Greetings!
On December 19th last year, we drove up to Albuquerque to get Pepper! He has been here in Sanctuary for one year now. Gosh, time flies!
It was bitter cold then. We took Bodhi up in the two-horse trailer to be a babysitter for the ride home. Pepper was a baby with a (healed) broken leg. We knew Bodhi would add a calming energy for the ride home.
Bodhi wore a blanket, it was 17 degrees when we left in the wee hours. We put a thermometer in the trailer and a video camera, both linked to Mark's cell phone. It took a while to load Pepper; Bodhi had to stay on the trailer, but he rested and munched hay.
Body heat had warmed the trailer, so Mark removed Bodhi's blanket and we started home. It was an easy trip back to Dharmahorse - stopping often to offer warmed water to the horses and just check on them.
We had to Quarantine Bodhi with Pepper, but it was so amazing - Bodhi took over as the colt's "Mum" and after a year, he has raised the little one!
Pepper now lives with the herd on the Track System.
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Sadly, we lost LungTa on November 25th.
We valiantly fought his kidney disorder for three months - day and night. He had more good days than bad ones. He got to just wander the yard and visit with his herd each day. He lived in the Infirmary Barn.
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In July, we lost Joe. He was 30 years old this year and had injured his hip... we worked with him for 30 days to try and heal the damage, but at his age, it was kindest to let him pass gently by euthanasia. He knew amazing love while he was here.
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Because we take in so many very elderly and special needs horses, we know that they will be crossing the Rainbow Bridge eventually. Our goal is to make their lives as wonderful as possible while they are with us! |
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A Winter Mash Recipe
We rely on mashes to keep all the horses healthy here. In summer, we soak them with cold water and add herbs that support them in the hot weather.
In winter, we soak the mashes with hot water and make them with herbs and supplements for good health in cold weather.
The Winter wheat bran mash:
For each full-size horse, we use a 2-quart scoop of wheat bran
Additions:
- One cup black oil sunflower seeds for Vitamin E
- One half cup flaxseed meal for Omaga 3's - lung, heart, skin and hoof health
- One tablespoon Echinacea leaf for immune boosting
- One heaping tablespoon ground anise seed - lung and digestive health
- One tablespoon ground cinnamon for blood sugar, digestion and eye health
- One measure probiotics
- One half cup psyllium seed powder (removes sand from gut)
- One teaspoon kelp powder for needed iodine and micro-nutrients
- One tablespoon mineralized salt to keep them drinking water
The horses at our smaller yard get Crypto Aero+ supplement. They are elderly and/or the most special needs.
We mix our own supplement for the main herd. It is made with magnesium, Vitamin B1 (riboflavin), fenugreek seed, rosehips, hawthorn berry, slippery elm bark, turmeric, cleavers and ashwagandha - all ground for consistency.
We have valerian root to cook into syrup for calming on holidays with fireworks! We keep senna pods to soak and use the liquid for peristalsis (gets the gut moving).
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Speaking of fireworks (New Year's Eve is approaching!) and calming horses - we play "Equine Relax Trax" on our sound system for any stressful times. We find that it really does work! We downloaded it here.
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The low hanging winter sun creates gorgeous skies! |
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Here, the herd wanders and eats their evening meal which includes heaps of grass hay to last all night - providing warmth through digestion of fiber and the "grazing" effect that is natural for horses. |
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I wish I could capture how stunning the morning "moon set" really is! |
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As I write this, the sun is setting. We are making mashes for the horses at both stable yards. We had hooves trimmed this morning for the more "difficult" equines. Willow and Peanut came with severely neglected hooves, but now, you wouldn't know it!
We had dental exams and work done on the last three horses (and mule) of the year last week. So, for 2022, everyone (but Pumpkin, we have to not brutalize her to get it done and she is chewing just fine) has had their teeth attended to. Everyone has had their last hoof trimming for the year (we trim every 6 to 8 weeks). It feels good to end the year with so much accomplished for these equines.
And we could not do it without the wonderful team we have of skilled helpers, donors and professionals! Thank you, everyone who helps us help these horses!
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We had an interview with KRWG radio |
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The local PBS station came out and met the horses, spoke with us about our mission and daily life here.
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We had four new intakes this year |
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It was the "year of the mini's"! |
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Two miniature Molly Mules who were "at risk", arrived here on October 29th. Willow is an "in your pocket" kind of gal, Pumpkin is feral!
See them here on a cold winter morning!
Peanut!
We picked Peanut up in scorching summer heat, spreading bags of ice on the horse trailer floor to keep him cool riding home. You just never know what you will face when hauling and the horse's comfort is a priority.
Little Peanut has gained confidence and health with us. He is, as predicted, a great gelding now. He arrived July 15th as a stallion with hooves curled up to his knees. We immediately trimmed his hooves (he is sound!) and gelded him. Now he is thriving with regular care, schooling (with an amazing lady) and supplements.
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Murray
The Appaloosa came to Sanctuary May 21st, 2022.
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We did have an unfortunate glitch with our Facebook page. We plan to have a brand-new social media presence the first of the year. Watch for a link on our website when we get it sorted out. If you have been following us and wonder where we went, this explains it - More Here
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Sage is still doing great with no incisors!
With molars to chew his feed, Sage is doing just fine - it was a rough few months after his dental surgery, but he healed up beautifully and is back in the herd, playing like a colt with Pepper! Sage is happy.
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In keeping with our focus upon Educational Outreach, we have three new pages on the website.
Educational Modules have care and handling information.
We gathered some of Katharine's Articles from Horse Magazines.
Newest Additions:
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.
With winter arriving, we will be feeding heaps more hay to keep everyone warm! If you want to help a 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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If you can help us with funds to provide the special care these individuals need we would be so grateful. Some were abandoned, starving and blind; some were declared hopeless and heading for euthanasia or slaughter; some were brutalized; some orphaned and injured; some were cherished by owners who passed over or became ill or injured. Each horse needed to be in Sanctuary and we took them in as family.
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.
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We also have a WISH LIST at Chewy!
The Feed Products on the list are SO needed and appreciated!
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We use herbal supplements (of our own making) to support the good health of all the horses here.
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Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
The flowers are used, mostly, and Yarrow is an important healer for our horses, our dogs and for us, too.
Reputedly used to treat wounds during the Trojan wars, it's Latin name is derived from the Greek hero, Achilles. I have used it as an infusion to drench (dose horses orally) my horses when the barn where they boarded was overcome by a severe respiratory tract infection. My geldings were the only horses not on antibiotics and they recovered first. A strong tea brewed from the flowers was used many times per day and I actually bathed their bodies with the "tea" and covered them with anti-sweat coolers to break their fevers. On this occasion, I added colloidal silver to their drenches, as well.
Yarrow tea is a profound healer of colds and flu in humans (boneset herb is added for flu to reduce aches and pain). Yarrow steam from a pot of boiled water can be inhaled to break up mucus. Yarrow blossom infusions are used orally after giving birth to slow the bleeding. It is styptic in its actions externally as well. DURING PREGNANCY, Yarrow is contraindicated!!!
Yarrow infusion can be used as an ear lotion for dogs. If your dog has external allergies, avoid Yarrow as it might cause a reaction.
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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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