18 days follow up on Bart

Bart is continuing to thrive & gain weight! He's becoming more social and accepting of us too! He'll follow me around while I clean his stall....probably thinking I have a treat for him! :) I have a hard time catching him to put a halter on him....he turns his butt to me...so we are working on that. I've been getting him out more for exercise. He has some swelling just above his hind feet either from sitting around too much or having really short feet. I still am having donations come in to help with his care. I continue to be in awe at how generous & compassionate people have been towards Bart! He has no idea how many people have rallied to help him!

I did receive a call back from Animal Control. The last I heard they have been trying to get in contact with the homeowner Bart was seen at. I suggested they take a picture of Bart and interview the neighbors....maybe they can shed some light on how long Bart was at this house.

Special thanks to:
Jennifer
Laurie-5 bags of pellets
Kelli-2 bags of pellets
Sharon
Ginny-donation towards his vet bill
Ms. McEboy
Pippa

1 week follow up on Bart

I've had a few people ask me how I got Bart's name! Since he was found on Barton Rd. I came up with 'Bart'!

Okay so back to the 1 week update! :) He is doing really good! I can see a little weight gain...his ribs don't seem so prominent and his belly looks more full. The weight gain on the back bone, hips & butt will take the longest. He loves to eat and knickers at us everytime we come near him. He even trots around his stall. He's not real social and doesn't really want to be loved on. He just wants his food and to be left alone! ;)

I got some great information of Refeeding a starved horse from a lady who contacted me through the first email I sent out. After reading the article I decided to take away the grain, beet pulp, & carrots that I initially was giving him. All those goodies can cause liver, kidney, & heart failure rather quickly. So for now he is getting several small feedings of soaked alfalfa hay & pellets. In a few weeks I can slowly add back in the goodies.

Above are pictures taken today. I also took some pictures to show the difference of a 'normal' horses hind end compared to Bart's hind end (below). There is soooo much muscle & fat loss there.

Our roan mare (left) Bart (right)

Special thanks to everyone who has donated to Bart!
Dwayne-horse blanket
Tony-pellets, grain, wormer, & carrots
Wade & Michiko
Teri D
Debbie @ Heavenly Acres
Maureen
Georgania
Gina-coupons from Kruse
Allison & Brown
Lea
Don & Libby-carrots & grain
Matt & Kim S
Kim B & Dually
Dad
Mrs. Sullivan

Newest Rescue Horse "Bart"

On 10/5/10 I rescued a horse found roaming free in my neighborhood. Neighbors of mine actually found him (on Barton Rd) and were walking him back to their house. I was driving my son to school when I saw them and stopped to ask what was going on...which I already new the answer too based on his condition...he was dumped off! My neighbors were going to call Animal Control to have him picked up. I was pretty confident that he would be put down based on how skinny he is. So I decided to take him in.

Now I will back track a bit. The neighbors that found him Tuesday morning actually had seen him at a home in our neighborhood while they were on a trail ride. When I initially approached my neighbors on the street there was another man on horseback there, persumabley from this house in question. He stated he had 'found' this horse the day before and either had called or was going to call Animal Control. Once I said I would take him he left and I didn't think anything of it. When my neighbors got back to my house with "Bart" they told me they had seen this horse the night before and think he was set free on purpose. They think someone at the house saw them looking over the fence at "Bart" and decided they better get rid of him. There are other horses & small animals at this house. My neighbors said the horses were skinny but not as skinny as Bart and she would be calling animal control about what they saw and what happened to Bart. I also have a call into Animal Control.

Once I got Bart settled in a stall I offered him hay and he immediately started eating. Later that day I offered him apples and he loved those too. I had the vet out the same day I got him, Oct. 5. He did a overall health check and said despite being so skinny he is healthy. He has a heart murmur but felt it was from lack of nutrition and would most likely resolve as he gains weight.
The vet estimates his age between 25-27! He does need his teeth floated but I will wait till he gains some weight & strength. Normal temp, good gut sounds, pooping & urinating, good appetite, feet are in decent shape, pretty flexible for his age & condition.....his recovering looks very promising!!! :)

I sent out a mass e-mail Tuesday night asking for donations for his vet & feed expenses. The response has been awesome! I have received so many e-mails with offers to donate money & food, mostly from people I don't even know! I'm so touched at the generosity that has been shown so far! My husband clients' have been equally generous as well as my family, friends, & neighbors...THANK YOU!!!!

Today has been Day 2 of Bart's arrival and he continues to thrive! He seems like a sweet old guy! He constantly wants to eat and knickers every time we check on him! It's so tempting to just load him up with hay & grain but I know we need to introduce food slowly so we don't run into any problems like colic!

Here are pictures of him currently....soooo sad, I know! :( This is not how a horse of his age should be treated!

I will update weekly with pictures to show his progress. Stay tuned...........