Orphaned Foals need help $$ needed ASAP

We need your help!!! Again!!!! There are now two orphaned foals, approximately 8-10 weeks old that have been left at the Fallon feedlot by the same breeder as the last group of 20 that we just helped rescue.

The black colt is injured and needs immediate care for his left hind leg. We are trying to raise $500 to bail them both, fuel to transport them to the ranch in Ramona, vet care, medicine and foal feed. They will receive the proper quarantine here at the ranch in case they have been exposed to any virus at the feedlot (which is always a possibility with any place groups of horses are in close proximity).

Debra Hawk, who is overseeing the entire rescue recently posted pictures of these two babies in her "Fallon Feedlot" photo album on Facebook. What started out as 33 horses has now grown to over 50. The above two are numbered 50 & 51 on her album.

Donations can be made via PayPal by using Donate@EquineWellBeing.Org or if you would like to send a check please send it to:

Equine WellBeing Rescue, Inc.

1984 Equestrian Trail

Ramona, CA 92065

Time is of the essence with these two, they are small and need medical care and proper nutrition now. Please share this blog and post on your media sources. We need to get them out of there this week.......

Thank you SO much.

Christine

Equine WellBeing Rescue, Inc.

www.EquineWellBeing.org

http://www.gentledmustangs.com/DONATIONS_JER6.html

20 Horses Saved From Fallon Feed Lot

Our first rescue as EquineWellBeing Rescue, Inc.

a non-profit organization

formerly GentledMustangs.com

Fallon Feedlot Rescue

What can I say other than this has been a most amazing effort by a group of absolutely wonderful and caring horse people. It started when I received an email about young horses that were on a feedlot in Fallon NV, heading to a slaughter plant in Canada. A lady named, Debra Hawk, was trying to get the word out because 33 yearlings and 2 year olds had been dropped there by a Quarter Horse breeder who was going out of business.

A week prior, Jill Starr and her crew from Lifesavers rescue had taken in a livestock trailer of mares in foal, mares with foals by their sides and weanlings. But there was neither room nor the funds to also help the one and two year olds. So Debra stepped in.

In response to that email, I went to Debra’s Facebook page and found the album with pictures of all 33 horses. I chose a Palomino filly and put a comment under her picture that Equine WellBeing Rescue would be raising funds for her bail (the fee the feedlot wanted for us to purchase the horse) and transporting her to San Diego. Within two days, Facebook friends and others had pledged and donated enough funds that we could save her life.

Then Pam (a friend of Debra’s who lives in Reno), made a post asking if we can continue raising funds and donating through Equine Well Being Rescue? I thought we might get the funds to save one or two more horses, but you proved me wrong. Within a week, we had received the funds and pledges, and had enough people step forward to provide homes for 19 of the 33 horses. The remaining where either picked up directly at the feedlot by other working with Debra or by Pam who trailered them to her place in Reno and they were picked up from there.

As these sorts of last minute rescues can be, this was a whirlwind. The community of Ramona in San Diego County stepped in full force providing funds and homes for 10 of the horses, then 3 others going to Winchester, 3 going to Anza, 2 going to Yucca Valley and one going to Fallbrook. With many folks donating funds if someone else could take the horse. What a huge team effort.

Getting the horses bailed out was one thing, the logistics of how to get them from Fallon, NV, to southern California was quite another. Debra played such a huge roll here because she drove her trailer back and forth from Bishop, CA, to Fallon and found temporary quarantine space in Bishop allowing us to drive to Bishop and pick the horses up saving hundreds of miles and interstate travel. Several people are making trips from southern CA to pick up those 19 horses. The last of which will be picked up the weekend of August 20-21^st.

When Debra and I first spoke on the phone, it was after about 10 of the horses were spoken for and funds raised. We both admitted that what was happening was beyond our understanding and we both felt we were just intermediaries in a plan that was so much bigger than what we anticipated, divine intervention at its best. I know the Lord played a big role in this because there is nothing that I possess or have to offer that could bring people out of the woodwork to help as has happened for these young horses. Not only are they going to homes, but they are going to homes where they are wanted and people are excited about getting them, some given names before even being seen for the first time by their new owners.

Some of these are becoming part of the family and others are going to be handled, trained and then a permanent adoptive home will be found. The hardest horses to find homes for are untrained horses and elderly horses with physical needs. This training will give these young horses a step up in life and a chance at more successful relationship with people.

This time and these young horses will be forever etched in our minds. A successful triumph of caring people working together for the good of innocent animals that were dumped by their breeder destined for slaughter. A new lease on life these sweet horses will have a chance at a long life with happy relationships with people. Like a graduating class of students we will watch how they mature and what they become as they grow up, rather than meat on someone’s plate.

There are so many people to thank, so many people who cared to step up and make a difference. You are all angels to these horses. You all saved lives. God bless you all for your part in this amazing rescue effort. We are still raising funds to help cover the transport of the horses.

Horses saved through our efforts and their new homes are:

#1 to Gayle in Fallbrook who is fostering for your ‘Kid’s Horsin Around’ program

#2 to Rachel and her family in Winchester

#3 yearling filly to Steve and family in Santa Ysabel

#7 to Jamie in Ramona

#8 to Jamie in Ramona

#9 TBD

#10 to Heather

#11 to Liz in Anza

#13 to Jamie in Ramona

#14 to Kathy & family who will foster/train her in Yucca Valley

#15 to Jamie in Ramona

#19 to Liz in Anza

#20 the original Palomino – adopted in Bishop

#21 to Rachel and family in Winchester

#23 to Jamie in Ramona

#24 to Karen in Ramona

#25 to Jamie in Ramona

#26 to Laura in Ramona

#27 to Heather

#29 to Liz in Anza

Fresh Coffee in the Morning...

Hi to all,

I wanted to send an update on Coffee and pictures of his first day with Cheryl, Hanna and
Rocky.

Like I said yesterday it was a rainy blustery day and while today is still blustery, the sun has been out and I haven't seen a rain drop yet. Perfect weather to spend out with the horses and the proof is in the smiles on Cheryl, Coffee, Hanna and even Rocky's faces (really look, the horses are smiling too).


It's tough on a horse to live by himself, even with people who love you around. It just isn't the same as having that ever present horse friend right there with you all day and night. How great do these two guys have it? Two beautiful women dotting all over them. Well, what horse could ask for more.

I asked Cheryl how Coffee was doing today and she let me know that they put the two horses together shortly after I left yesterday and within a short period of time Coffee was rubbing his face on Rocky's back. Mutual grooming -- one of the best aspects of herd living.

While Coffee does fine in a larger herd environment, though he tends to be lower on the pecking order, he doesn't have that concern when there are just the two of them. Cheryl said he settled right in and they were able to completely brush, fly spray and fancy him up with a fly mask. You really should have sun glasses on when you are out in the sun.....

So here is a shot of Coffee - neat!


He sure cleans up pretty....Do you see the amazing dun striping off his neck, shoulders and dorsal stripe? What a beauty!

New Brand of Coffee at the Dollick Home....

In between rain showers we got the break needed to bring Coffee to his new foster family in Ramona. ha, ha, ha... a Coffee break!

All of us looking like drowned rats, couldn't have been happier than to have this sweet horse meet his new family. It was blustery out with a hard wind, cold temps and rain, but so worth it for the smiles on the family's faces when our trailer pulled in the yard.

One of my long time dentistry clients, Cheryl was recently over at our ranch and I told her about Coffee and she immediately said "I would love to have him as a foster companion for Rocky", her late teenage quarter horse. I spoke to his sponsors, Dawn and Clint, and it was agreed that it was a wonderful situation since Cheryl hadn't wanted another riding horse, but one to keep her riding horse company while we continue to look for a permanent situation for Coffee.

Rocky was glad to see another horse at the house too... While they are in separate enclosure till they get used to each other, Rocky made no bones about the fact that he wanted to get to know Coffee better. Rocky was frolicking around as if to say "come play with me". Poor Rocky hasn't had a herd mate for almost a year...

Hanna was excited to finally have a once wild, but now very tame and loving, mustang at her house. Most kids (and many adults) dream of one day having a wild mustang and now that dream has come true, at least for a while . Like his other Carter Reservoir herd mates, Coffee has a very calm demeanor and loving nature. Hanna put her hand under his nose so he could sniff and he licked her hand like a dog - a sweet way to get introduced.

It is nice of people to step up to help while we are trying to find a permanent placement for Coffee. In the meantime he will continue to get daily love and attention he so deserves.

Details about Coffee and his past can be found on his page at

http://www.gentledmustangs.com/Coffee_anyone_.php

It has been a BEAUTIFUL Day!

Spending the day with Coffee

What a beautiful day to spend getting to know our newest addition. With this warm weather the long winter fur the horses have starts shed big time. The perfect way to get a new horse comfortable with us is through a relaxing grooming session. It also give me the opportunity to see if there are areas where the horse doesn't like being touched or has some fear issues.

Today we didn't have any issues at all. Not only did Coffee enjoy getting brushed, but he loved having his ears rubbed, all the crusty's around his eyes cleaned away and what must have felt like a nice body massage with the brushing. He liked it so well when I would walk away, he would follow me for more.



After a nice relaxing brushing what better than to move out to the round pen to stretch his legs. He moves just like Manzanita and Red Ryder. I had to stop myself from calling him Manzanita several times. He readily understood some basic commands and has a very nice whoa. What I liked the best is that he would turn to face me and not move off until told. He even walked over to me when asked to come.

I got a real opportunity to see all his dun factor striping all brushed with the sun shining on him. The pictures don't show great detail, but he has slight cob-webbing on his face, points on his ears, big and bold shoulder strips which makes it look like his mane hangs on both sides. His dorsal strip is nice and wide and has striping coming of that from his withers half-way down his back. His legs also have striping and also some white with lots of feathering. Like Bizzy, some of his striping is red (like you would see on a red dun) and much of it is black like his mane.



His BLM freeze brand has pretty well faded and looks like just a few white hairs sprinkled under his mane on his left side. With the long winter fur, they were hard to see, but as his coat shortens we might see some detail.

Coffee settled into the round penning nicely and seemed to be enjoying himself as if to say, "look how handsome I am now that I have been brushed". Lary came out to introduce himself to Coffee and they got along just fine. Since we know that Coffee has been shy or slightly nervous around strangers, we assumed he was going to be as friendly and loving as Manzanita and Red Ryder and he responded as they would have. He look was almost to say "how come these people know me so well when I have just met them?".

After letting him relax and graze in the round pen for a while, I brought Bizzy down to introduce the two to each other. A little bit of snorting, tail swishing and a squeal or two and then they acted as though they have known each other for a while. I can see that Coffee is not a dominate personality so we will be sure to boost his confidence before putting him in the pasture with the other horses. But he should fit right in.

I am looking forward to Tuesday when Dee Howe (trainer/body worker) and Dawn Fletcher (equine Chiropractor) come out and we assess his body for any pain and work him under saddle without a rider to see how he does. Later in the week I will do his dentistry. For now, I checked his incisors and canines, all of which had tarter build up that he let me removed by picking with my finger nail. He had no issues with me working with his mouth which will make it so much easier to do his teeth.

He is enjoying the grass in the round pen, the sun on his back and the company of a beautiful Carter mustang filly. What more could a guy ask for?????

Equine Body Pain Evaluation Clinic - Feb 5th

Saturday, February 5th, we will be sponsoring a clinic by Dee Howe of "Helping Others With Equines", www.DeeHowe.net that is the first in a series of three teaching you how to enhance a horse's vitality using integrative body work, that we will be sponsoring at our ranch.

This Stage 1 clinic - Evaluation/Body Work. You will learn techniques to tell if your horse is uncomfortable and what is needed when unwanted behavior happens; such as bucking, biting, rearing, throwing it's head, kicking, pawing, pacing, hard to catch, cross firing, turning one way better than the other, etc. By releasing the tension and addressing the root of the problem the horse can then concentrate, making training/riding easier and more efficient.

Since this is a hands-on clinic and each student will get some one-on-one with Dee, attendance is limited to 10 and reservations are needed. Cost is $100 for this full-day clinic and lunch and snacks are provided. For reservations contact Lauren at 951-566-7217 or horseluverlns@hotmail.com. Credit Cards are accepted.

It's a sunny winter day and the temperature outside is close to 80 degrees. Not bad for January when the rest of the country is cold and snowy and perfect for a short ride from the ranch. So today is Chance's turn for her first real trail ride.

Tabi has been working with Chance on and off over the summer. You guys may remember the bad injury Chance got to her lower jaw just as her training was being started last April. While it healed quickly (thanks to the Ox-E-Drops 2% solution) it was a few months before she went back to Tabi for training. Chance got about 2 solid months of training mostly in the arena and within the fenced property of the training ranch, but no real riding other than that.

Chance has been back here since September and we were just letting her be a horse. She is only 2 1/2 years old so there is no reason to hurry training along. She is too young and her body is still growing to put too much stress on it with athletic riding - which is exactly what she is built for.

With that in mind, today is the first day that anyone has been on her or even worked her in the round pen since last September. Much like we expected, she acted like it was just yesterday that she was worked and picked up right where her and Tabi left off. Ten minutes in the round pen and ready to ride.

Bo (Triton), Tabi's horse, was not too happy that his mom chose Chance to ride instead of him, so he ran the entire fenceline keeping up with them. Then he whinnied while there were gone. Boy was he glad when they got back.

No fuss, no muss. Lary and Tabi rode past the cows, along a busy black top road, across the road to ride behind our friends cattle dairy. There she got to ride through grazing cattle, up and down hills and short ravines, over and across some water and even took the lead when Houdini didn't want to stay in front.

This filly is going to make someone an AWESOME horse. She is level headed, smart, an eager learner and just no fuss no muss. We measured her height and she is 14.2hh today and we know she is going to be another 4-6 inches taller at maturity.

Chance is available for adoption. Her adoption fee is $1000. Right now she is green and needs trail miles. She is also at the perfect age to train for competitive trail riding because she has no bad habits, no fears and is willing to try anything. When she gets a few years older and her bones are complete, she will make a great cow horse, ranch sorting, or other things require good athletic skills.

Chance has been handled since birth and loves people. This is a very "aim to please" you horses that will bond with rider and LOVES to have a job. So please spread the word. If you know someone who wants horse that will be a great, solid trail horse, competitive trail, eventually (in a year or two) work with cows, etc. She's the one. Help us find a good home for her.

Christine
760-703-4860

P.S. Chance's mother was saved from slaughter and was adopted earlier this year and it is clear that Chance got her demeanor, brains, build and abilities from her mom. So we have pictures of her mom and can tell you all about her mom too.