It’s that time again…we need coupons. Click on the logo to the right, answer a few questions (answer yes to each question), and print out the coupon. You can drop it off at Hemme Hay in Tehachapi, or scan and send as email attachment to ljkline03@yahoo.com. The purina rep said we can use as many as we can get! They help soooo much!!!!

Thank you!

Volt was rescued from KCAC . They had gotten a phone call when someone found him tied with a hay string to their fence in the desert. On one of our many trips to animal control, one of the officers told me about him. She explained that because he was a stallion, he was being boarded at the veterinary hospital and it was costing the county a lot of money. The chances of placing him were extremely dim because not only was he a stallion, but a crypt-orchid, which means only one testicle had descended, thus making castration very expensive and something that must be done at a surgical facility. For these reasons euthanasia was eminent. The county could not afford to continue paying his board and upkeep.

I fell in love with him instantly. He is about 17 years old and is an American Saddlebred. I have years of experience with Saddlebred stallions, so I decided to give him a chance. He was once a show horse as there is evidence of him being in a tail-set and his tail has been cut. He ”parks out” and I am sure he is broke to drive. My gut tells me he was probably a Harness show horse, as he is perfectly built for it and moves like one. I have had a harness on him and driven him in long-lines. He is a bit rusty, but enjoys the work and has certainly done it all before.

He has arthritic changes in both hocks (not surprising for an older show horse) but he hasn’t taken a lame step yet. Our veterinarian recommended a good glucosamine supplement, which he is getting.
He is well mannered for a stallion, but there is no way we would adopt him out until he is gelded. A stallion must be handled by experienced stallion handlers and a crypt-orchid should never be bred as the condition can be hereditary. Depending on whether the retained testicle is inguinal or abdominal will determine the cost of surgery ($700-$2000).

Please help us give this beautiful boy a chance at finding a forever home by donating towards his castration surgery.

Sponsorship: You can fully sponsor Volt for a pledge of $150 a month, or participate in a partial sponsorship for any amount you chose.

Esperanza is a 14-year-old, tattooed Thoroughbred mare. She was one of the original rescues from KCAC. Esperanza was scheduled to go to auction in just three days before we rescued her.

When we rescued her, she was being treated for an abscess in her right rear foot. She was thin but otherwise seemed healthy. Right away she became one of the favorites. Esperanza was willing to do anything asked of her. She was clearly broke to ride, as both of my children rode her bareback. She has been the one we always pull out on volunteer days, because she is so trustworthy and gentle.

We had her adopted and just days before being delivered to her new home, she came up lame on her right front foot. Upon examination, the veterinarian suspected another abscess. We soaked and wrapped her foot in a poultice for days. The veterinarian was called several times and was not able to locate an abscess. Finally, because her pain was so severe and getting worse, we decided to x-ray her. The x-rays revealed that she has extremely flat and fragile coffin bones. There is only about 7 mm space between the bone and the sole of her foot. They explained that this is a common flaw in some Thoroughbreds and had we not caught it, she would have eventually broken her coffin bone in one or both feet. The veterinarian explained that just stepping on a rock could have broken her bone! This did not explain her severe lameness though.

A few more days went by and we had to change her to a very expensive pain medication because she was getting colicky on the bute. Finally, our farrier was able to locate an abscess and opened it to drain. This relieved some of her pain but she was not progressing as she should have been. Again, we called the vet. They suspected that the abscess had been there for some time and had actually gotten into live tissue in her heel. She has now had 2 full weeks of antibiotics and is much better. She will be re-checked soon to make sure it is completely healed. In the meantime, she has had special shoes and protective pads placed on both front feet that she MUST have for the rest of her life. Because of the issue with her coffin bones, her adoptive family decided not to adopt her. Her riding future will need to be monitored . She should only be ridden lightly and on soft footing, even with the protective pads and shoes, which must be replaced every 6 weeks.

Please consider sponsoring Esperanza as she would be perfect to use for the both the RISE program and for children to enjoy. She will be difficult to place with the diagnosis of her coffin bones and is going to require regular and expensive farrier care as well as veterinary check-ups.

Sponsorship: You can fully sponsor Esperanza for a pledge of $150 a month, or participate in a partial sponsorship for any amount you chose.