Sheldon
Our first rescue horse, “Sheldon,” arrived at Sky Ranch in June 2012. We got news of him through another non-profit horse welfare group (Horse Emergency Evacuation Team: “H.E.E.T.”) that had received a call from the county sheriffs reporting that a horse was found wandering and starving in the Paso Robles area. Sheldon is a mature gelding in his 30’s. We have not been able to figure out what breed he is. Lusitano? Morgan? Who knows? He is a rare “smoke over dun” in color. Sheldon was very underweight when he went to his temporary home with “H.E.E.T.” They were very good at restoring him to a healthy weight, and after he was here a short time we discovered that he has a thyroid condition and puts on weight too easily! He’s on medication for that condition and is thriving. He is a kind and gentle guy and loves his treats.
Zuki
A second rescue horse,“Zuki,” also referred by “H.E.E.T.”, arrived at Sky Ranch in early March 2013. Zuki, a mature Palomino Quarter Horse, had been passed around from owner to owner. (One owner purportedly threatened to have him euthanized because he bucked her off!) Zuki had not had a life conducive to trust and though possessing a gentle disposition here, he always seemed wary and waiting for the “other shoe to drop.” Sadly, Zuki was diagnosed with an advanced cancer after only a year at the sanctuary and had to be euthanized. He is buried in the pasture and very much missed.
Party Girl
Party Girl is a 27-year-old Missouri Foxtrotter, white and strawberry roan Medicine Hat pinto, one blue eye, one hazel eye. She has ringbone in both front feet and is permanently lame.She gets around remarkably well considering her challenges and doesn’t let Sheldon, who is in the stall next to hers, get a away with a thing. She keeps him in his place by running her teeth along the metal strip of the stall divider. She may have sore feet, but she must have teeth made of steel!
Snitch
Snitch is 19 years old and has been with sanctuary director, Kathleen Redmond, since he was a foal. He used to “snitch” milk from the other mares in the pasture when he was a colt, hence the nickname. Snitch is an 18 year old bay Arabian. He has numerous lameness issues, but fortunately, they don’t keep him from running around in the pasture with his buddies in the daytime, and he rarely stands still. He receives Previcox daily for his arthritis, and monthly injections of Legend.
Spirit
Spirit came to live here from Animal Services last Halloween. She is a beautiful Palomino mare, most likely a quarter horse. She is in her mid to late 20’s. Her former owners moved and left Spirit and another horse to starve. She was extremely thin when we got her, but was back up to an acceptable weight in three weeks. Initially she was very difficult to catch and though she tolerates being led wearing a halter she doesn’t seem comfortable. We suspect she wasn’t handled well in the past. She has a sweet nature and enjoys being groomed and going out to pasture with her barn-mates. She receives a daily supplement to prevent ulcers due to her nervous temperament.
Digger
This is Digger (“Dig”) our newest horse; a 30 something Thoroughbred gelding. He’s been here a week and had his teeth done yesterday. He needed pretty extensive dental work, including two extractions. Dig’s owner died and he fell through the cracks. We hope he’s as happy here as we are to have him at Sky Ranch. We will update his progress.
Starlight
A new mare, Starlight, came from San Luis Obispo County Animal Services to live at Sky Ranch. She’s guesstimated to be about 30 years old. She was abandoned. The other horses in the barn are fascinated by her, and she seems to be adapting well to her new home. As you can see from the photo, she needs to put on quite a bit of weight, and we’re working on that with soaked alfalfa cubes and senior horse food. Starlight has a good appetite and seems very glad to be among other horses again.
In Buddhism, it is said that life consists of 10,000 joys and 10,000 sorrows. I think they are onto something. Loss and its accompanying sorrow are inevitable, especially when caring for older horses. But then there is the joy that comes in getting to know a new horse and giving a her a forever home.
A Personal Note from Kathleen Redmond:
A word about Ditto and Poco.
The inspiration for the establishment of Sky Ranch Sanctuary came from two beloved Thoroughbred horses who came into my life when I lived in Los Angeles in the 1980’s. They moved with me and my family to Michigan in the 90’s and got a taste of four seasons living (ie: how to walk in a snow drift!), and then moved back to California with us in 2001. Ditto, a high strung chestnut gelding, with a great and funny personality lived here at the ranch until he died of age related causes when he was 33. Poco, a beautiful, spirited chestnut mare, lived here until she died suddenly of a paralysis in her spine at age 27. These two wonderful horses did not initiate my love for horses (think I was born with that), but they made the dream come true for me. Maybe because I was privileged to know them in their later years, I gained a special affection for horses needing care with the challenges that come with old age. This sanctuary is dedicated to them and to all horses needing to be treated with care and respect due to their age and/or prior mistreatment.
One of the goals of this organization is to become a community resource for persons, who due to financial stresses are having difficulty caring for their horse or horses. We can provide information regarding sources for discounted feed, hay and creative options for finding alternative less expensive but acceptable care for the horse/horses to enable people who wish to continue providing good care for their horses to do so. We also provide a model for persons who may have facilities which would enable them to care for one rescued horse, or a limited number of rescue horses, but who need help accessing the necessary resources to provide a forever home.