Hanaeleh Horse Rescue and Advocacy

a non-profit horse rescue working with abandoned, neglected and abused horses. Stop horse slaughter NOW!

      
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Update: Sapphire (August, 2020)

August 12, 2020 By ezarkos

Sapphire is a 30+ year young Thoroughbred that Hanaeleh rescued over a decade ago. Her previous owner had hit her with a car while driving through the pasture (he said he thought she would move), and it took us over a year to rehabilitate her from that injury. She had chiropractors and massage therapists working on her every week as she had a rib out of place and a lot of muscle damage. Thankfully, we were able to successfully rehabilitate her from that injury.

Last November, however, Sapphire was bitten by a black widow spider and her leg swelled up quite a bit. The vet came out and wrapped the leg and put her on medication, but the swelling in the leg refused to go down, even after several months. The vet warned us that this could be an issue, especially as Sapphire has wind puffs from her years as a jumper, so she already had swelling issues in her hind legs. We had been managing that with light work, and we made sure she stayed in the paddock so she would walk around more. On New Year’s day, however, we found her down and unable to get up. It took several of us (and several hours) to finally get her up, but thankfully we were able to get her on her feet before she colicced. The vet prescribed some stronger medication, and our massage therapist, Lisa, came out regularly to massage her. After a few weeks she was noticeably more comfortable, although the swelling still remained. We slowly began working her in the arena again, and she was spunky and happy and would run and buck in the arena, even with the swelling in her hind legs. We were resigned that the swelling would never go down- but with her continued massages the swelling has finally gone down, and she looks great!

You can see Sapphire’s large scar right behind her right shoulder. She’s still quite sensitive around it.

Otherwise, Sapphire is still a princess, and demands that anyone who grooms her only uses the softest horse-hair brushes, and never brushes her against the hair. She does not want to be curry-combed, but rather enjoys it when the volunteers brush her slowly and sedately. She especially loves it when her favorite volunteer, Maddie, comes out when she is back from college, because she knows how to groom her just right. She also loves it when Lisa gives her a massage, and will tell her when she’s not doing it *quite* right, so Lisa can adjust accordingly (which she does, of course!).

Sapphire is often picky about her food, so we have to make it a little differently every few months as she gets bored with whatever we are giving her. She also gets a pill for her arthritis, but she is often difficult when taking it, and when we give her a handful of cookies with the itty-bitty pill, she will eat all of the cookies and spit out the pill! We’ve finally figured out that if we give her the pill and cookies AND give a handful of cookies to Tamahome as well, she is more likely to eat it. Is it because she is being competitive with Tamahome, or because she doesn’t think we’re giving her medicine for some reason? We don’t know; we’re just happy we’ve figured out how to give her the pill!

Sapphire gets turned out everyday and we groom her regularly, so she is doing very well. She is enjoying her retirement at Hanaeleh and we always treat her like the princess she is.

Sapphire would LOVE a sponsor. Did you know that you can sponsor her for as little as $10/month? Click here to learn more and sign up! 


 

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Hanaeleh

Call of the Wild July 1 2025

Call of the Wild Day of Action for America’s Wild Horses and Burros (and Public Land!)

June 30, 2025 By ezarkos

This is an urgent alert for every organization and individual who cares about the protection, preservation, and survival of America’s Wild Horses and Burros and our precious Public Lands. We must all act together on One Massive National Call-In Day of Protest. We are asking you to spend just 10 … [Read More...]

Southern California: 8 yr old Thoroughbred Gelding Needs Home!

June 23, 2025 By ezarkos

We were contacted by a woman who has been trying to find a home for her beautiful 17hh, 8 yr old (4/12/17) dappled grey Thoroughbred gelding, Argento (means silver). Argento raced when he was younger, and his registered named is Little Cairo. He is a descendent of American Pharaoh, and was sold as a … [Read More...]

Help “Spirit” 9 y/o Buckskin Quarter Horse Gelding Find a New Home (Norco CA)

June 17, 2025 By ezarkos

We were contacted by one of our supporters who had rescued a nine year-old buckskin Quarter Horse gelding from auction. He was shut down at first, but she has done quite a bit of work with him on the ground and he is starting to come around and be more sociable. Sadly, Spirit has navicular, and … [Read More...]

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