The Story of a Rescued Horse
June 29, 2020: 3 Sisters Equine Refuge in Bend, Oregon rescued a horse found wandering in the desert.
June 30: The gelding that’s been named Sammy, gets a full veterinary checkup and begins to settle into his new home, a true refuge where he can heal his physical and emotional wounds.
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- Sammy’s ribs and hips
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- Sammy’s skinny butt
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- Sammy’s tangled tail
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- Sammy’s tail after his spa treatment
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- Sammy dozing after a snack
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- Sammy feeling better after a nice dinner
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- Photo by Amber Holm
July 1: Veterinary Checkup of Sammy
Report on Sammy’s vet visit from 3 Sisters Equine Refuge:
“Let’s talk about his medical report. There’s no way to sugar coat it. He’s basically blind. Blind in the right eye and partially in the left. He’s got a heart murmur that we hope will resolve as he gains weight! We estimate he’s 25-30 years old. Hard to tell because what teeth he has left are worn to the gums. When he’s stronger- months from now he’ll need extensive dental work. He also has EOTRH (you can search this to get the details) in a nutshell he has gum disease, teeth will need to be pulled.
Now the good news!!! His bloodwork is solid. He has slightly elevated liver numbers, but to be expected with the starvation. This should resolve as he gains weight. Nothing worrisome. Which is just unbelievable considering his condition. Dr. Jones weighted his at 775 pounds, a .5 on the Henneke scale. A half a point from a ZERO!! He’s able to regulate his body temp, and has had no elevated temperature! Which is astounding considering he’s basically a skeleton with skin draped over it.
His appetite is strong and he’s bright and so loving. He even gave me a huge nicker as I walked away this morning”, according to Cyndi, founder of the refuge.
July 5: Settling In
Sammy weathered the July 4th fireworks with flying colors. Thank goodness all the ranch residents made it through the terrifying flashes and bangs of the holiday revelry, with Sammy being a star pupil, never batting an eyelash! Sammy is settling in, gaining weight, and exploring the ranch like a champ! He is sleeping well, easily laying down and getting up, despite his long, gangly legs of a giraffe, being over 16 hands high!
Sammy loves being groomed, and doesn’t even mind having his ears, face, and tail handled; which by the way had the biggest rat’s nest of a knot we’d ever seen! He completely blisses out when gently being massaged with soft brushes, hanging his head low, and closing his eyes!
