Uploaded January 2018 | Updated September 2026, 6 hours ago
Big morning at the D! All three of our new rescues saw the vet for the first time. Here's what we learned:
The palomino is 15, gelded, normal temperature, normal heart rate, has one tooth showing decay (probably because he's so sweet) but otherwise perfect. He got his 5-way and rabies vaccines and had blood pulled for a Coggins (a December Coggins came back clean but we like to have our vet pull one just in case). He's a healthy weight and appears physically perfect.
The ghost is 10, gelded, normal temperature, normal heart rate, has perfect teeth. He got his 5-way and rabies vaccines and had blood pulled for a Coggins. He's a healthy weight and appears physically perfect.
Ralphie is intact (still "all male"), 2.5 years old, had a normal heart rate, slightly elevated temperature and has a dry, hacking cough. Dr. Schilling gave him a shot of Excede and recommended a radiograph for his sacral spine (remember he came in with an odd hump that exhibited soreness on palpation today). It's probably a congenital defect or minor injury, but it's best to know for sure before we adopt him out. Even though we've wormed Ralphie twice, Dr. Schilling said he still looks wormy so we'll give him a dose of Ivermectin.
Part of our mission is to advocate for responsible ownership; that means we geld every male horse before we find them a home. Ralphie's day is coming just as soon as his cough is gone!
Just like animal shelters are overrun with dogs and cats someone just had to have as a puppy or kitten, then dumped them when responsibility kicked in, kill lots are packed with horses like Ralphie and The Ghosts because owners failed them. Either they sold them to someone they shouldn't have trusted, or they sold them at auction and a kill buyer was the high bid. These horses did NOTHING to deserve slaughter; just like most dogs and cats do nothing to deserve euthanasia.
Please, if you're thinking of buying a horse, find a reputable rescue and adopt a perfect animal like these three (and the 20-some others we've saved and placed). DON'T go to a backyard breeder who feeds the slaughter pipeline with precious little baby horses that are an expensive responsibility for 35 years.
Stay tuned through these special boys' 30-day quarantine!
Swingin' D Horse Rescue saves horses from the slaughter pipeline, nurses them back to health, evaluates and trains them, then adopts them to responsible owners. We survive on adoption fees (adoption contract required) and donations. Learn more about our mission at swingindhorserescue.com and donate via PayPal to tami.marler@gmail.com
Big morning at the D! All three of our new rescues saw the vet for the first time. Here's what we learned:
The palomino is 15, gelded, normal temperature, normal heart rate, has one tooth showing decay (probably because he's so sweet) but otherwise perfect. He got his 5-way and rabies vaccines and had blood pulled for a Coggins (a December Coggins came back clean but we like to have our vet pull one just in case). He's a healthy weight and appears physically perfect.
The ghost is 10, gelded, normal temperature, normal heart rate, has perfect teeth. He got his 5-way and rabies vaccines and had blood pulled for a Coggins. He's a healthy weight and appears physically perfect.
Ralphie is intact (still "all male"), 2.5 years old, had a normal heart rate, slightly elevated temperature and has a dry, hacking cough. Dr. Schilling gave him a shot of Excede and recommended a radiograph for his sacral spine (remember he came in with an odd hump that exhibited soreness on palpation today). It's probably a congenital defect or minor injury, but it's best to know for sure before we adopt him out. Even though we've wormed Ralphie twice, Dr. Schilling said he still looks wormy so we'll give him a dose of Ivermectin.
Part of our mission is to advocate for responsible ownership; that means we geld every male horse before we find them a home. Ralphie's day is coming just as soon as his cough is gone!
Just like animal shelters are overrun with dogs and cats someone just had to have as a puppy or kitten, then dumped them when responsibility kicked in, kill lots are packed with horses like Ralphie and The Ghosts because owners failed them. Either they sold them to someone they shouldn't have trusted, or they sold them at auction and a kill buyer was the high bid. These horses did NOTHING to deserve slaughter; just like most dogs and cats do nothing to deserve euthanasia.
Please, if you're thinking of buying a horse, find a reputable rescue and adopt a perfect animal like these three (and the 20-some others we've saved and placed). DON'T go to a backyard breeder who feeds the slaughter pipeline with precious little baby horses that are an expensive responsibility for 35 years.
Stay tuned through these special boys' 30-day quarantine!
Swingin' D Horse Rescue saves horses from the slaughter pipeline, nurses them back to health, evaluates and trains them, then adopts them to responsible owners. We survive on adoption fees (adoption contract required) and donations. Learn more about our mission at swingindhorserescue.com and donate via PayPal to tami.marler@gmail.com
