Rosemary and Blue napping in the sun

photo taken by Denise Koons

The herd enjoying spring greens

at our Sharpsteen pasture.

photo taken by Denise Berghorn

Koda and Raven in green pasture

photo taken by Valerie Jespersen-Wheat

While it's tough to imagine that it was ever cold and wet after a recent streak of soaring temperatures, spring at Sunrise was characteristic in that if you didn't like the weather, you only had to wait 20 minutes! Bright blue skies were often interrupted by scattered showers meaning our volunteers continued to be on hoof-watch. Muddy paddocks, while unavoidable, can lead to a host of hoof issues such as thrush, scratches, abscesses, and more. It is crucial to treat these conditions as soon as they appear, and our team of volunteers made sure our herd received timely care.

This spring, between March 21 and June 21, we received a combined 38 requests for assistance through our Horse In Need program. These requests ranged from help with feed and veterinary care to rehoming assistance. In addition to individual requests, we were also involved in a larger complex case, the closure of a prominent riding stable, resulting in the need for over 10 horses to be rehomed. While cases of horrific abuse seem to proliferate the rescue narrative, and are indeed out there, a majority of the requests we receive are owners who love their animals and have simply fallen on hard times. We meet each request with compassion and without judgement.  

In May, we were able to bring in two new horses from Ukiah. After coming under Sunrise's care, Mirage and Adonis spent a couple of months in a foster home getting some much needed specialized treatment. They will be joining our herd at our Tubbs Ln. location soon. You can read more about their story below.

Also in May, we held our first Connected Horse™ session of the year. Two of our wonderful volunteers, Sharon Hedlund and Amy DeGrote, spent a weekend in Nevada, along with our Co-President Mary Taylor, getting trained as Connected Horse™ facilitators. This program helps people living with memory loss or dementia and their care partners feel relaxed, confident, and happy. Time spent with our herd helps to maintain quality of life and gain relief from isolation, stress and loss of connection. We have announced dates for our autumn session, which you can find below.

In June, our Programs Manager Lindsay Merget hosted a group from UpValley Family Centers. Conversaciones con Los Abuelos, a latino men's group that meets twice a month in Calistoga and is facilitated by Elena Mendez, visited our Tubbs Ln. property and spent the afternoon getting to know Rosemary and Blue. Both horses loved being showered with attention and were even quite literally "showered" (okay, sponged down) by the participants to help keep cool during the hot afternoon! Thank you to our volunteer, Theresa Banghart, who assisted with translating.

Spring was a glorious thing and while we'll miss the vibrant wildflowers, lush green grass, and rain-scented air, we embrace the sunny days and long summer evenings ahead!

Adonis on February 19

Mirage on February 19

Adonis and Mirage on May 18

Mirage and Adonis were residing at a riding stable in Northern California when their young owner faced financial difficulties and could no longer afford their boarding. When we learned of them, they were underweight and had been at the stables for several months. Despite receiving large portions of hay, Mirage and Adonis were not gaining weight. At that point, we began paying their board, provided vet and farrier visits, and ordered sacks of the grain that were recommended by the veterinarian to supplement their hay.

Sunrise also provided blankets to help them stay warm during a particularly cold and wet winter. The whole barn community at the stables joined together to provide three feedings a day, as well as and grooming and care. The horses began to gain weight with the new feeding regimen, but they still had a long way to go and a significant amount of veterinary care to catch up on. 

When a foster home became available in Napa, Mirage and Adonis were welcomed into the Sunrise family and transferred there. During their time in foster care, Mirage's health issues became more evident, including episodes of colic caused by sand accumulation in her large intestine from consuming dirt in search of food. Adonis faced dental and urinary issues, both of which are currently being treated. Despite these health challenges, both horses have made significant progress since arriving at the foster home in early May. They have gained weight and are now close to their ideal weight, displaying bright, friendly, and well-behaved demeanors.

As their stay with their dedicated foster carers, who have lovingly nurtured them through many health challenges, draws to a close, we are thrilled to welcome Mirage and Adonis to our Calistoga facility. We eagerly anticipate their arrival and are excited to have them join our herd of horses and humans at Sunrise!

Frances P. Fitzgibbons

and a Legacy of Equine Stewardship

Frances P. Fitzgibbons with Hank, a Sunrise Horse Rescue resident.

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Emergency Preparedness Guidance from

Are you and your animals prepared for evacuation?

Does your family’s emergency plan include your animals? Planning and preparation are critical when it comes to protecting the health of your family, pets and livestock. Napa CART has lists of recommended items for your Pet and Home Emergency Kits.

Resources

• Sign up for the NIXLE ALERTS advisory system. You will then get warnings of possible incidents in your area. For details and to download the app powered by Everbridge, click HERE.
• Review and download the Napa CART Emergency Preparedness Checklists. Download the AVMA Saving the Whole Family Booklet that includes detailed information on assembling emergency kits and plans for a wide variety of animal species.
• Complete a Pet Identification Sheet for each pet and attach a recent picture of you and them. Download the completed sheet and place it in a laminated sleeve. Pull the sheet out on a Red Flag Day and post in a visible spot near your pet food storage area. If you are unable to return to your pets, this sheet will provide a road map for care.
• Review the Checklists for your, your family and your animals. There is nothing mandatory about them, but they are the product of experiences from many wildfire incidents. Most first responders and Napa CART volunteers have a “Go Bag”. Do you?
• Know in advance what you are going to do with your animals and yourself. Trying to figure it out during an emergency is wasting valuable time and often results in poor decisions.
• Follow Napa CART facebook page and website for current information and resources during a disaster.

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In Memoriam

When Jake arrived at Sunrise in May of 2023, it was clear that he had been living with equine laminitis, an inflammation of the inner part of the hoof, for quite some time. He was foot sore and his hooves had the shape characteristic of chronic laminitis. Even with proper nutrition, frequent veterinary visits, and x-ray guided farrier care, Jake continued to struggle with this painful condition. Jake needed special boots to cushion his sore hooves, as well as many other interventions. He would have moments of progress, where he seemed to be in less pain, only to relapse a short time later.

On those bright days where Jake appeared to be rounding a corner, his cheeky and curious personality would come out in full force. We were so lucky to get to see that side of him, even if it was only in glimpses. When it became apparent that Jake would not make a recovery from laminitis, and was requiring increasingly stronger pain medication in higher doses, we made the difficult but humane decision to say goodbye.

Jake passed peacefully with Sunrise volunteers and staff by his side. We appreciate all of the donors who contributed to supporting Jake’s care. We take comfort that he knew love, kindness, and compassion in the final year of his life.

If you would like to make

a donation in Jake's memory, you can do so HERE.

Questions, comments, or suggestions for our newsletter? Share your thoughts by emailing vanessa@sunrisehorserescue.org