Numbers

******Here I said I was going on hiatus and I can't stop...I'm addicted.
Hello my name is Shanna and I'm additcted to blabbing about the sanctuary horses!******

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I'm starting to get my numbers down at Borderlands. It should be the other way around but for now, it is what it is.

Savanna went to Gentle Spirits to find her a perfect home. She has so much potential that it would be silly to keep her here at the sanctuary forever. From what I hear, she's doing amazingly well. I commend Gentle Spirits for their hard work!

Last Saturday, Prize went to his new home. He too has so much potential it would be silly to keep him here when there is someone out there just waiting for him. Congratulations Stacy A. for your new baby boy. Prize is now proudly called Jett! I can't wait to watch Jett grow up and turn into a stunning boy!

Next in line is Prince. Gentle Spirits will be taking Prince in the very near future. They are going to evaluate him and proceed with putting him up for adoption. He's such an amazing boy. He's so calm even for being only 5 years old and mostly blind.

Sahara is also up for adoption but she'll be staying at Borderlands until further notice. If anyone would like to know more about her, please let me know. Just be warned, I can't stop talking horses once I start.

It's always hard to let them go but when you know they are going to a good home, it makes it a little bit easier. Unfortunately there are those that live out their lives at the sanctuary. I now have five on my "watch list." Those are the horses where their health is a concern and if their issues progressively get worse, we will look at euthanizing. I hate to play god but that's a part of sanctuary life.

Sam is currently on the "watch list." Every fall/winter he loses weight. He's on beet pulp, soaked senior, and rolled oats besides hay (and pasture right now). Unfortunately I think the only thing keeping Sam going right now is the beet pulp. The senior flares up his ulcers. Sam's body is not processing the oats. They come out hole. So I can increase his senior feed to try and put weight on, which flares up his ulcers or I can keep him only on beet pulp and hay, keep the ulcers at a minimum, but watch him continue to slowly lose weight. It's finally hitting home that Sam may not make the entire winter. So he's now on our "watch list" and I will keep everyone informed when the time comes (for anyone that wants to say goodbye).

Flower's arthritis is realy starting to flare up. I will be starting her on joint supplement but if winter is bad and her arthritis doesn't improve, we'll be considering her options.

Thor is losing weight even though he's on a round bale 24x7. I'm planning on getting his teeth floated but if that doesn't help, we'll re-evaluate his options. It could be that old age is finally catching up to him and he's finally starting to show his age but he's now on the "watch list".

Babe is also on the watch list. But we have now put her and Thor on a grain mash feeding along with the 24x7 round bale. I already see the improvements on Babe. I love watching her eat grain. Watching her makes me think of when I have a good piece of chocolate. Every last itty bityt bite is mouth watering. Watching Babe, makes you think every bite is mouth watering.

Queen is the last on the watch list. She has perked up considerably since putting her on beet pulp. As long as she remains on beet pulp, senior, and calf manna, she may stick around for another year or so. But when she goes, it could mean that Flower goes with as Flower is joined at the hip to Queen. But Queen is 33 years old so I have to prepare my heart for her loss.

It's a sad realization to have that many on a "watch list" and is stressful. But knowing that their final years have been filled with love and lots of food makes up for it. We are truely blessed to enjoy even one minute of their lives, those that are permanent sanctuary horses and those that have gone on to new homes and new experiences.

If you get a chance, check out Gentle Spirit's website and blog and see what these amazing ladies do for SO MANY horses!