We have a new (to us) Truck! |
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Greetings!
We have needed a bigger truck for the Sanctuary for over a decade! Kind friends have always helped us to haul intakes, etc. with their big trucks, but now, Dharmahorse owns a truck! A donation from an amazing friend of the horses, we are thrilled and grateful.
We can easily haul bigger loads in the bed of this truck - we've used Katharine's little Ford Ranger since 2012! And it wasn't safe to pull the horse trailer with anyone bigger than a mini in it with the Ranger. We're in love with this truck. It can even pull a load over the mountain!
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New big tubs for hay feeders!
We finally were able to purchase 2 more big blue tubs to use for hay on the track system. We have been using the one we bought in 2019 and even with horses standing in it (Sage & Pepper!), it has held up, the hay stays in it (they don't toss it out on the ground & the wind can't blow it out!). Mark has secured them to large posts deep in the ground because the horses have been moving them, but that being solved easily, we're so pleased!
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And we got a new type of automatic flow apparatus for each of the big water tubs on the track system. The old ones leaked and wasting water in the desert is a "sin"! So far, Mark has had to put boards across the yellow floats because Pepper was pulling them out, but we like them. |
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A Vet and Farrier Day that included Pumpkin!
We had to get Pumpkin's hooves trimmed and teeth checked. We needed to vaccinate her since I cannot dose her nosodes (although we can worm her with the medicine in a pan of wheat bran and Crypto Aero feed!)... this necessitated sedation by our Veterinarian. There is no way we will brutalize an equine to restrain them.
But we had to make a safe way (for Pumpkin and the Vet) to do the sedation.
Here, Dr. Heather is filing (called "floating") the very sharp points from her teeth. Then she vaccinated Pumpkin. Meason and Mark held her in the adjustable "chute" that Mark constructed.
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Meason was able to trim all four hooves on Pumpkin, keeping everyone safe - the sedation was a necessity! |
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Hubba had his dental work done beneath the new roof. The rubber mats are wonderful! He had 2 broken teeth that were removed and some floating of sharp points! We also got Dream Cat's long, weird tooth down level, finally! And Cassi needed floating. We found out she is 3 years old (we thought she was 2).
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Andy knows how to "chase shade" now that the days are hot!
He was sweating under his long, heavy mane, so I "roached" it to keep him more comfortable. That's a fly mask he's wearing. He can see through it and it keeps bugs off of his face. This one's a bit large, but it works!
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Cassi is definitely thriving! Many people have thought we had a new horse, not recognizing her now!
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The days are getting hot and we are setting up the water misters for use when needed. They made a huge difference last year at the Infirmary Barn. We'll be adding them to the new barn and covered grooming area. |
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Of course, Fly Control takes center stage now! Everyone wears a fly mask. They can see through them just fine and air circulates - the mesh just keeps flies out of their eyes!
Last year, our choice of spreading fly predators twice a month did not go so well... they just did not work here in the high desert. I don't know if the winds just blew them away or if we're just predominately too dry, but it failed. And, with them being spread around the facility, the use of premise sprays or automatic fly sprayers (we only use pyrethrin sprays) would have killed the predators... we had a buggy year!
This year, all buildings have the automatic fly sprayers, we have the "stinky bag" traps (anti-aromatherapy!!), some locking fly bait stations (with the least toxic bait) and we premise spray both the pyrethrins and a natural fly killing product. It should be a better year!
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Bodhi had a bout with cellulitis! He had had a hoof abscess I thought had resolved with soaking and poulticing... but then his whole leg swelled and became hot, his temp was 104 degrees! Dr. Heather came out right away and he went on a series of strong oral anti-biotics. We had to repeat it, but he stayed swollen. Daily cold water hosing's, hand walking, oral colloidal silver and Homeopathic Staph and Strep got him through it. He's back with the herd on the track system.
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Pepper bruised his "good" leg - we think from sticking it between the pipe panels. The Veterinarian checked it the day she was here for Dentals and for Pumpkin. After lots of Arnica gel and support wraps, he was sound again. We wrapped both front legs because the un-bruised leg was taking more stress with his weight less on the other.
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We got the whole herd at both yards de-wormed and nosodes dosed (WNV, EEE, WEE, Flu, Rhino and Tetanus). We used a Pyrantel liquid wormer that tastes good (Luna will suck it right out of the syringe!). Here, Rachel is scratching Peanut's ear because he loves that! |
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Comet and Murray are still bonded, living together (doing everything together!) and Comet remains on Equioxx for his arthritis. Herbal and nutritional therapies were not enough to help him, so, we do what is necessary for the sake of the horse.
Gita is thriving. Her DSLD is not getting any worse, so I just hold my breath and keep giving her the Soloman's Seal extract a few times a week for her ligaments. As long as she is happy, she will get anything she needs to keep her going (she's in her 30's).
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Visit, like and follow our Facebook page!
Stay up to date with all that happens at Dharmahorse!
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Educational pages on the website |
In keeping with our focus upon Educational Outreach, we have these offerings on the website (all downloadable for free!):
Educational Modules have care and handling information.
We gathered some of Katharine's Articles from Horse Magazines.
Educational Videos on care, equipment and more
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We see each horse here as an individual with physical, mental and emotional needs that are dynamic and fluctuate with the weather, the seasons, their changing bodies as they age and who they live with as a herd.
If you want to help a specific horse, you can sponsor his or her hay costs for a month:
Scroll to the bottom of the page for details on how to donate/sponsor.
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We appreciate everyone who helps us help these horses. Donors, Volunteers, Foundations and those who "spread the word" about Dharmahorse. Thank you all.
You can use this DONATE button to access our website & donate from there. If you want to send a check, the address is 6874 Coyote Road, Las Cruces, NM, USA, 88012. Make checks to Dharmahorse. We are a 501c3 nonprofit, so donations are tax deductible.
THANK YOU
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We also have a WISH LIST at Chewy!
The Products on the list are SO needed and appreciated!
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Visit our Blog for new posts and Sanctuary updates!
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We use herbal supplements (of our own making) to support the good health of all the horses here. We make remedies for healing from plants! It's called "phytotherapy".
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Vitex agnus-castus
Chaste Tree (Vitex) berries are great at normalizing glandular functions and have been fed for decades to help mares with hormonal imbalances, horses with Insulin Resistance and metabolic issues.
The berries are harvested when ripe, dried and added to bucket feeds, usually a tablespoon once daily.
The berries contain Iridoid glycosides (aucbin and agnoside), flavonoids (casticin, isovitexin and orientin) and essential oils.
Vitex is one of the Shade for Horses trees we are planting at the Sanctuary because it is water-wise, not toxic and can provide medicinal berries!
Our Herbal Guide has information on the herbs we use for the horses with recipes and safety guidelines:
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We don't do this for donations, we need donations to do this! |
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We wish you well. We hold this planet and all who fly with her in love & light.
Mahalo!
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