Sky Ranch Sanctuary

A Horse Rescue Organization

Sheldon's Page

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 20’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.

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Sheldon

 

Our first rescue horse, Sheldon, died this morning after a brief illness. Sheldon came to Sky Ranch 11 years ago via the Sheriff’s Department and H.E.E.T. (Horse Emergency Evacuation Team) that fostered him until he could find a permanent home.

Sheldon was found wandering and abandoned about 30 miles north of us. He was very thin and had been on his own for some time. I had been wanting to establish a non-profit sanctuary as my law practice was winding down, and as luck would have it I saw a flyer at my horse food supply store with Sheldon’s picture on it! He needed a home and the timing was perfect.

I knew when he pranced out of the horse trailer and trotted into our barn that he would be at home here. Sheldon had a “big” gait and was one of those horses who take up a lot of space, with attitude! Never mean, he knew where he wanted to go and was willing to argue with me about it. Moving him from place to place was always a challenge for me, but it always worked out.

Sheldon was a dear, one of a kind soul and could break your heart by letting his lower lip drop and quiver when he wanted attention. He wasn’t always patient with the other horses and let them know he’d be happy to be in charge if he could just get through that fence that separated them from him!

He survived serious bouts of colic, head shaking syndrome and shoe boils. We estimate his age to be in his 30’s.

There’s a big hole in the barn where his body and his heart lived. This is a huge loss for Sky Ranch. He was buried this afternoon in back. Rest in Peace.

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Sheldon Recovered!

 

A few months back I described Sheldon’s “Equine Head Shaking Condition” and included a photo of him in his “special mask.”  Things got worse. A horse’s head weighs approximately ten percent of its body weight. At approximately 900 pounds, Sheldon’s head probably weighs in the area of 90 pounds. And since his head is on the large side proportionally, it may weigh more! With his head shaking condition, he was tossing that weight around reflexively, and it was becoming more and more dangerous for us to even get a halter on him. He could have inadvertently knocked us out!

The mask wasn’t helping and seemed to aggravate him. Perhaps it was interfering with his vision. We were desperate. Then I saw an article in the magazine put out by Platinum Performance addressing the head shaking condition and promoting a product called Platinum Steady (free plug!). I consulted with our vet, and he suggested we try it.

Within a week of using the product we saw a marked improvement and today Sheldon exhibits no symptoms. He is happier and calmer..of course…and so are we! The head shaking is gone!

We are glad to move into summer with a healthier happier horse!

Wishing everyone…two legged and four legged…a fun and relaxing summer.

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Happy New Year!

Sky Ranch Sanctuary wants to wish all of you a very happy new year. Let’s hear it for positive changes in 2019!

The photo is of Sheldon in his new Guardian Mask. We think he looks like a rock star and very “L.A!”

A few months ago, Sheldon developed a condition called “Equine Head Shaking Syndrome.” It’s a puzzling condition that causes involuntary shaking of the head. There are several attributable causes, and it can be very difficult to treat successfully. One of the causes is sun sensitivity , and with Sheldon we definitely see some causation of symptoms in regard to being in the sun. He doesn’t exhibit the symptoms in the barn in the evening, and the symptoms don’t start till the morning sun has been up for awhile.

After an exam and consultation with our vet, we visited Dr. John Madigan’s website to look for solutions. Dr. Madigan, at UC Davis, has studied this condition and he recommends the Guardian Mask, which gives extra UV protection. The mask is expensive relative to a regular fly mask, but we wanted to give Sheldon the best protection we could, while still letting him enjoy his time out in the pasture. So far, though still exhibiting some milder symptoms, he seems to have improved, and we are thrilled. The condition can improve during the winter when the sun isn’t as intense, and sometimes the condition just goes away. Fingers crossed.

Thanks to everyone who responded to our 12 Days of Christmas holiday fund raiser. May all of us enjoy greener pastures in 2019!

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Sheldon Takes a Load Off

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Sheldon feels comfortable and safe enough to lie down and rest. A prey animal that needs to be able to run to “escape,” is vulnerable when lying down.

Horses need about 2 1/2 hours rest over a 24 hour period, but unlike humans, they can get by if that rest isn’t possible. Due to their size, it isn’t good for them to be lying down for an extended period (hard on their organs) so they often take their rest 15 minutes or so at a time. They have different levels of sleep just like humans.

Horses can rest standing up, usually resting one rear leg at a time. If other horses are present, at least one horse will usually stand guard while others rest.

Enjoy your nap Sheldon!

 

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Memory

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Sheldon

There is a belief among many horse admirers that horses remember everything from the day they were born. I’m not sure how one could verify that belief and must admit I haven’t researched it. But it rings true in my experience.

Before my experience with rescue horses I didn’t have much reason to think about it. When a horse comes into your life in his or her 20’s from a life you know little about..and the few details you do have do not depict a comfortable life….the horse’s responses to the new environment draw more attention.

Sheldon is a good example. He was found wandering and abandoned…desperately thin. (He’s a very easy keeper, seems to put on weight just looking at food, which suggests he was out there on his own for some time.) When I put the bucket of feed and then the hay in his feeder twice daily, it never fails. He dives into the bucket, grabs a mouthful of senior feed and then sticks his nose in the hay, seemingly to make sure it’s really there.

He has been here now for a few years and still he seems so relieved to have food available. He is such a sweet guy it’s hard to imagine someone just dumping him off and leaving him on his own. Beyond cruel. I try not to judge since I don’t  know the circumstances that would put someone in the position to do something like that.

And Spirit: apparently her owners moved away and left the horses. She’s a sweet tempered horse, but always a little worried, pacing back and forth. Wonder what her memories are?