Savannah came to us a few years ago, horribly emaciated and overall in terrible shape. She had been a broodmare who had been neglected and was rescued, but the woman who rescued her did not have the funds to rehabilitate Savannah. When we got her, her foal had found a home, but she had been nursing him for so long with so little food that her own system was severely compromised; her hair was falling out, she had other skin and fungal infections, cuts on her would not heal normally, etc. It took several months not only to put weight on Savannah, but to get her back to being healthy.
Savannah at Hanaeleh- April, 2012.
Savannah was severely underweight- the fact that she still had her full winter coat in April both was an indicator of how deprived she was, but also hid her true condition.
It took a lot of food, vet care and TLC, but Savannah did manage to bounce back, and she became a favorite around the ranch.
Savannah after three months at Hanaeleh. You can see she still has some open sores, but they are healing.
Savannah was a broodmare, probably more because of her coloring that her conformation. Her right eye is blue and her left eye is brown.
We have no idea if Savannah has papers, but her coloring suggests that was why she was being used as a broodmare. It helps that she is so cute, and Savannah soon found a wonderful home with one of our volunteers, and has been doing well. She has enjoyed being loved, pampered, and does the occasional trail ride. She does have navicular, but she has shoes with pads to help her, and she seems to enjoy getting out.
Savannah a year after being rescued by Hanaeleh. She enjoys trail rides and is a very calm, dependable girl.
Unfortunately, Savannah’s owner found he could no longer care for her, so he called us and asked if we could take her back or find her a new placement. One of Hanaeleh’s policies is that we *always* take back our horses- no questions asked, no matter the reason. We do not want the horses to go back into the system, as it were, as they would once again be at risk for neglect or even slaughter.
We picked up Savannah and brought her back to Hanaeleh today. She hopped into the trailer like the trooper she is, and seemed just fine in the quarantine stall (the fact that there was hay in the feeder was icing on the cake). She has been very well taken care of, is current on all of her vaccinations and other vet care, and is in good weight, so really we just have to wait and let her settle in for a few days. We will do a reassessment of Savannah, and then, as long as everything checks out, we will put her back up for adoption.
In the meantime, Savannah told me to tell the volunteers that she likes carrots, cookies, being groomed, and, oh- she likes carrots and cookies. 🙂
Savannah at Hanaeleh.
Savannah says, “Do you have carrots? I like carrots.”
Savannah poses with Emily, our assistant trainer.
The new stall comes with feed and hay.
Savannah in her new stall at Hanaeleh.
This stall isn’t so bad! It comes with all a horsie needs.
Savannah look out over the rest of Hanaeleh.