, so I found a good farrier named Ron who trimmed him up and took the stress off his navicular bone.

In May I spoke to the owner of a ranch who said that people were letting horses they couldn’t afford anymore into the hills to fend for themselves. I was outraged at such irresponsibility. She advised that I put Builtmore down, but I knew the answer to that was “no.” Builtmore wasn’t limping and didn’t appear to be in pain. I would only put him down to end suffering—not to solve my problem. I posted a hundred flyers all over Shadow Hills and other horse properties to find someone of means who wanted a companion for another lonely horse. My criteria for choosing someone for Builtmore was: (1) someone who could care for him better than I, and (2) he had to be in the company of other horses.

In response to my ads I received two types of calls: those who had serious questions on health, lameness, medications etc., to which I was honest and they declined. The second type of call was like, “Hey man, you giving away a free hoss? I’ll take him.” I don’t think so. I’ve seen people with that attitude before, and they ride horses into the ground and then sell them for dog food. No. NO. NO!!! That was not the future I would allow Builtmore—until I find the right match, the horse is mine.

After a month of seeing Builtmore every day, I stopped returning calls from good people who might take him. The inevitable had happened: I was in love with a horse.

From May to August, I tended him every day—grain hay in the morning, Timothy at night with grain, and a little psyllium for good colic prevention. His shack was about to fall down, so my buddy and I winched it back and added braces and a shade cloth for the summer. We added fly traps that were always filling up. We gave him carrots to keep him occupied, and we put fly lotion on his face. If you’re not experienced and confident with horse control, carrots are the next best thing.

A trail goes up from his paddock to Renee’s house that now has renters who also love Builtmore. He was used to coming up to see Renee, so he still came looking for her and to hang out on the patio to keep cool in the summer. As horses do, he would always leave something behind, so cleaning their patio became another duty. They’re lucky he didn’t have a house key.

By early August, I knew I would have to find a permanent home for him. My company was laying off people, and my job was looking rather risky. I didn’t want to be in a position of having to get rid of Builtmore if I lost my job. I wanted to keep him, but his well-being was more important. Reluctantly, I made a few phone calls; one was to Ron the farrier.

On August 12 I got a call from a guy named Tom Hill—a friend of Ron’s—who heard I was giving away a horse. I asked a stupid question: “Do you know anything about horses?” It turns out that Tom Hill is a retired farrier and for the last seven years has been breaking wild mustangs to sell them when they’re ready. Does he know anything about horses? I can only roll my eyes at that question.

Tom came over to check him out “from the feet up” and said he wasn’t as bad as I thought, then took him for a test ride. When I came to feed Builtmore that evening he was still gone, so I did my tasks and left. A while later I got a call from Tom: “You’re missing a horse,” he said.

“Should I call the Sherrif?” I asked.

“No,” he laughed, “He’s over here standing in wood shavings, eating hay, and happy as hell. He didn’t take a lame step all the way home, he rides great. He’s gentle and excellent for my girlfriend.”

I was sad but happy at the outcome; it was for the best—Builtmore is in perfect hands. My goal of finding him a loving home with better care and with other horses has been surpassed beyond my wildest hopes. It’s a perfect match. Tom and Jean are happy, Builtmore is happy, Jerri is happy, and I am happy.

And Renee is happy. This was all for you, Renee.

In closing, I want to be brutally honest with you. When Renee first called for help, my first instinct was to ignore it. Why? Because it was uncomfortable and inconvenient. But I could not ignore it. So I started helping and found myself giving more help to her than I ever imagined I would. Something was driving me—a higher power if you will, or perhaps it was my power. I thought that as long as I’m helping her, she’d get better and live; but that was not to be. I watched the cancer take her and there was nothing I could do to change that.

I was just getting over that when Builtmore’s plight came to my attention, and I knew I couldn’t ignore that either. Once again, I was driven from within. Inconvenient? Yes. Expensive? Absolutely. But it was a duty and an honor. Had I ignored Renee and Builtmore in their time of need, I would be locked in a trap of justifications and excuses, and trying to make myself “right” for the rest of my life. Thank God I did the right thing, for I’m a different person now. Despite the heartbreak and sadness, I am very proud.

You may find situations you can’t ignore either. The only way to fix it is to do something about it. You might not be able to save the whole world, but you can save part of it. The part of the world you save is your choice. A wise man once wrote, “A being is as valuable as he can help others.” So help some part of the world, and you will feel your value.

Leny Freeman
Sunland, California

Horse Heaven Art Sale

Galerie Plein Aire hosts an art show that benefits Redwings Horse Sanctuary on Sunday, September 27 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. This event features a silent auction with a subsequent online auction, and 50% of the profit goes to Redwings, and 50% goes to the artist. Wine and finger foods will be served. Galerie Plein Aire Gallery is located in Carmel on Dolores between 5th and 6th. The theme of the show is “Horses or Great Outdoors.”

Redwings Spring Raffle

We congratulate the winners of the 2009 Redwings Spring Raffle, and heartily thank everyone who participated. Though each ticket costs only $5, your participation raises many thousands of dollars for the Redwings horses, making this one of the most important Redwings fundraisers of the year.

Grand Prize: Marilyn R. of Long Beach, California
Four nights in a cottage in Carmel, two tickets to Monterey Bay Aquarium, and two horse rides at Pebble Beach Stables

First Prize: Carol S. of Carmel, California
Framed horse print by Cyndra Bradford

Second Prize: Mary S. of San Francisco, California
Framed photo of Redwings mustangs by Forrest Tanaka

Third Prize: Harriette M. of Sunland, California
Italian silk scarf with horse motif

Four Prize: Sharon M. of Anaheim, California
Redwings Bucks gift certificate worth $40 of Redwings merchandise

Symphony's Legacy

Symphony, a little Welsh Pony who came to us in August of 2008 has left our Lockwood ranch for UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. After a long life as a friend and teacher to children, then a teacher to Redwings visitors, she now fulfills one last duty: to help other horses suffering from an unusual disease.

Symphony came to Redwings in unusual circumstances for us. She had never been abused or neglected; not in the least. She started her working life as a child’s hunter/jumper show pony, and then became a much-loved gentle lesson pony for fifteen years where she was a favorite of ranch boarders and students alike.

Unfortunately for her and the many children who learned from her and loved her, she was then diagnosed with an unusual degenerative bone condition called silicosis osteoporosis. This condition causes her bones to become brittle and easily broken. Her days of being ridden were over. Her owners could not afford to board a non-working horse, and came to Redwings to help.

Symphony presented an unusual situation for Redwings. We normally only rescue horses who have been abused or neglected and cannot find another home, and Symphony certainly did not fit that profile. However, part of our mission is to help educate people about horses, and Symphony’s condition would help us have a discussion about this disease with our supporters. Additionally, her friendliness and gentleness would bring a great deal of enjoyment to our staff and visitors. She arrived, full of life, at her permanent home at the Redwings ranch in Lockwood on August 14, 2008. However, we knew her time with us would likely be too short.

Symphony was everything we expected her to be: perky and obviously enjoying being in the grass turnouts. We carefully chose a stall for her because dust is very harmful to horses suffering silicosis. Veterinarians suggested putting Symphony on a low dose of bute, a painkiller, to help keep her comfortable.

Horses with silicosis typically live a year past the diagnosis before the pain becomes unbearable. Just shy of a year past Symphony’s diagnosis date, she was showing signs of discomfort. Her right shoulder began to deform and was sticking out of her shoulder joints, causing her more pain. Our farriers trimmed her feet so that she stood more on her heels; veterinarians changed her medicine to Banamine, a stronger anti-inflammatory, and the staff kept her out of the grass turnout for fear that her running and playing could cause her to break a bone. She clearly would soon be in more pain than anyone could ease, and our staff and veterinarians began to discuss her options, including euthanasia.

Our staff had been in contact with Dr. Murray from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine to see whether her condition could provide valuable research for them. We also chose a date for her to be euthanized if she was not accepted into their program. Fortunately for everyone, Dr. Murray called our ranch to say that Symphony was accepted, and to begin her preparations.

To prepare Symphony for the program, Dr. Baker from Monterey County Equine gave her medicines to help the researchers analyze her bones more easily. During her last fifteen days at our Lockwood ranch, she received extra attention from visitors and her friends, with extra groomings and horse cookies as a bittersweet sendoff.

On August 3, Redwings staff brought Symphony to UC Davis where their staff showed us where she would live. The veterinary staff at UC Davis will use various diagnostic tools such as ultrasound and bone scans to test their effectiveness in diagnosing this disease, as well as doing a detailed analysis of her blood to see how blood tests might help in early diagnosis of the disease in other horses. During these tests, she will be sedated to minimize her discomfort. Their staff will then humanely euthanize her, and veterinarians and veterinary students will examine her bones and other tissue to help with the research of this disease, and will preserve them for future research.

Symphony has had a magnificently full life. She was the pride of a child for showing, a gentle riding teacher for many other children, and now she provides crucial research data needed to prevent suffering in other horses that share this disease.

To Symphony, a pony who touched so many lives:

SOMEWHERE

Author: Unknown

Somewhere, somewhere, in God's own space,

there must besome sweet, pastured place

Where creeks sing on, and tall trees grow; some paradise where horses go.

For by the love that guides my pen, I know great horses live again.

Thank you, Symphony

From all of those you have touched.

Fuzzy, Long-Eared Beings Roam the Hills of Lockwood

Redwings Horse Sanctuary is home to a herd of burros that had been rounded up in Death Valley by the Parks Service. Had Redwings and other equine rescue organizations not intervened, these burros would have been shot.

The burro arrived in the Americas with the Spanish explorers and served in a variety of packing and farming jobs. During the gold and silver rushes burros became popular with miners who used them to pack their possessions while prospecting. When the precious metal veins disappeared the miners left their burros behind to fend for themselves. When the automobile arrived many more burros were turned loose, adding to the wild herds.

The Redwings burros are their descendants. Today burros are considered non-indigenous (alien to North America), and are being wiped out. Those advocating extermination claim burros compete with wildlife and livestock. Others defend and rescue burros to safe sanctuaries like Redwings.

The Redwings burros form a mob of long-ears who greet visitors at our gate. They crowd around to be brushed and petted, and fill each evening with a symphony of braying.

Drop by the sanctuary on your travels, check out our education center, and visit the burros, wild mustangs, horses, ponies, and Colonel the steer who all share the too-common story of escape from abuse and slaughter.

You can sponsor one of the burros, Jenny (pictured at left), to provide for her care for one year. See the Redwings Sponsorship page.

The Sanctuary, located at 47240 Lockwood-Jolon Road, is open Monday–Saturday, 10–4. Call 831-386-0135 for a tour. For directions and more information visit www.redwingshorsesanctuary.org.

Anna’s Story

On April 21, 2009, Carrie Moul guided a spotted horse named Anna out of her trailer, introducing her to a new and final home at the Redwings ranch in Lockwood, California for the first time. This marked the end of a long and painful journey for Anna.

A ranch owner in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada range of California had a successful horse business for many years. However, age and increasing infirmity led her to begin to ignore her remaining nine horses’ needs, putting them in great danger of neglect.

On February 10, Redwings received a letter from Leslie Mirise and Jenni Odum who had found these four stallions and five mares all feeding off one bale of hay. All the stallions were in stalls filled with mud and their own feces while three of the mares were in a pasture. Jenni writes:

Then there was Anna and her companion mare. In makeshift pens of various pipe panels held together with wooden boards and bailing twine, the two mares have been standing in mud and feces for who knows how long. Anna’s water is filthy dirty every time we go out there and we remove hay and debris and refill it. Her eyes were goopy the first day that Leslie went out and she took a fly mask to keep the flies away and shield them from the wind. Anna’s feet are horribly overgrown, and Leslie’s husband has trimmed them a bit to make her more comfortable. But the conditions are so muddy it’s difficult to do much in the space. She needs to be moved to a dry space and receive hoof care immediately, or I fear she will end up in immense pain, unable to stand or walk.

Fortunately, the owner of these horses agreed that she needed help from Leslie and Jenni, and that these horses would be better off somewhere else. Hope flickered when she had found a new home for Anna, but Leslie and Jenni visited the property and found rusty barbed wire all over the ground, and no shelters. Then it got worse: Anna’s companion died.

Worried that Anna would soon suffer the same fate, Leslie and Jenni contacted Redwings and made a most eloquent case for Anna, and Redwings agreed. Anna had a new home.

Redwings unfortunately couldn’t take her right away, so she stayed in Plymouth, California in the care of Dr. Jim Garfinkle of At Farm Veterinary Service. They cleaned up and treated Anna who is blind. Once Redwings had a place for her, Carrie Moul volunteered to make the 12-hour round trip drive to bring Anna to Lockwood.

Wild Horses of Lockwood: Their Journey to Safety

How did wild Pryor Mountain Mustangs get from Montana to Lockwood, California? It was a journey from starvation and the threat of slaughter to safety at Redwings Horse Sanctuary.

In 2000, a herd of 110 starving mustangs was discovered crowded into two acres in Montana. Most of this herd had been captured by the Bureau of Land Management and adopted by an elderly caretaker with the hopes of preserving the magnificent Pryor Mountain Mustang line. But his health had declined, his finances had dwindled, and his property was sold. The stallions had not been gelded, allowing them to breed with the adopted mares in an uncontrolled manner. When their foals were born, conditions became so crowded that their umbilical cords were torn from them, leaving open and infected holes. Neighbors tipped off local authorities who confiscated the herd—many in danger of winding up auctioned to slaughterhouses. Redwings helped find other organizations to help with the placement of these horses.

The Pryor Mountain Mustang is special because its Old World heritage has been genetically confirmed. This tough horse, derived from the horses of Portugal and Spain, has ranged the rugged mountain areas between Wyoming and Montana for 200 years. Native Americans, particularly the Crow, likely brought the Mustang to the Pryor Mountains where they enjoyed a symbiotic relationship. The horse and the people maintained a close link in all aspects of Native American life. We at Redwings feel that this centuries-long bond with humans give it much honor.

Redwings placed the most malnourished horses in safe care until they were strong enough to travel, and then facilitated the transportation of several of the herd to California. The remaining that survived from the original 110 were placed at other sanctuaries. Today, 18 mustangs freely roam a dedicated 30-acre habitat at the Redwings sanctuary in Lockwood. We allow them to be nearly wild with very little need for human interference. Redwings hosts special excursions into their pasture, allowing visitors to see them act much like the wild herds before acting like friendly and inquisitive ranch horses.

Redwings encourages visitors to enjoy the daily adventures of this herd. We’ll have you meet the other animals too. The horses, ponies, burros, and Colonel the steer all share the unfortunate story of abuse, neglect, and slaughter.

Redwings Horse Sanctuary, at 47240 Lockwood/Jolon Road, is open Monday–Saturday, 10-4. Call 831-386-0135 to schedule a tour. For directions and more information, see www.redwingshorsesanctuary.org.