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