TIER had requested an update on Edison as we had not heard anything from RBER since December and Edison was not on their website. We received the following update per our request for news on this lovely boy. We are glad to hear that he is doing well and delighted to see a picture of him. THANKS!

RBER: Edison is fantastic. His days are full of three meals a day, lots of treats, scratches in all right places, and grooming and beauty treatment....he is a fellow who loves the attention of a pretty girl! He prefers a long hand walk to a turn out. Most importantly, he is happy, safe, and loved!

Susan

Red Bucket Equine Rescue

Look at that FACE! Bright eyed, Handsome and Happy! Word has it that Edison is receiving beauty treatments and attention that he so richely deserves. (main pulling, farrier work, grooming, hand walking, etc.).

AND........he is getting his much loved scratching! "He loves to be scratched more than any horse we have ever known!" Yup! That's our Edison!

Edison's new home is at Red Bucket Equine Rescue in Huntington Beach, CA. (RBER) They house their rescues at Huntington Beach Equestrian Center which has tons of horses and lots & lots of horse crazy little girls.

RBER was coming out to Riverside AC to pick up a Jack Donkey that needed a home. I had asked them if they could take a stray horse (Virgil) because after a month of trying, we could not find anyone who wanted an older/needy horse. RBER agreed.

RBER has lots of little girls that love horses, sponsors for the rescues and a program where the participants/volunteers are assigned a horse (they are then the 'guardians'). The Guardian is responsible for brushing, bathing, cleaning the stalls, etc. under supervision. Lots of hands on attention, treats, wonderful health/hoof care, etc.

After thinking about it, I thought that this would be a perfect place for Edison to spend his Golden Years basking in the adoration of starry eyed little girls. we contacted RBER and asked if they would take him and if so, TIER would take the Buckskin-Virgil. It was doubtful that Edison, as an older TB, would find a home in our county. TB's just aren't the favorite and most adopters do not want a horse in their 20's. Edison would have remained at TIER, but the set up at RBER seemed perfect for him mentally and physically. It seemed like a WIN situation for Edison and Virgil.

Bonnie, Edison's special friend and guidance counselor said her goodbye the morning before he went to Red Bucket.

We think it is a good choice for Edison. TIER was informed that Edison is having fun rolling in shavings and has a new horsey best friend named Sammy. We did request that if RBER finds they can no longer keep Edison for ANY reason, he is to come back to TIER. They also have the right to adopt him out.

Edison, Thank you for the opportunity to know you, assist you and help you to find comfort, ease and new friends in your Golden Years!

5/21/2011 Edison had his teeth floated. He had some sharp edges, etc. that are all nice and smooth now. His "bit seat" was also addressed so that the bit won't clank hard on his teeth when Volunteer Bonnie or a new Adopter is riding him. Edison is looking for his own special someone to spend the rest of his life with and to share his warm, loving personality.

Edison has such a kind eye. Somewhere, at some time, someone cared for this lovely boy. He is willing, interested and will definitely work for scratches/rubs!

Bonnie and Edison had a nice day together working/playing. We wanted to see how he felt about being saddled (sans blanket) and it was as expected. His initial reaction was "Is this a big back scratcher? If so........I LOVE it!" Once he realized it was a saddle NOT a huge curry, he just wanted to know what was next.

A few stretching excercises with treats were in order for the day too! Thanks Bonnie!

Proper food, clean water, a few treats and lots of scratches. It's the small stuff that can make a BIG DIFFERENCE!

In my mind, I can see Edison the day he arrived. A bit anxious but seemingly relieved to be away from where he had been. Emaciated, wounds all over his body, legs, neck, chest, jaw and head.

The wounds were tended to, anitibiotics administered, Volunteer Bonnie gave him several baths to get rid of the lice, brushed his coat, wrapped his wounds and combed his mane.

After almost 3 months of proper feeding, hoof care, chiropractic care, etc. it was time for Edison to begin toning some of those muscles and getting himself a topline! Bonnie came out today and worked him a bit in the roundpen. Not too much as he is really out of shape.

He was his usual gentleman self when being haltered. He needed a couple of reminders not to walk up on Bonnie, to stop and stand. When he entered the roundpen he thought he was supposed to move out until Bonnie finally got his attention and told him he just needed to walk.

Apparently somebody, sometime has worked with him. He finally pulled it together and started listening. Such a shame that time was spent with him to teach him things and then he ended up with a horse trader in a lot eating cornhusks and corncobs and trying to survive.

A little more weight, a little more toning, a little more work and Edison will be ready to find a home with his very own someone that will care for him and be sure to keep him from ever ending up in dire straits with his very life on the line again.

LOOKIN GOOD!

Edison is starting to look more like a horse instead of a rack of bones. I took several pictures today, but unfortunately on this one came out decently.

For the first two months he was eating more than any other horse on the property! He has finally balanced out and is eating the normal (for a TB) 5-6 flakes a day plus his morning ration of pellets, flax seed, beet pulp and Pawier vitamins.

BIG thanks to volunteers Bonnie and Janice for coming out to get Mr. Pig Pen (Edison) presentable for his visit with Dr. Moore. What a mess that boy was. While the rain and mud of last week was going on Edison was wearing a nice Teal & Black sheet. When it was removed after the sun returned, the sheet looked like a manure/mud coat. It was caked with gunk. Immediately after removing the sheet Edison found the yuckiest spot in his pen to roll. Bonnie and Janice spent quite a bit of time trying to get him spiffed up.

Edison's left front ankle and right rear ankle were very much in need of adjustment. His neck, back, stifles, hocks, pelvis, etc...........everything were all out of alignment. Poor guy had been pretty beat up.

The hair is growing back in where skin was visible from bite marks and barbed wire. His coat is darker and he is putting on weight.

These pictures were taken at the lot before Edison arrived at TIER.

He was beat up so bad and he had gotten tangled in barbed wire while at the lot. The only recourse he had to get away from the aggressive horses in the group was to put himself in a corner far away from the others. He has knots in his neck, one front and one rear ankle swelling, and holds himself carefully when moving around.

On the day we picked these horses up, I first walked into the herd with the owner. He had put 3 horses in the alleyway for us to decide which ones we would take. (Dixie was left in the lot with the others and was trying to get to Mavis). I wanted to check out the horses he hadn't set aside to see what other horses were in need. Once I finished walking through the herd (tripping over barbed wire and downed fence poles) I walked across the lot toward the horses in the alleyway.

Kristy and Bonnie had a halter on Edison (they were there to transport the horses to TIER). In my mind, I can still see the look on Kristy's and Bonnie's faces as I approached. What I saw in their faces was a desperate plea to let Edison be one of the horses we brought to TIER. 3 horses and a foal trying to get to her mother.

We had told the officer from Inland Valley Humane Society that we would take the worst one or possibly two since they said they had another rescue that might be able to take the ones we could not. I looked at Kristy's & Bonnie's faces, looked at Edison and just nodded my head a couple times (I was talking to the owner at the time). The look of relief on those girl's faces was wonderful.

I then looked at the remaining horses...Chino, Mavis and Dixie. I knew we couldn't leave them there. I said something about wishing the trailer was bigger and Kristy said "We'll take two and come back for the other two". Thank you ladies!!!

He has put on a little more weight. His wounds are healing and he is beginning to look like a baked potatoe with toothpicks for legs!

The deep cut on his left hind ankle is healing well. Even though he had a bath and gets groomed a bit (he's still so thin that you need to be careful about how much pressure you use when brushing) his coat is pretty funky. His mane/tale are very fine and his mane get's witches knots in it in the blink of an eye!

He is a bit insecure and buddy bound. When removed from his pen he paces a bit and neighs. He does eventually settle down. I imagine he's lost a few friends along the way. Once he gets healthier and has had a tune up on his ground manners we will see how well he responds under saddle. He will make someone a very good friend and we hope to find a wonderful home for him.

Edison has put on weight. His wounds are healing nicely and instead of raw sores he now has scabbed over areas and bald spots. With all the wounds/scabs on him, he looks like he is spotted! The deep cut on his left hind ankle is healing well. Today I removed the bandage so that the area could get some air. I also put him in the round pen so that he could move around to get some of the swelling/stocking up down in his right ankle. Edison had been wearing a sheet 24/7 to keep him from rubbing off the medication and scabs forming on his wounds. Since it was such a nice day and the wounds are healing so well, I took the sheet off so his skin could breathe.

He is such a nice boy and quite personable. Once he gets healthier and has had a tune up on his ground manners we will see how well he responds under saddle. He will make someone a very good friend and we hope to find a wonderful home for him.

Left Side

Edison saw the farrier today. His feet weren't as long as the others from the "Chino 4". He had abscessed in his left front hoof at some time, but it was pretty dried out. His soles were bruised on all 4, but the soles on his hind feet were the worst. Farrier couldn't figure out how he got the bruising unless it was something like getting tangled up in wood and barbed wire and stepping on the wood. Who knows?

He stood patiently and was a very good boy! Bonnie & Kristy were out and Bonnie cleaned up the puncture wound on his shoulder again, put Animax on all his boo boo's (there are a bunch!), cleaned the bad cut on his right rear ankle that is flayed open, applied Animax/gauze pad/vet wrap. She also put fly boots on the front legs to keep the doggone flies off. The flies aren't out in force yet, but the ones that are sure seem to like Edison.

15-17 yr. old Appendix Gelding picked up 2-11-2011. Injuries all over his body from other horses & barbed wire at the lot. Shoulder injury full of infection, Lft rear injury at/above the ankle flayed open and he has lice. Edison got a bath from Kristy & Bonnie with Microtek shampoo, injuries cleaned and antibiotic ointment/spray applied. Lovely temperment and just a sweet boy. He will be getting lots of attention (as will the others) and care for his injuries.

TIER was made aware of several horses in need located in Chino, CA from a posting on Craigslist. Abby was a concerned person that contacted the Inland Valley Humane Society & SPCA who sent an officer out to investigate. TIER contacted the officer and indicated we could take in 1 or 2 if IVHS needed our help. The horses are thin, being fed corn husks (!!!!), feet are in awful shape and several are being horribly beat up by the stronger horses. It is bad. Thank you for stepping up to make the public and IVHS aware of the plight of these horses Abby.

After speaking to the officer in charge of the case, she indicated that would be issuing a Notice of Intent to Seize, giving the owner 48 hours to provide veterinarian care to the horses that appear to need care. If he is unable to provide that care then they will be seized and given care by IVHS. They are following the State of Californias Penal Code 597.1.

The officer called me back and said if she could get the owner to surrender the horses would I be willing to take a couple. I told YES and we would take the worst ones. She again called, told me the owner would be calling and that he was willing to surrender the horses. Owner called and I told him I would come pick up the horses as soon as I found transport.

I then called Kristy & Bonnie (horse friends extraordinaire) to see if they would be willing to transport in the next few days. They agreed and then I asked Kristy when they could to this she immediately responded Right Now. We were on the road shortly after I hung up.

Upon arrival in Chino, CA the owner had 3 horses separated from the herd. (This is an old Dairy Farm). I glanced at the 3 and asked him which horses the officer wanted him to surrender he pointed to the horses in the alley.

HUGE Thanks to Kristy & Bonnie for making two trips to that hellhole. BIG KUDOS to the officer who worked all day yesterday to help get these poor horses to a safe haven.