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.