Help me with serenity prayer- laminitis at a local sanctuary

[Cinnabarwood_Bonanza]

There’s an old Zippo-bred gelding at the sanctuary I volunteer at that has acute laminitis, according to me. I texted the sanctuary owner tonight and he replied that he’d “start something new” with him. Pretty sure that just means more bute. Aargh! A number of horses look to me to have low-grade laminitis also. That’s what we get in California I guess after 13 atmospheric rivers and a growing season that still hasn’t ended. I told the owner last Sunday and he said he’d restrict grazing and get the hay tested but neither happened. I knew they wouldn’t happen because I know the owner is maxed out re: time and money and he’s a senior with a bad back and about 75 horses and no paid staff only about 10 years total of experience with horses.

My own involvement at this place is: (1) I do almost all of the hoof trimming, mostly gratis, because I have the skillset to make the horses more comfortable. (2) There are two horses at the rescue that I’ve been training and riding for the last five years, one I’m proud of the job I’ve done and he keeps me sharp, the other is just super likeable and cute and is helping me become kinder, softer, and more loving. (3) I boarded my own beloved horse there until he passed away in March of this year. Really miss him.

So, if I go tomorrow to see “my” two project horses or to trim somebody I’ll be walking past poor Zip, pointing his front feet downhill in the little damp hollow he has made for himself in the softest corner of his paddock. I’m not mentally, emotionally, or financially prepared to administer the care I think it would mean: ice buckets up to his knees, styrofoam boots, special diet probably forever. Or euthanasia. 'Cause it’s not. my. horse. Looks like him. But it’s not.

It really hurts me inside to see Zip suffering. I already get actual nightmares about foundering horses-- it’s a trigger of mine. If I don’t go I won’t see it but he’ll still be suffering and I’ll still feel helpless and guilty. If I quit volunteering there I will lose some relationships that are important to me, including the two project horses. And all those hooves will overgrow and crack and distort and hurt…

So, how do I manage this so as to sleep nights? Any wisdom out there? Some kind of reality check?
(I did get another boarder to get the hay tested. Probably we’ll tap COTH wisdom again for help interpreting results when they come in.)

[Alterwho]

@Cinnabarwood_Bonanza

There’s an old Zippo-bred gelding at the sanctuary I volunteer at that has acute laminitis, according to me. I texted the sanctuary owner tonight and he replied that he’d “start something new” with him. Pretty sure that just means more bute. Aargh! A number of horses look to me to have low-grade laminitis also. That’s what we get in California I guess after 13 atmospheric rivers and a growing season that still hasn’t ended. I told the owner last Sunday and he said he’d restrict grazing and get the hay tested but neither happened. I knew they wouldn’t happen because I know the owner is maxed out re: time and money and he’s a senior with a bad back and about 75 horses and no paid staff only about 10 years total of experience with horses.

My own involvement at this place is: (1) I do almost all of the hoof trimming, mostly gratis, because I have the skillset to make the horses more comfortable. (2) There are two horses at the rescue that I’ve been training and riding for the last five years, one I’m proud of the job I’ve done and he keeps me sharp, the other is just super likeable and cute and is helping me become kinder, softer, and more loving. (3) I boarded my own beloved horse there until he passed away in March of this year. Really miss him.

So, if I go tomorrow to see “my” two project horses or to trim somebody I’ll be walking past poor Zip, pointing his front feet downhill in the little damp hollow he has made for himself in the softest corner of his paddock. I’m not mentally, emotionally, or financially prepared to administer the care I think it would mean: ice buckets up to his knees, styrofoam boots, special diet probably forever. Or euthanasia. 'Cause it’s not. my. horse. Looks like him. But it’s not.

It really hurts me inside to see Zip suffering. I already get actual nightmares about foundering horses-- it’s a trigger of mine. If I don’t go I won’t see it but he’ll still be suffering and I’ll still feel helpless and guilty. If I quit volunteering there I will lose some relationships that are important to me, including the two project horses. And all those hooves will overgrow and crack and distort and hurt…

So, how do I manage this so as to sleep nights? Any wisdom out there? Some kind of reality check?
(I did get another boarder to get the hay tested. Probably we’ll tap COTH wisdom again for help interpreting results when they come in.)

I know this wasn’t the reason for your post but I’m having a hard time getting past the fact that you’re trimming almost 75 horses for free

[Scribbler]

This isn’t a rescue, it’s a hoarder. I get that you have some freebies like horses to ride, but at some point you may need to just walk away if you can no longer enable the cray cray.

[barnesthenoble]

Where are you located in CA? Feel free to PM me. This sounds like a vaguely familiar situation to me and I’m wondering if I know of this place or if there’s more than one.

[Cinnabarwood_Bonanza]

A few sponsors do pay me. And a couple of the horses can only self-trim because untamed or abused/dangerous. But yeah it’s pretty crazy when you put it that way.

[Cinnabarwood_Bonanza]

The feeling in the pit of my stomach tells me that of course you’re right. Don’t know what horsetime will look like after closure which will include facing the finality of the loss of my own superhero besty this spring.

[Cinnabarwood_Bonanza]

Thank you for asking. I think its best right now to not share specifics that will ID anyone. My purpose instead is to get a reality check on my own personal situation. But I will say, to anyone considering a retirement facility for your horse, please vet the facility thoroughly and please also maintain control over the end-of-life decision so that you can do the right thing at the right time and give the final blessing of a peaceful passing to your faithful servant.

[sascha]

If the animals are all owned by the sanctuary, it’s time to get out for your own health and well-being. Explain that you cannot continue to watch neglect continue so you are withdrawing completely. Walk. Away.

If some of the animals are owned by individual owners, do your best to let them know they need to check on them and that you (and your services) are leaving.

You’re not going to change the lot of these horses by sticking around, but you are going to damage your mental health. There are other lovely horses out there looking for part-boarders or free exercise, etc. One will come along if you’re open to the idea.

[enjoytheride]

75 horses sounds like hoarding, especially if none of the healthy horses are being sold or adopted. I have to question why so many horses have laminitis. Were they rescued with that condition or is there something about their program?

[cayuse]

I’m sorry that you are going through, sometimes our best intentions and efforts to fix things are not enough for reasons we can’t control. Like others have said, maybe it’s time to walk away from the situation. It may only get worse if the care at the sanctuary spirals downward and cause you even more heartache.
Condolences on the loss of your horse.

[2DogsFarm]

This may sound harsh, but can you offer to pay for the Zip horse to be euthanized?
You can’t save them all from the well-meaning(?) owner of what is passing for a sanctuary.

Like the guy & the starfish tale:
You can’t save them all, but you can make a difference for the one.

Then, do as suggested: walk away.

[OzarksRider]

I’d call whoever handles animal abuse/neglect cases in the area. Laminitis is agonizing for the horse, and failing to address it, no matter the reason, is neglect pure and simple. Walking away might be best for the OP, but it’s not what’s best for the suffering horses.

[sascha]

Agree, but I guess I’m jaded re: animal services being able to do anything so I left that part out. Shame on me, because if calls aren’t even made at all nothing will change. OP should at least give a chance for the services in her area to do what’s right. At the very least it will rack up a call to them which may make a difference over time if enough calls (in general and specifically to this case) are accrued over time.

[OzarksRider]

@sascha

I’m jaded re: animal services being able to do anything

Me too, but it’s still worth trying. Several years ago a neighbor and I reported a case of starving horses to local law enforcement. I don’t know what became of it other than the offender now keeps the horses where they can’t be seen from the road. But if I ever get a look at those horses again and see that they’re still in bad shape I’ll report them again.

That said, from time to time I see local news reports that law enforcement and the Humane Society have taken possession of neglected and abused horses. In fact, one of my horses was rescued by the Humane Society’s Longmeadow Rescue Ranch (https://longmeadowrescueranch.org/ ).

[Cinnabarwood_Bonanza]

I absolutely would do this if I could but the owner has different views on euthanasia than I do. I am however preparing my speech to him about my views on this because it is one small thing I can do. Thanks for the reinforcement and anyone with helpful phrases I can use when presenting to him, please chime in.

[Cinnabarwood_Bonanza]

I’ll blow the whistle if/when I’m ready to burn all bridges. There is No Chance of my call remaining anonymous. Up until now at least I have had a greater influence on the horse’s welfare than the effect of making a call to “rack up calls… if enough calls accrue over time.” Not sure where that tipping point is, so thanks for chiming in to help me gain perspective. Its really helping my sanity and maybe find and take the next step, to be able to communicate these issues on this forum.

[2DogsFarm]

@Cinnabarwood_Bonanza

owner has different views on euthanasia than I do.

WTFruitbat!
Exactly where in the sand does he draw the line?
When a horse is down & can’t get up?
When they’re injured so badly even a moron like this Asshat can see there’s no fix?
Perhaps put it to him that if you have Zip put down he’ll save money?

From your description this jerk has no business owning 7 horses, let alone 75!
Bad back & lack of funds be damned.
If he can’t tell his herd is not in decent condition, he needs to have them removed from his “care”

[Cinnabarwood_Bonanza]

I suspect the latest shipment of hay is really high suger. Another stakeholder is getting it tested. If that turns out to be the source then what to do with $30,000 worth of hay? Impractical to soak it for so many horses but maybe I can convince the owner to soak it for Zip et. al.-- we already talked about the logistics of this when I spotted the mild cases last week. Or possibly “dilute” the high-sugar hay with other hay. Or possibly feed it out to horses who aren’t showing signs… but then they are at higher risk… I need the test results (TIA for any help interpreting) for show n tell to be convincing. In the meantime, agony.
If the hay isn’t crazy high in suger then the other suspected culprit is the (over)grazing. Not all the horses have grazing access but all but one of the low-grade-laminitis horses do. I learned yesterday that Zip did go out to graze and came home lame. Possibly a perfect storm of sugary hay plus sugary grazing. It’s been a wild year for growing things here. Harbinger of things to come, with climate instability upon us?

[Scribbler]

@Cinnabarwood_Bonanza

I suspect the latest shipment of hay is really high suger. Another stakeholder is getting it tested. If that turns out to be the source then what to do with $30,000 worth of hay? Impractical to soak it for so many horses but maybe I can convince the owner to soak it for Zip et. al.-- we already talked about the logistics of this when I spotted the mild cases last week. Or possibly “dilute” the high-sugar hay with other hay. Or possibly feed it out to horses who aren’t showing signs… but then they are at higher risk… I need the test results (TIA for any help interpreting) for show n tell to be convincing. In the meantime, agony.
If the hay isn’t crazy high in suger then the other suspected culprit is the (over)grazing. Not all the horses have grazing access but all but one of the low-grade-laminitis horses do. I learned yesterday that Zip did go out to graze and came home lame. Possibly a perfect storm of sugary hay plus sugary grazing. It’s been a wild year for growing things here. Harbinger of things to come, with climate instability upon us?

High sugar hay will not be a problem for horses that are not predisposed to metabolic syndrome.

Grazing is a big issue with horses that are metabolic. Not a problem for those that aren’t

As with humans and diabetes, obesity in horses can trigger EMS that is then a lifelong management issue that requires keeping a healthy weight and managing sugars. But not all obese humans get diabetes and not all obese horses get EMS.

If the horses are getting ouchy feet on grass that’s a clear symptom of EMS.

Is there a vet involved in this train wreck? It sounds like you need someone with professional credibility to tell this dude the truth.

Often horse hoarders are against euthanasia even when it’s needed. And don’t like vet interference or can’t afford it.

There is no way for one person to give adequate care to 75 horses. This kind of situation can teeter along until something sends it over the brink.

[Mardi1]

Sorry if I’ve missed this in a previous post…
Where is the vet that treats these horses ? Has he/she been contacted ?