Links to Horse Rescues in the area:
Other Horse Rescue Links:
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Libby and Trance UPDATE 01/16/2010:
Libby and Trance continue to thrive. They are turned out daily with our herd of 10 Miniature Horse and 1 pony in a large 10 acre pasture. They are full of life and love to run and play. They still room together in a stall at night, but are now being fed separately because Trance dominates Libby and eats all the food otherwise. Libby is growing into a sweet, refined, graceful girl who is very gentle. Trance is fearless, pushy, big-boned, and a pig when it comes to food. Trance thinks she is the center of the universe and must interfere if anyone is paying attention to anything besides her. They both had their feet checked and balanced by our farrier today. Libby was an angel, Trance was a monster. They are actually both very good about their feet being cleaned and trimmed but Trance couldn't leave everything alone while Libby was being done, she was into the farrier's equipment and nibbling at the handler and farrier to give her attention, she also tried to push her way between Libby and the farrier and handler. Next time Jim will have to control his horse better. Both do well and being haltered and led, although most of the time if we open the pasture gate in the evening they put themselves away in the barn, all on their own.
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Rescue News from Bridgeport:
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Funk Road Abuse Case
UPDATE January 16, 2009
Since Ruby Ranch Horse Rescue and it's network of volunteers and supporters, including Deseos Arabians, became aware of and involved in this situation there have been numerous developments both good and bad. First of all The El Paso County Sheriff's Office has been involved with this case from the start and was able to encourage the neglectful owner of these horses to relinquish them if and when homes could be found, until then, she was to maintain the horses with adequate food and water.
Five of the horses were adopted by homes fairly quickly after this case became public and Ruby Ranch Horse Rescue took in Penelope, the horse with physical deformities who required a special diet due to a deformed jaw. Penelope and the other horses adopted out are all doing fine at this point. Penelope is still under evaluation but it looks like she may be able to live out her life as a companion horse if her positive attitude keeps up and her physical health is restored. She is currently being cared for at Ruby Ranch Horse Rescue. Pictures of Penelope and the other Funk Rd horses can be viewed on their site.
One Arabian stallion, Sabre (8 - 10 years old), who was not trained and would not let anyone near him was left at the suspect's property until he could be caught and a place could be found to take him to. On Tuesday, January 12, 2010 a detective from the El Paso County Sheriff's Office went to check on this horse and found him down and unable to get up. A vet was called out and gave a preliminary diagnosis of malnutrition and dehydration. The detective spoke to the suspect and advised her to properly feed and water the horse and to contact him the next morning. She failed to make contact as directed and on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 when the detective went back to check the horse, the stallion was deceased.
It is our understanding that criminal charges will be filed on the suspect for animal cruelty - neglect. Donations to help the remaining horses and Penelope in particular who will require special feeding and medical care can be made to: Ruby Ranch Horse Rescue
Sabre, died of apparent neglect on January 13, 2010
(Original Article) - Seven horses are at risk on Funk Road, Calhan, CO.
Ruby Ranch Horse Rescue picked up Penelope on Sunday morning (Dec. 20, 2009). She is a "1" on the Henneke scale, meaning she is severely emaciated. She has a broken jaw and possibly a neurological issue with her hind legs. Penelope's mouth will be evaluated by our vet on Tuesday. She also has what appears to be a neurological problem on the hind end. It is possible that this little girl will need to be euthanized. The other horses are from a "2" to a "4" on the Henneke scale and include an 8-10YO Arabian stud, a chestnut Arabian mare, her 5 month old colt, a black mare, a mustang stud and a grulla quarter horse cross mare. The neighbors, Melissa and Jeff, have been in contact with El Paso Sheriff and they are caring for four of the horses since they were found wandering on the road last week. A young foal was killed by a car at that time. The remaining three horses are on a property with no water and no hay, confined to pens. Melissa and Jeff are also feeding and watering these horses. The owner is no longer able to take care of them.
Ruby Ranch Horse Rescue is asking for assistance for these horses in the form of foster homes, hay, farrier care, monetary donations, etc. Ruby Ranch Horse Rescue is publishing updates on these horses so check their site for the latest information. Some have been adopted.
See "Funk Road Horses" for more information:
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Hunter and Rhadé
Rescued from a slaughter plant in 2007, they spent about a year and a half at Front Range Equine Rescue prior to coming to live with us in December 2008. Both are doing great and maturing into handsome horses. Despite integration into our herd they still prefer to hang out together! Our vet tells us that Hunter is 4 years old and Rhadé is 3 years old. They will turn one year older in summer 2010.
Photos Taken November 2009
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Our Rescued Horses
(click on horse's name to learn more)
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All of our rescue horses are doing well. New pictures will be posted soon as well as pictures of Libby and Trance along with their stories. Deseos Arabians currently has 10 horses that came from Horse Rescue organizations or who were rescued from unfortunate circumstances or poor conditions by us or someone we know.
They are: Mora, Poncho, Rocky, Hunter, Rhadé, Cupcake, Trance Gemini, Libby, Snip, Jenny . We will feature their pictures and details over the months to come.
If you are thinking of getting a horse please consider rescue. There are numerous horses available for adoption through rescue organizations. Visit our Available Horses page for pictures of some of these wonderful horses and for links to rescue organizations in the Colorado Springs area. __________________________________________________________
Our newest editions are Libby and Trance.
Their mothers were both Pintabians from the
Libby is a bay filly born at Ruby Ranch Horse Rescue
on July 12, 2009 - the day after her mother (Stella, formerly Kricket) was brought there. Stella and Libby were later moved to Front Range Equine Rescue where Stella was euthanized and Libby was adopted to us at the age of 3 months.
Trance is a bay tobiano filly and was born at Front Range Equine Rescue on September 3, 2009. Trance's mother, Chloe, colicked 4 days later and was euthanized. Trance was bottle fed at first and then learned to drink mare milk replacer from a bucket. Trance was adopted to us along with Libby.
She was just over 6 weeks old at the time.
Trance and Libby are doing well and seem to have adjusted to life here. Check here periodically for updates on the pair.
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UPDATE 12-28-2009: Libby and Trance are now 6 months and 4 months old. They are eating Equine Junior grain, soaked beet pulp pellets, and grass hay. Libby has just started eating horse treats out of our hand, she is very gentle. They love to run and play in the snow! They are good about haltering, leading, blanketing, hoof cleaning and trimming, and being handled in general. They are good being turned out with Pfaser, Apache, and Sassy Lady, or can be turned out with the mini's who they really seem to love. Libby is very gentle and respects people's space. She loves to run and jump and to be with other horses. Trance is pushy, dominant, not afraid of anything, loves to eat, likes people, likes to play and kick up her hooves, run, and search for food anywhere she can find it. They have a 12X12 stall they stay in at night and are turned out during the day either in a pasture with the horses mentioned above or out into a loafing area with each other depending on the weather.
UPDATE 01/02/2010: Libby and Trance were paste wormed for the first time today. They were both great. Jim held them on the halter and Lori gave them the wormer. They got apple flavored ivermectin so their first experience would be good.
UPDATE 01/02 & 01/03/2010: Trance and Libby got to run with the miniature horse herd for two days. They loved it and all got along great! They just don't fit into the mini shelter so cannot be turned out them on days when the weather is bad or unsettled. It's good to be accepted!
UPDATE 01/04/2010: Surprise, when we arrived home from work the herd of large horses had broken open Trance and Libby's paddock. Libby was in middle of the herd being carefully guarded and protected by Sassy Lady. Trance was somehow in our back corner pasture all by herself, no injuries, no marks on her at all. Trance is either a really good jumper or rolled under the fence. At any rate, both are fine and other than giving us a fright, all is well.
UPDATE 01/30/10: Libby and Trance took their first trip to see our vet, Dr. Chuck Woodall at Aspen Ridge Equine Hospital. They got their first vaccinations and their first experience being away from home and riding in the trailer. Trance was a good sport and Libby was terrified. Both were very pleased to get back home and rejoin their Miniature Horse companions!
