Inyokern Horses
12 Arabians rescued from a sanctuary in Olancha, CA

Update 4/10/2008 - Vet Report:
Dr. Ellsworth from Tehachapi was arrived on April 10, 2008 to evaluate the rescued horses.  Each horse was presented, teeth checked and evaluated for points and age determination, gums were inspected for healing ulcers, heart checked, gut checked for sand, bodies were evaluated for starvation and dermatitis. Per his instructions, they are to be wormed with Strongid followed with an Ivermectin in three months, vaccinated with a five-way vaccine and a West Nile vaccine. Several melanomas were detected in the exam. Each mare that wasn’t currently in season was palpated and checked for being in foal.    He then had each horse trotted out and evaluated for soundness.  His exams were very thorough.

Corrida (mare) is twenty-five as her papers state.  She has mild points on her teeth and showed several healed ulcers from the foxtails.  Dr. Ellsworth said that these would continue to heal and should not be a problem for her. She didn’t have sand in her gut and her heart sounded good.  She has a melanoma on her lower lip and moderate melanomas on her anus.  She is not in foal as she was in season at the time of the exam.  While she is the thinnest one of the herd, Dr. Ellsworth said that she would be o.k. to travel if she is given plenty of rest stops and the trip was made slowly.  She trotted out sound and when she has put on about 150-200 pounds he said she might be able to be ridden.  She has lost a lot of muscle mass which may or may not rebuild itself.

Apollo (gelding) is twenty-five as a copy of his papers state.  He has mild points on his teeth and has several healed ulcers from the foxtails.  He didn’t have any sand in gut and his heart sounded good.  He is the second thinnest of the herd.  Apollo trotted out showing major arthritis in his left hind.  While he is sound, Dr. Ellsworth said not to place him in a home where he might be jumped.  It would not be good for Apollo to have that kind of stress on his hind leg.  When he has put on 100-150 pounds he may be ridden.

Sara (mare) is thirteen according to Dr. Ellsworth exam.  She has mild points on her teeth and she had healed ulcers from the foxtails.  She is in foal and due in the fall, late September or early October.  Dr. Ellsworth recommended Capers Broodmare Supplement beginning with a couple of pounds the first week and working up to five pounds until foaling.  She is not to be given rice bran.  She needs a rhino vaccine every two months and in August a five-way vaccine and West Nile vaccine.  She has moderate fungus and needs to be treated with Paraguard shampoo or another good anti-fungal, anti-ringworm shampoo.  She trotted out sound and when she has another 100-150 pounds she may be ridden.  This probably won’t happen until after she has foaled and possibly not until the baby is weaned.  She is the third thinnest of the herd and she is feeding a baby.

Beauty (mare) is fourteen according to Dr. Ellsworth’s exam.  Her teeth were o.k. and the ulcers from the foxtails had healed.  She didn’t have sand in her gut and her heart sounded good.  She is not in foal as she was in season at the time of the exam. Beauty has severe dermatitis and needs to be treated with Paraguard shampoo or another good anti-fungal, anti-ringworm shampoo.  She trotted out sound and when she has another 100-150 pounds she may be ridden. 

Symphony (mare) is ten according to Dr. Ellsworth’s exam.  Her teeth were o.k. and the ulcers from the foxtails had healed.  She didn’t have sand in her gut and her heart sounded good.  She was palpated and found not in foal.  Dr. Ellsworth said that Symphony is very wobbly with something going on in her spine when she was trotted out.  He said she is not a riding horse.

Boo’s Patriot (gelding) is fifteen according to Dr. Ellsworth’s exam. His teeth were o.k. and the ulcers from the foxtails had healed.  He didn’t have any sand in gut and his heart sounded good.  Boo’s Patriot needs to gain about fifty pounds and he trotted out sound.

Samm (mare) is nineteen as her papers state.  She has mild points on her teeth.  She didn’t have sand in her gut and her heart sounded good.  She was palpated and found not in foal.  Samm has a possible melanoma on her left shoulder and small melanomas on her anus.  Samm needs to gain about fifty pounds and she trotted out sound.

It was explained to Dr. Ellsworth that these horses were “zombies” two weeks prior when they were loaded in the trailer for the trip out of Free Spirit Arabians “Sanctuary”.  He nodded without smiling and said “You’ve done an excellent job stabilizing them!”  “Good luck!”  Dr. Ellsworth is a man of very few words and this was a very grave situation.  His assistant talked more during the exams than Dr. Ellsworth.  She just asked where the horses came from and who would do such a thing.  Both Dr. Ellsworth and his assistant were shocked at the condition of the rescued horses.

The vet said that each rescue horse needed between 100#--200# of added weight, shots and farrier work.  We desperately need funding for hay and supplements, farrier work and vaccines!  Thanks to the generosity of several caring people, the vet bill has been paid, a month supply of hay & pellets has been purchased, a donation of supplements from Caron at Blueridge Distribution,  and a discount on the purchase of Pawier vitamins, these starving horses have just begun their rehabilitation.  Pellets and hay are needed to continue to help these horses recover from their neglect/abuse as the current supply is dwindling fast!  They are still in need of your help!

Click here to read past posts about the Inyokern Horses