Lou Dillon was awarded an honorary Mounted Unit Police Badge from the LAPD Mounted Unit on Saturday, April 30th, in a ceremony that included the Chief of Police, the officers who helped to rescue him from the streets of Watts as well as members from the LAPD's Mounted Unit. The LAPD bestowed upon Lou Dillon a plaque as well as the badge that has been mounted to his stall at Hanaeleh. Lou Dillon had been found running around by the Watts towers in Los Angeles during a torrential rainstorm … [Read more...]
Announcing Lou Dillon’s Children’s Book!
Lou Dillon is proud to announce the release of his new children's book! It's called A Horse Comes to Hanaeleh: Lou Dillon's Story. It tells the story of Lou Dillon, from when he was found on the streets in Watts in Los Angeles, to how he came to live at Hanaeleh. Order Lou Dillon's book today- available only through the Hanaeleh website! Each book costs $20 w/ free shipping. Order your book by December 3rd to make sure you will receive it for the holidays! All proceeds from the book go to … [Read more...]
Lou Dillon’s Boo Boo
Lou Dillon has a long overreach, which means that his hind legs will stretch so far under him when he moves that his hooves on his hind legs can sometimes clip (injure) his front legs. This is relatively common in Thoroughbreds, and one of the reasons why we always put bell boots on him when we work him in the arena- the bell boot helps protect the front hooves so he doesn't hurt them. This past week, however, we think Lou Dillon was running around in his stall (he doesn't wear bell boots in … [Read more...]
Lou Dillon Goes to the Dentist
We noticed that Lou Dillon was having some difficulty eating his carrots over the past month, so we had the equine dentist out this week to float his teeth. Horses' teeth continue to grow throughout their lives, but because they are not eating like they would in the wild, compounded with the fact that many domesticated horses have been inbred so much that they have issues such as parrot mouth (overbite), underbites, as well as crossbites. Horses who crib also have dental issues, and wear their … [Read more...]
Update: Lou Dillon (August, 2020)
It's been about a year and a half since we were contacted by an officer from the LAPD, asking if we could please take in a horse who was in desperate need of a home. She and another officer were called out during a torrential rainstorm because of a call of a horse who was running around in Watts. They spent all day in the rain with him waiting for animal control to pick him up. He was taken to the equine facilities, but they were not able to keep him forever, and his future was uncertain. He was … [Read more...]
Lou Dillon – The Horse Rescued from The Streets of Los Angeles – One Year Later
Last year at this time we were called about an emaciated Thoroughbred who was running around Watts in L.A. in the middle of a torrential rainstorm. People were throwing things at him to scare him, and cars were dodging him running in the street. Finally, a kind person corralled him in their yard and called the police. It was raining so hard and the horse was so cold that the person put a trash bag over him to try to protect him from the storm. Two officers responded, and spent the majority of … [Read more...]