Friday, December 31, 2010

December 25th-28th

Sorry for the combined post, but it's been quite peaceful at the rescue this week, since everyone was busy with their families and the holidays. The regular crowd was out to see their horses: Sam, Katie, Lynn, Kassi, Becca, and Joey, but we have welcomed a number of new volunteers over the last few weeks. A new volunteer, Michelle has been an enormous help so far--bringing bags of equine senior, mucking stalls, and, of course, feeding the horses lots of carrots. Welcome, Michelle!

Sue is doing much better. Her foot is healing nicely. Dr. Rosario made a barn call to see Lynn's horse, Gracie. Gracie was acting lame, but the vet determined it might actually be something going on with her back rather than her legs. On a similar note, Kassi and Michelle noticed Hope standing alone in the big field, shivering. On the 28th, the weather had taken a turn for the worse. Cold, steady rain made most of the horses head inside for shelter. But Kassi and Michelle noticed Hope was having trouble walking, like her muscles were tying up. Because Hope can be difficult to catch, Becca and Joey hurried to Eagle Creek to catch her and get her inside for a thorough inspection. At first, Hope didn't want to be caught at all. But after some carrot bribes, she relented. Becca was able to halter her and bring her inside the arena.

Hope was shivering, and after being towel-dryed and covered in a fleecy cooler sheet, walked around the arena. She did seem to be almost goose-stepping, or like she had mild stringhalt. Hope started moving normally once she was given some hay to eat. Eating hay can help a cold horse get warm again. The internal heat generated from all that chewing will warm them up. Since the weather was so terrible, and Jim had fed hay in the barn instead of the pasture, it's possible she just got pushed out into the rain. Hope seemed much happier to have all the attention and food to herself. Everyone was so busy with the holidays that there hasn't been much riding going on, so Hope got to spend the night in the arena (none of the stalled horses were that receptive to having a new roommate!). Buddy got to spend the night in the arena with Hope, to keep her company. They are quite cordial to each other (and Becca hopes that they will become best friends so that she can take both out at once!), and seemed to enjoy each other's company and the dry arena.
The next day, Becca and Joey came out early to check on Hope, and to see if she possibly needed vet attention. Upon arrival, they were happy to note that Hope was definitely dry and in much better spirits after spending a luxurious night in the arena. Sam palpated Hope's hooves for abcesses and found nothing. Hope's legs weren't hot to the touch or swollen, but she did have sore points on her back and withers. Sam came to the conclusion that perhaps Hope had slipped in the pasture and was pretty achy and brusied. Combined with the freezing rain and getting kicked out of the barn during dinner, well, she wasn't feeling great. Horses like Natasha, Caroline, and Dallas were all ready to leave their stalls and go back outside, so Hope got to move indoors for stall rest. Everyone will be keeping an eye on her. Hopefully the stall rest will do the trick. If not, Hope will be seeing Dr. Rosario for a check-up.

In other news, Dakota was adopted this week! She'll be living in St. Helens. Dakota, for those of you who don't know her, is a dark bay mare and a granddaughter of Seattle Slew. She has gone through some training, but needed a special person of her own. Congratulations to Dakota and her new owner! We wish you all the best of luck!

More updates tomorrow, but we'll close this blog with pictures of feeding time at the rescue We hope everyone had an excellent Christmas, and Happy New Year!
Thanks for following our updates!

Maverick? (sometimes it's hard to tell the bays apart!)



Shannon
Peanut Butter Boy is first in line today!

Sunday, December 26, 2010

December 23rd and 24th





This is a video of the four fillies. It was shot sometime after their arrival at Hytyme, but before volunteers really began to work with the fillies. One of our philosophies is that rescued horses need as much time as necessary to relax and decompress. They also need time to learn to trust humans again. Since they were malnourished and unhandled babies, they took a very long time to warm up to the volunteers at the rescue. Also, all four had gone through strangles, which is a painful equine distemper. Strangles can cause sores around the jaw, so it's possible that these babies only associated people with pain.

As a reminder, the one with the big, white blaze is Izzy. The roan is Abby. The smallest one (you can see how big her head is compared to her body--this is a sign of stunted growth from starvation) is Boss. The dark bay/almost black filly is Velvet.

But, as promised, here are the updates on these four:

Abby: Several volunteer trainers started Abby's training using Natural Horsemanship methods. Abby was quite responsive, but didn't really come out of her shell until she met Jodene, her fabulous owner (and our webpage designer!). Jodene now takes lessons with Kassi. This fall, Jodene had her first ride on Abby! It's wonderful to see how a fearful horse can grow into a happy companion and riding partner. Congratulations to Jodene and Abby!
Boss:
Although Boss's growth is definitely stunted, and it's possible she may have vision issues, she is doing well at the rescue. A high school girl has taken on Boss as her senior project, and works with her on a regular basis. As a result, Boss is much more socialized. Although she is not a horse that will willingly approach a person, she tolerates attention and seems to be maturing enough to feel comfortable around the volunteers. She is very petite, and will probably never get much bigger. The other fillies have filled out considerably, but Boss remains small. Regardless, everyone will continue to help Boss with her fear and trust issues and make sure that she lives a happy, comfortable life.
[image]

Velvet:
Of the four fillies, Velvet was the easiest to approach and work with. Several volunteers made her their project horse at one point or another, and she was considered for adoption a number of times. In 2008, she was adopted, but her owner decided that Velvet had too many deep-rooted fear issues, and she wasn't capable of continuing the training she needed. Velvet was returned to the rescue in 2010, and our volunteer Alex began to work with her. Over the summer, Velvet's confidence increased with Alex's patient training methods. Velvet is currently available for adoption again:

Izzy:
Izzy was adopted by Tammy, a volunteer who specialized in Parelli Natural Horsemanship training methods. Izzy is working through all of her flighty fear issues and will become a demo horse for Tammy when she does clinics. According to Tammy, Izzy is a smart, athletic, and beautiful mare! Congratulations to Tammy and Izzy! We wish you all the best of luck.


 It's also possible that Hope, a Quarter Horse mare rescued from the feedlot and then adopted by Becca in 2008, is Izzy's mother. Hope and the four fillies were dumped at the feedlot by the same Eastern Washington Quarter Horse farm.  Here's a picture of Hope for comparison. See what you think:
[image]


In other news, Kassi and her friend rode Lyric and Chino around the trails today, since the weather was as perfect as possible during a northern Oregon winter. David, one of the vets from Eagle Fern, checked out Sue's hurt foot. He found an abcess at the front end of her hoof. He dug it out and drained it, then bandaged her giant hoof and gave her a tetnaus shot. Everyone was worried about Sue, but on Christmas Eve, Kassi noticed that she was walking almost normally. Thanks to David, Sue had a good Christmas. All the horses are out on the pasture, since the mud by the barns is getting a bit deep.

We hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed time with their families!

Friday, December 24, 2010

December 21st and 22nd

These last few days have been pretty calm at the rescue. Everyone is gearing up for the holidays. Jim spent part of his day Christmas shopping, and the barn was mostly empty except for Sam and Katie. Sam mucked out the stalls in the morning, and Katie arrived in the afternoon. The horses were all in good moods today. The only problem of the day was trying to figure out a way to soak Sue's foot so it can heal. A clydesdale foot is really large--practically the size of a plate!

Wednesday was a little bit more exciting. Jim ran some errands and picked up the frontloader pins needed to fix the tractor. Without the tractor, it would be impossible to get the bales of hay to the horses in the field. Luckily, Jim was able to fix the tractor--for only about $60! He fed the horses and scooped up the manure piles to be spread. Also, he was able to drag the arena so all the sand is nicely groomed.

Here's a bit of a blast from the past:

The four fillies were adopted from the feedlot in February 2006. Volunteers from that era knew Velvet, Abby, Izzy, and Boss as scared babies who had suffered malnutrition and neglect even before being dumped at the feedlot in Yakima. Volunteers were also horrified to realize that these young horses were bound for slaughter, even in their emaciated conditions. Before Jim and Sherry drove to Yakima to pick them up, the smallest filly, Boss, had gotten stuck in some deep mud at the feedlot. The feedlot owner had to use a tractor to pull her out.

In the following years, the fillies became a fixture at the rescue. Some volunteers were able to work with Velvet, the most approachable of the four. Velvet was also the easiest to catch, since Izzy, Abby, and Boss were more wired for flight. Boss was an especially sad case. She stopped growing, most likely as a result of her starvation. The other fillies began to fill out, but all retained their fear of people.

Here are pictures of the fillies after their arrival in 2006:


Abby (roan), Boss, Izzy

Abby, Velvet


Boss, Abby, Izzy
Next post: an update on the four fillies!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

December 20th, 2010

Kassi was working out in the field with Whoops and Scout and noticed Sue was limping. Sue is an older Clydesdale mare. She was sore on her right rear leg, and it was hard to tell what the cause of her pain was. We decided it might be her foot, so we brought her inside. Chuck was at the barn to trim hooves, so he took a look at Sue's feet. He trimmed some of her hoof, and then we decided to put a  medicine boot on. We tried the biggest size possible-3X!-but it still didn't fit her giant hoof.  She did seem to be moving a lot better after her trim, so we'll just have to watch her closely and try to find the right size boot.

Whoops and Jaqueline decided to play with Chuck's hair and equipment this whole time. They helped a lot.

Also, Coal is wearing a thick new winter blanket. He's one of our oldest equine residents, so it's important to keep him dry, well-fed, and happy during the winter. He always trots up to the fence for food. He was a jumping pony in his younger years, and before he came to the rescue, he had owners who dyed him black so that no one could see all his grey fur and know how old he is. Even though they might not have appreciated Coal very much, we sure do. He is a real character!

December 19th, 2010

We had to say goodbye to two wonderful friends today. Although we're going to miss them, everyone at Hytyme is happy that Reba and Mac have been adopted into new homes. We know they'll make excellent best friends for their new people.

Mac came to the rescue in 2007. He was very reactive toward horses and people. He was agressive in the field, and he was also unpredictable because of his abusive past. However, once the volunteers learned that Mac had a broken nose and was in pain and got him the necessary surgery and vet attention, and Mac learned that he was safe and cared for at Hytyme, he blossomed into the perfect gentleman he is today. Once Mac found a job at Hytyme, and volunteers started working with him again, he really flourished. He went camping near Bend with the Hytyme crew, and helped bring horses in from the field as a "pasture taxi", and gave rides to many people all over the property. He was one of the herd leaders in the field, but was good friends with Buddy, the other dominant horse in the pasture. They worked as a team to boss everyone around.


Today, a family from Culver, Oregon, came to pick up Mac. They wanted Mac for their ten-year-old son, Jordan. They drove all the way from Eastern Oregon to meet Mac and try him out in the arena to see if he was a good fit for their family. The bed of their truck and the top of their trailer were covered in snow.


It's a long, snowy drive!
 Mac showed them how much he liked people and how well trained he was, so his new family decided to take him home. Although we'll miss Mac very, very much, we couldn't ask for a better home for him. He is one cool dude, and we know he'll make Jordan and his new family extremely happy. He'll have a wonderful home with his new people. Can't ask for anything more than that! So, good luck, Mac and Jordan!



Another good horse is also leaving. Reba, our red roan Mustang, has been adopted, too. She'll be going to the Oregon Coast to live with a woman who specializes in training Mustangs. When Reba is ready, she'll be a 4-H horse for her new owner's granddaughter. Reba had a big smile on her face while she met her new people. Her big, kind eyes were gleaming.

December 18th, 2010

During the warmer (and drier!) months, Saturdays are busy at the rescue. In the winter, though, they can be quiet. Today was a quiet but good day at the barn. It was dry, and the horses were all in good moods. They really like this weather. Katie, Lynn, and Sam were out riding their horses. Sam was wearing jingle bells on her saddle--they helped to desensetize Lily to unfamiliar noises, and they made the arena nicely festive for the holiday season!

Chuck trimmed some hooves today--Lily, Hope, Buddy, and Lyric. Chuck commented on how thick Buddy's hoof walls were, which is a good thing, especially considering the damp and muddy conditions around these parts. Everyone did very well with their feet. Lyric had tripped with Kassi aboard a few days before. Both weren't hurt, just a bit bruised. One of Lyric's rear feet was too long, which was causing her to trip. After trimming her feet, Chuck watched to see how she moved on the longe line. She wasn't stumbling at all!

Lyric is one of those horses worth her weight in gold. She's a big appaloosa, and although she doesn't care much for other horses, she loves people. She takes excellent care of the kids who ride her for lessons. She is a permanent resident of Hytyme Equine Rescue.



Becca also worked with Maverick today. He has a club foot, which seems to throw him off balance a bit on the longe line. He moves just fine, though, when not travelling in a small circle. They worked on walk and trot commands today, and he was very receptive to the lesson. Maverick is a 4 year old Morgan gelding who really seems to enjoy learning new things. He waits by the gate (often not so patiently!) for his human friends to give him some attention. Maverick will be a fantastic horse for someone.



Maverick

Special thanks to Lisa and Rachael for cleaning stalls today!

Dallas!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

December 17th, 2010

Dallas is one of our long-time residents, having been rescued from the feedlot five years ago. Dallas and Dreamer were together on the Yakima feedlot, very closely bonded mares. When Jim and Sherry loaded Dallas into the trailer, they were incredibly saddened to see her so upset at losing her companion. Dreamer limped along the fenceline, also distraught. So, they saved Dreamer as well. Both horses have been enjoying life at Hytyme ever since. Each mare arrived with her own foot problems, but pasture time and farrier care have helped Dallas and Dreamer enjoy their five years at Hytyme.

Dallas has always had foot problems. Farriers and vets have suspected ringbone. However, she has been improving since Chuck started trimming her hooves. Two months ago, she could barely put weight on her front feet. We were giving her bute, but she still seemed very uncomfortable. At about 3:30 today, Jim was feeding the horses in the second barn. He put their hay outside, since it was another sunny day. For the first time in a long while, Dallas was outside waiting for her dinner.

Here's what she did:


It was a really busy day at the barn as well--Kassi, Sam, Katie, Becca, Julie, Lisa, Kim, Brooke and Brooke's friend worked with the horses. A number of horses cycled through the arena. Amigo went home today--after 2 hours of coaxing him into the trailer! In five years, Jim has loaded hundreds of horses. He's able to get them into the trailer without pulling on the leadrope. To get Amigo inside, he used the same trick he used with Shanu, a horse with little handling or trailer experience. He used panels to build smaller and smaller pens behind the doors of the trailer. Some horses are hesitant to walk into a small dark space, so by squeezing them in through a makeshift chute, they are able to walk into the trailer on their own terms.

All in all, it was a beautiful day at the rescue:



Vanilla Bean


Buddy (with Mt. Hood in the background!)




Reba
 

December 16th, 2010

Another sunny winter day! The horses spent much of the day sunbathing, since sunshine is a rarity around these parts this time of year. There was a cold wind, though, and by late afternoon, the clouds had returned. Even with the upcoming rain, our plentiful mud had a chance to dry up a bit.

Our vet, Dr. Shakyra Rosario, from Eagle Fern Equine Hospital (http://www.eaglefernequine.com/) delivered a calendar and homemade horse treats to the barn. The calendar is hanging up in the first barn, and the horses are definitely enjoying the snacks.

Katie, Kassi, and Sam were out today to work with their horses. Kassi discovered that Natasha, a black Arabian mare, is quite well-trained and will make an excellent lesson horse. Natasha is actually a bit of a celebrity. Well, sort of. Her mother was one of the horses to play the cinematic version of The Black Stallion. Pretty neat!

A note from Jim:
A little advice to other rescues during the fall and winter months.  Most of you probably know this already, but we have found on the average, for every extra dollar you spend on feed, you save two dollars in vet bills. If you keep the horses a little fat in the winter, it saves you money in the long run.  Besides that, rolling two of those big round bales out every day keeps you in pretty good shape, too.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

December 15th, 2010

Today was an uneventful day. Katie worked her horses, fed, watered, and cleaned stalls. Her horses, Story and Charm, are National Show Horses. They're brother and sister, but have completely different personalities. It's obvious how much Katie cares for her horses, and it's always fun to talk with her. She's a wonderful presence at the barn.

According to the weather forecast, Friday is supposed to be sunny. The horses will definitely enjoy having a day to dry out. Soon, everyone will be moved off the big pasture. That way, it will be able to grow in the next few months and be ready for spring grazing.

Buddy, Sky, Chino and friends enjoy their dinner

We hope everyone is having a great holiday season! It's hard to believe Christmas is only ten days away, and that on December 21st, the days will start getting longer. The daffodils will start coming up in January, and the pasture will start to grow.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

December 14th, 2010

Chuck, our farrier, trimmed six horses today. He specializes in natural hoof care (http://www.runningbarehoofcare.com/) and has done a fabulous job with some of our most difficult feet. Dunny, for instance, could hardly walk when he arrived at Hytyme, and now he's able to run and play with the rest of the herd.  Dallas had major foot pain, but she is improving with Chuck's help. Also, Chuck is working with Maverick, who has a club foot. Sam helped hold horses while they had their hooves trimmed, as did Lisa, a new volunteer.

A note from Jim:

We are very similar to other people, businesses,  establishments, etc.  This economy has taken its toll on many of you and us here at Hytyme .  Sometimes it is really depressing to keep this thing going, but there is one sure cure, and it would work for you, too.  Every evening just before dusk I go out and feed the horses in the two big fields.  A big 650 pound round bale all rolled out and ready for them.  Rolled out, its about 150 feet long so the horses are kind of spread in a line eating.  I turn off the tractor and go talk to the horses.  They can't understand what I'm saying but I know they like me and appreciate what we've done for them.  Wish I was better with words.  The feeling is kind of spiritual.  Have had that feeling since we started this rescue over five years ago.  It makes me feel better and gets me ready for the next day.  After feeding there is always a smile on my face, and I normally have a good story to tell from my feeding experience.  Today, Peanut Butter Boy was walking right behind me as I was rolling the hay out.  His nose was actually against my back, but he wasn't pushing.  Kind of cool.  If things are down for you and you want to feel better show up here around 3:30 pm and I'll give you a free tractor ride and let you meet about 45 individuals who can help you.  One thing for sure, you will have a smile on your face when you leave.

One other note.  Justin, the owner of Shanu passed away two days ago.  I only met him once.  He came out here with Michelle for about a half day a few weeks ago.  You could tell he was very ill, but I think he gave carrots to every horse on this place.  It was a nice day for him and he loved being with the horses.  Especially his beloved Shanu.  Justin, we miss you.  Thanks for helping the horses.

December 13th, 2010

Four horses were delivered to their new home today! Jim and Kassi loaded up Socks, Mindy, Mandy, and Sky into the trailer and headed north to Battleground. The horses will be used in a therapy program at Wintergreen Stables. Good luck to these four in their new life! Even though we miss every horse that leaves the rescue, we know they will make their new owners very happy.
(Pictures coming!)

Kassi also worked with two of our long-time residents, Shannon and Peanut Butter Boy. Shannon is an elegant chestnut Thoroughbred. At the 2007 Mane Event horse expo, Shannon was a training demo horse with Julie Goodnight. Someone recognized Shannon, and mentioned that Shannon had a lucrative racing career at Santa Anita. After that, she was leased out as a broodmare, and her owner lost track of Shannon's whereabouts. Shannon came to Hytyme after being rescued from the feedlot in Yakima. It's sad to think of her potential fate had the right people not intervened.


Shannon
Shannon is available for adoption, and she is very sweet! When Kassi took her out, she pawed a bit while she was tied, but really enjoyed being groomed and getting attention. She was easy to saddle and longe, but was nervous once ridden. She is well trained, but will need an intermediete or advanced rider to keep her focused and confident.
Peanut Butter Boy also did well with Kassi. He's a real character. Volunteers at Hytyme know Peanut Butter Boy because of his short tail and his easygoing personality. He's one of those horses that always wants to be where the people are. He is a Tennessee Walker and Appaloosa cross, although he looks more like an Appaloosa than a Tennessee Walker at the moment. He is 15 hands and still growing! He has great ground manners and can longe in both directions. He's a smart guy and will be a great horse for someone.
(pictures coming!)

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

December 12th, 2010


This is going to be one wet winter. There are already several small lakes in the big field. On the drive to the barn,  the Clackamas River seemed ready to spill over its banks. According to the weather channel, rain showers are likely for the next five days. There's also a flood warning in effect for certain rivers in Clackamas county. Luckily, the horses are used to the wet weather. The older horses are snug in the barns and the horses in the pasture are able to get shelter from the rain, too. One of the barns was having drainage problems today, but Jim was able to solve the problem by the early afternoon.

Congratulations to Rebel as well--he went home with Laurie, his adopter. He is one nice mule! Rebel walked right into the trailer. He must be excited to start his new life!


Good Luck, Rebel and Laurie!

This weekend, the tractor wasn't quite working. Luckily, Zach was able to fix it. He was also able to fix the manure spreader as well. Thanks, Zach! While he was fixing the equipment, Joey and Becca took out Hope, Buddy, and Maverick. All three did really well! Maverick had rubbed his cribbing collar out of place, so we took it off. He seemed to be happy about that, at least. Once it dries out, he'll get it back on. Katie and Lynn were out today as well. Katie longed her two horses, Story and Charmed, and Lynn brushed Gracie. All of the horses did quite well in the arena, even as Zach welding and pounding the tractor the whole time.
At 7:30, it was time to head to the Cazedero Inn in Estacada for the Hytyme Christmas Party. It was a great time with a great crowd! Adrienne, Scott, Becca, Joey, Katie, Kassi, Zach, Evelyn, Amber, Poncho, Amanda, Julie, and Jim and Sherry were all in attendance. The food was great, and we all discussed fundraising for the upcoming year, as well as new forms of publicity for the rescue. There are lots of good plans in the work for 2011! It was wonderful to see so many of the volunteers and supporters in one place.




December 11th, 2010

This was the start to a busy weekend! At one point, ten horses were in the arena, waiting for potential adopters to  meet them. Kassi, our trainer, had listed a number of our rescue horses on Dreamhorse and Craigslist. Although winter isn't the busiest time for adoptions, we managed to find homes for nine horses!

Amigo will be going to a wonderful home in Cottage Grove. For those of you who never met Amigo, he's a friendly appaloosa gelding who is trained to ride. We know he'll be a wonderful friend and riding partner for his new family!

Congratulations, Amigo!

Today was also a long day. Kassi, our trainer, was working horses from 7 am to 4 pm. Everyone did really well. It's amazing how nice and friendly the rescue horses are. Many of our residents come from abuse or neglect situations, or were intercepted before entering the slaughter pipeline. At Hytyme, they are able to become horses again and learn to trust people. It's extremely rewarding to see the transformations that occur when a horse gets proper care, attention, and training.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Introduction

Masquerade and Coal
Hello! This blog will chronicle the daily activity at Hytyme Equine Rescue, a 501(c)3 horse rescue facility in Eagle Creek, Oregon. We're located just 30 miles south of Portland, Oregon, and our rescued horses live on 60 acres under the shadow of Mount Hood. We have many horses looking for new homes and new friends, so please check this site and our website (http://www.hytymeequinerescue.org/) often for information on their rehabilitation or training. If you have any questionsor if you would like to make a donation, please email Jim at hytymejim@gmail.com . For training information and horses for sale, email Kassi at k-sessions@hotmail.com .

Thank you, and enjoy our stories!