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.